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The safety of prescribing opioids in pediatrics

David P Martin1, Tarun Bhalla, Ralph Beltran

  • 1Ohio State University, Nationwide Children's Hospital, Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine , 700 Children's Drive, Columbus, OH 43205 , USA +1 614 722 4200 ; +1 614 722 4203 ; David.Martin@Nationwidechildrens.org.

Expert Opinion on Drug Safety
|October 1, 2013
PubMed

Insights

This review examines oral narcotic analgesics for acute pain management, highlighting safety data and adverse effects. It offers expert opinions on current and future prescribing practices for pediatric pain.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Pain Management
  • Pharmacology
  • Clinical Practice Guidelines

Background:

  • Pain management is a critical, evolving area across medical specialties.
  • Pediatric pain management has advanced, yet concerns about treatment adequacy persist.
  • Despite aggressive pain treatment, safety and adverse effects of narcotic analgesics are often overlooked.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the current use of oral narcotic medications for acute pain.
  • To analyze available safety data for prescribing these medications.
  • To provide expert opinions on opiate analgesic prescribing and acute oral pain management.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of acute pain management strategies.
  • Emphasis on oral narcotic analgesics and their safety profiles.
  • Synthesis of expert opinions on current and future practices.

Main Results:

  • Oral narcotic analgesics are a key component of acute pain management.
  • Safety data and potential adverse effects require careful consideration.
  • Current practices may overlook critical safety aspects of these medications.

Conclusions:

  • A structured, step-wise approach to acute oral pain management is proposed.
  • Expert opinions guide future prescribing practices for opiate analgesics.
  • Balancing effective pain relief with patient safety is paramount.
Abstract

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