The Treatment And Correct Opioid Dosing

By Kevin Graham


The miracle of opioid pain relief is fatally limited by tolerance, addiction, and respiratory depression. Buprenorphine, when combined with a mu agonist, results in game-changing effects. Patients experience potent, dose-related analgesia from the agonist, but have NO euphoria. The therapeutic window is widened. Patients unable to control their use of a mu agonist alone gain that control when on buprenorphine. And most exciting, buprenorphine indefinitely anchors tolerance, maintaining analgesia WITHOUT DOSE ESCALATION. This finding offers huge implications for pain management and opioid dosing.

Opioid receptors are present in everyone's body. These receptors are responsible for bringing emotions like pleasure and pain in the body. Several narcotics, such as hydrocodone and oxycontin, give relief while one is experiencing severe pain. The main problem with the opioid is they are very addictive in nature and can result in death if taken in high dose. There has been a huge usage of the narcotic medication by people of every age group in the United States.

Because of methadone's slow release, individuals who seek a fast high might take a dose, not get a high then consume more. By the time they get high, in a few instances, they've already consumed too much. Odds of revival are a lot lower for overdose of methadone than for additional opiates because of the long lasting nature of the drug. If you believe somebody has overdosed on this drug, contact 911 and immediately get them emergency assistance.

Patients in chronic pain are likely to take opioids for multiple years. A study done at the Universities of Washington and Arkansas showed when patients are prescribed opioids for chronic pain, they are likely to still be taking them 5 years later.

Interestingly, there were 2 factors that lead to the continued usage. One was if the patient had been prescribed the drugs before, and the other was if the patients were prescribed doses in excess of 120 milligrams of morphine. Of note, that is a hefty dose.

Opioid-induced hyperalgesia is a condition that can result from long-term opioid use. It represents a heightened perception of pain and can make one feel worse with more pain sensation. The solution to this problem is a decrease or discontinuation of the medication which should be accomplished under medical supervision. The discontinuation can result in less pain than while on the medications.

Sleep is affected significantly by opioids. A large review of studies was published in Postgraduate Medicine looking at the effect of narcotics on sleeping patterns. What popped out? Well, opiate users displayed significant incidence of insomnia, arousals, and wakefulness.

Seeking help from a clinic, a private doctor, or an addiction-breaking support group is safer options for quitting. Support group members have been there themselves and understand what it is like to leave behind an addiction. Medical professionals can help addicts leave the drugs behind on a gradual basis so that their bodily systems are not compromised.

Treatment of OIH can be time-consuming, perplexing, and stressful for both the physician and patient. Rotating to a different opiate class may help. Trying non-opioid medications and decreasing opiate dosing is often helpful, along with administering interventional pain treatments to reduce the need for medications or eliminate the need altogether.




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