Author/Editor     Krčevski-Škvarč, Nevenka
Title     Variability in the response to opioid therapy
Type     članek
Source     Libri Oncol
Vol. and No.     Letnik 37, št. 1/3
Publication year     2009
Volume     str. 43-6
Language     eng
Abstract     Opioids are main drugs for the treatment of moderate and severe pain. Successful opioid treatment depends on achieving a favorable balance between analgesia and adverse effects. The effective opioid dose and adverse events may vary greatly across patients. Opioid analgesic efficacy is not always sustained during continuous and long term treatment. Decreased opioid analgesic efficacy could be the main problem, which can potentially arise from multiple mechanisms. Decreased opioid analgesic efficacy can be the result of opioid tolerance, opioid-induced hyperalgesia, psychological factors and advancement of the disease. The mechanisms involved in variability in the response to opioid therapy could be the result of changes in drug pharmacology and interactions or changes in nociception because of adaptive changes and genetic constellation and mutation. It is important to distinguish the clinical manifestations of decreased opioid efficacy which differ in their mechanisms and the efforts to assure treatment efficacy.
Descriptors     PAIN
DRUG INTERACTIONS
ANALGESICS, OPIOID