Medical uses Opioid

1 medical uses

1.1 pain

1.1.1 acute pain
1.1.2 chronic non-cancer pain


1.2 other

1.2.1 cough
1.2.2 diarrhea , constipation
1.2.3 shortness of breath

medical uses
pain

opioids indicated relief of mild severe pain, reserved moderate severe pain. weak opioid codeine, in low doses , combined 1 or more other drugs, commonly available without prescription.

acute pain

opioids effective treatment of acute pain (such pain following surgery). immediate relief of moderate severe acute pain opioids treatment of choice due rapid onset, efficacy , reduced risk of dependence. have been found important in palliative care severe, chronic, disabling pain may occur in terminal conditions such cancer, , degenerative conditions such rheumatoid arthritis. in many cases opioids successful long-term care strategy chronic cancer pain.

chronic non-cancer pain

guidelines have suggested risk of opioids greater benefits when used non-cancer chronic conditions including headaches, pain, , fibromyalgia. should used cautiously in chronic non-cancer pain. if used benefits , harms should reassessed @ least every 3 months.

in treating chronic pain, opioids option tried after other less risky pain relievers have been considered, including paracetamol/acetaminophen or nsaids ibuprofen or naproxen. types of chronic pain, including pain caused fibromyalgia or migraine, preferentially treated drugs other opioids. efficacy of using opioids lessen chronic neuropathic pain uncertain.

opioids contraindicated first-line treatment headache because impair alertness, bring risk of dependence, , increase risk episodic headaches become chronic. opioids can cause heightened sensitivity headache pain. when other treatments fail or unavailable, opioids may appropriate treating headache if patient can monitored prevent development of chronic headache.

opioids being used more in management of non-malignant chronic pain. practice has led new , growing problem addiction , misuse of opioids. because of various negative effects use of opioids long term management of chronic pain not indicated unless other less risky pain relievers have been found ineffective. chronic pain occurs periodically, such nerve pain, migraines, , fibromyalgia, better treated medications other opioids. paracetamol , nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs including ibuprofen , naproxen considered safer alternatives. used combined opioids, such paracetamol combined oxycodone (percocet) , ibuprofen combined hydrocodone (vicoprofen), boosts pain relief intended deter recreational use.

other
cough

codeine once viewed gold standard in cough suppressants, position questioned. recent placebo-controlled trials have found may no better placebo causes including acute cough in children. thus, not recommended children. additionally, there no evidence hydrocodone useful in children. similarly, 2012 dutch guideline regarding treatment of acute cough not recommend use. (the opioid analogue dextromethorphan, long claimed effective cough suppressant codeine, has demonstrated little benefit in several recent studies.)

low dose morphine may chronic cough use limited side effects.

diarrhea , constipation

in cases of diarrhea-predominate irritable bowel syndrome, opioids may used suppress diarrhea. loperamide peripherally selective opioid available without prescription used suppress diarrhea.

the ability suppress diarrhea produces constipation when opioids used beyond several weeks. naloxegol, peripherally-selective opioid antagonist available treat opioid induced constipation.

shortness of breath

opioids may shortness of breath particularly in advanced diseases such cancer , copd among others.