AI Article Synopsis
- Chronic non-cancer pain (CNCP) is a common and disabling condition, with many patients turning to opioids for treatment, leading to a significant rise in opioid prescriptions over the past 20 years.
- Despite the increased use of opioids and higher doses prescribed for chronic pain, rates of pain and related disabilities remain high, with many patients expressing dissatisfaction with their treatment.
- The rise in opioid prescriptions is also linked to serious issues like prescription drug abuse, addiction, and overdose deaths, prompting a reevaluation of the effectiveness and risks of long-term opioid therapy for CNCP.
Article Abstract
Chronic non-cancer pain (CNCP) is a disabling chronic condition with a high prevalence rate around the world. Opioids are routinely prescribed for treatment of chronic pain (CP). In the past two decades there has been a massive increase in the number of opioid prescriptions, prescribed daily opioid doses and overall opioid availability. Many more patients with CNCP receive high doses of long-acting opioids on a long-term basis. Yet CP and related disability rates remain high, and majority of the patients with CNCP are dissatisfied with their treatments. Intersecting with the upward trajectory in opioid use are the increasing trends in opioid related adverse effects, especially prescription drug abuse, addiction and overdose deaths. This complex situation raises questions on the relevance of opioid therapy in the treatment of CNCP. This article reviews current evidence on opioid effectiveness, the benefits and harms of long-term therapy in CNCP.
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| http://dx.doi.org/10.1586/14737175.2013.846517 | DOI Listing |
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