Opioid effect on lungs.
Opioids are widely used for their analgesic properties for the management of acute and chronic pain related to a variety of illnesses. Opioid usage is associated with adverse effects on respiration which are often attributed to depression of the central nervous system. Recent data indicate that opioid use has increased over the last two decades. There is also increasing evidence that opioids have a variety of effects on the lungs besides suppression of respiration. Opioids can affect immune cells function, increase histamine release causing bronchospasm, vaso-constriction and hypersensitivity reactions. Together, these actions have a variety of effects on lung function. Here, we provide a comprehensive review of the effects of opioids on the lungs including the respiratory centre, immune function, airways and pulmonary vasculature.
Department of Veterans Affairs, Jesse Brown VA Hospital, Section of Pulmonary, Critical Care, and Sleep Medicine, University of Illinois, Chicago Section of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 32608, USA.
Travis
T
Yamanaka
Ruxana T
RT
Sadikot
D000701:Analgesics, Opioid / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006632:Histamine / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007107:Immune System / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D008168:Lung / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D012130:Respiratory Hypersensitivity / Q000503:physiopathology; D015656:Respiratory Mechanics / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D014661:Vasoconstriction / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology
D000701:Analgesics, Opioid; D006632:Histamine