OBJECTIVE: Concerns regarding the efficacy, toxicity, tolerance, dependence,
and abuse of opioids have limited their use for patients with chronic spine
pain. In our previous study of rheumatology clinic patients, opioid analgesics
were found to be highly effective, produced only mild side effects, and had
few instances of opioid abuse. The purpose of this study was to replicate our
previous study in another large cohort of patients with nonmalignant pain due
to well-defined spinal diseases...CONCLUSION: This study provides data on the
efficacy, toxicity, tolerance, and abuse or addiction behaviors with opioid
therapy in a large cohort of patients in an orthopedics spine clinic. The results
provide objective data from patients with well-defined spine diagnoses to challenge
the position that opioid treatment is inappropriate for chronic nonmalignant
pain. This study provides clinical evidence to support and protect physicians
treating patients with chronic musculoskeletal diseases, who may be reluctant
to prescribe opioids because of possible sanctions from regulatory agencies.
More important, it will benefit patients by permitting them to receive these
effective, safe medications.
Mahowald ML, Singh JA, Majeski P. Arthritis Rheum. 2005 Jan;52(1):312-21.
Full Text:
http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/cgi-bin/abstract/109863203/ABSTRACT
Credit: All abstracts retrieved from PubMed, developed by the National Center for
Biotechnology Information (NCBI) at the
National Library of Medicine (NLM).
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