title: Opioid analgesics for rheumatoid arthritis pain.
abstract: CLINICAL QUESTION Do the benefits of opioid analgesics outweigh the risks in patients with persistent pain due to rheumatoid arthritis? BOTTOM LINE Weak opioids (such as codeine, dextropropoxyphene, and tramadol) may be effective in the short-term management of rheumatoid arthritis pain, but adverse effects are common and may outweigh the benefits; alternative analgesics should be considered first.
authors: Rheumatology Unit, The Queen Elizabeth Hospital, 28 Woodville Rd, Woodville S, South Australia 5011, Australia. sam@whit.tl
authors: Samuel L
authors: SL
authors: Whittle
authors: Bethan L
authors: BL
authors: Richards
authors: Rachelle
authors: R
authors: Buchbinder
mesh_terms: D000701:Analgesics, Opioid / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000150:complications*; D059350:Chronic Pain / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology*; D003657:Decision Making; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D012306:Risk
chemical_list: D000701:Analgesics, Opioid