Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 3, 2026
07:23
Assessment of Morphine-induced Hyperalgesia and Analgesic Tolerance in Mice Using Thermal and Mechanical Nociceptive Modalities
Published on: July 29, 2014
34.2K
Sex differences in prescription opioid use
Mirsada Serdarevic1, Catherine W Striley, Linda B Cottler
1Department of Epidemiology, College of Public Health and Health Professions, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA.
Current Opinion in Psychiatry
|April 21, 2017
Summary
Women are more likely to use prescription opioids than men, though research on sex differences in risk factors and outcomes is limited. Further investigation into prescription opioid use disparities is needed.
Area of Science:
- Medical Research
- Public Health
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Recent literature has overlooked sex differences in prescription opioid use.
- Understanding these disparities is crucial for public health initiatives.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate recent literature (since 2015) on sex differences in prescription opioid use.
- To analyze sex-based risk factors and outcomes associated with prescription opioid consumption.
Main Methods:
- Systematic literature review of studies published since 2015.
- Analysis of data from the HealthStreet community engagement program (n=8525).
Main Results:
- A limited number of studies (eight between 2015-2016) addressed sex differences in prescription opioid use, primarily focusing on misuse among individuals with chronic pain.
- Women were significantly more likely than men to report lifetime prescription opioid use (54.9% vs. 42.2%).
- Conversely, women with cancer had a reduced risk of opioid use compared to men with cancer (OR: 0.46).
Conclusions:
- Existing research on sex differences in prescription opioid use is sparse.
- Findings indicate women are more prone to using prescription opioids, but more research is needed on associated risk factors and outcomes.
- Further investigation into sex-based disparities in prescription opioid use is warranted.
Related Concept Videos
01:15Opioid Analgesics: Synthetic and Semisynthetic Opioids
1.3K
Synthetic and semisynthetic opioids are pivotal in pain management and tackling opioid addiction. Semisynthetic opioids, including morphinans (morphine derivatives), oxycodone, oxymorphone, hydrocodone, and hydromorphone, have improved pharmacokinetic profiles compared to morphine. Additionally, heroin and 6-MAM (6-Monoacetylmorphine) show better CNS penetration than morphine due to heightened lipid solubility. Hydromorphone, a potent opioid, undergoes hepatic metabolism to form the active...
1.3K
01:02Prescription, Nonprescription and Orphan Drugs
1.3K
Prescription drugs require a prescription from a medical practitioner and can only be obtained from a pharmacy. They have many applications, including treating pain, anxiety, and hypertension.
The misuse and addiction to prescription drugs is a growing problem that can affect people of all age groups, specifically teenagers. This can happen when prescription medications are used in ways not intended by the prescriber, such as taking someone else's prescription or using medication for...
The misuse and addiction to prescription drugs is a growing problem that can affect people of all age groups, specifically teenagers. This can happen when prescription medications are used in ways not intended by the prescriber, such as taking someone else's prescription or using medication for...
1.3K
01:20Opioid Analgesics: Morphine and Other Natural Cogeners
1.2K
Opioids are a class of drugs that mimic endogenous opioid peptides and act on opioid receptors, and help in pain relief. These compounds are classified as natural, synthetic, or semi-synthetic. Natural opioids, like morphine, codeine, and thebaine, are derived from the opium poppy plant (Papaver somniferum or Papaver album) and are termed opiates. Synthetic opioids are artificial, while semi-synthetic opioids combine natural and synthetic compounds. Morphine, a prototypical opioid, possesses a...
1.2K
01:25Analgesia and Pain Management
2.4K
Pain is critical to various clinical pathologies, provoking an urgent need for effective management. Pain, whether acute or chronic, is a complex neurochemical process. Its alleviation depends on the type, with nonopioid analgesics effective for mild to moderate pain, such as musculoskeletal or inflammatory pain, while neuropathic pain responds best to anticonvulsants, tricyclic antidepressants, or serotonin/norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors. For severe acute or chronic pain, opioids may be...
2.4K
01:27Panic Disorder
934
Panic disorder is an anxiety disorder characterized by recurrent and sudden minutes-long episodes of intense fear, known as panic attacks. These attacks may feel like heart attacks and often happen without warning or a specific cause. They can include symptoms such as rapid heart rate, shortness of breath, chest pain, trembling, sweating, dizziness, and a sense of helplessness. During a panic attack, individuals may feel as though they are experiencing a heart attack or are in a...
934
01:15Drug Abuse and Addiction: Pharmacological Phenomena
1.4K
Drug dependence, abuse, and addiction are complex phenomena that can precipitate various abnormal states. Physical dependence refers to a state of pharmacological adaptation to a drug. This adaptation often results in tolerance—a reduced response to the drug after repeated administrations. When the drug use is abruptly stopped, withdrawal symptoms occur due to the body's need to readjust from the pharmacologically induced imbalance. However, tolerance and withdrawal symptoms do not...
1.4K