Misuse of prescription opioids in chronic non-cancer pain.
Somatization disorder is a common cause of chronic non-cancer pain. The use of opioids in such conditions carries a risk of their potential abuse. Lax regulations coupled with sub-optimal medical training in India lead to the rampant use of prescription opioids. We present a case of somatization disorder along with injection pentazocine dependence in a woman, in whom use of pentazocine was initiated by a registered medical practitioner for somatoform pain management, followed by self-injection because of its easy availability in local pharmacy shops. We highlight the need for education of medical practitioners on appropriate use of pharmaceutical opioids, need for regulation of local pharmacy shops, and development of guidelines for use of opioids in chronic non-cancer pain.
Department of Psychiatry, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Ansari Nagar, New Delhi 110029, India.
Pooja Patnaik
PP
Kuppilli
Department of Psychiatry, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Ansari Nagar, New Delhi 110029, India.
Roshan
R
Bhad
Department of Psychiatry, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Ansari Nagar, New Delhi 110029, India, drrvrao@gmail.com.
Ravindra
R
Rao
Department of Psychiatry, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Ansari Nagar, New Delhi 110029, India.
Prabhu
P
Dayal
Department of Psychiatry, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Ansari Nagar, New Delhi 110029, India.
Atul
A
Ambekar
D000328:Adult; D000701:Analgesics, Opioid / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D059350:Chronic Pain / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D057970:Inappropriate Prescribing; D009293:Opioid-Related Disorders; D010423:Pentazocine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013001:Somatoform Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy*
D000701:Analgesics, Opioid; D010423:Pentazocine