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Assessment of Morphine-induced Hyperalgesia and Analgesic Tolerance in Mice Using Thermal and Mechanical Nociceptive Modalities
Published on: July 29, 2014
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Long-Term Opioid Therapy for Nonterminal Pain
Kento Sonoda1, Mako Wakabayashi2
1Saint Louis University, St. Louis, Missouri.
American Family Physician
|June 18, 2025
Summary
Chronic pain affects millions, necessitating non-opioid treatments and addressing health disparities. Buprenorphine offers a potentially safer opioid alternative for managing persistent pain, especially in at-risk individuals.
Area of Science:
- Pain Management
- Public Health
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Chronic pain, persisting over 12 weeks, impacts ~20% of US adults, causing significant mental and social distress.
- Nonopioid therapies are recommended for chronic nonterminal pain; opioid therapy is not a first-line approach.
- Health disparities in pain management disproportionately affect marginalized populations and individuals with cognitive impairment.
Purpose of the Study:
- To emphasize the need for culturally tailored pain management strategies.
- To highlight the risks associated with opioid therapy and advocate for judicious use.
- To introduce buprenorphine as a potentially safer alternative for chronic pain management.
Main Methods:
- Review of current guidelines and literature on chronic pain management.
- Analysis of risks and benefits associated with opioid therapy.
- Evaluation of buprenorphine's role in managing chronic pain, particularly in at-risk populations.
Main Results:
- Opioid therapy carries risks including constipation, depression, hormonal dysregulation, opioid-induced hyperalgesia, and overdose.
- Addressing behavioral health disorders concurrently with pain management is crucial.
- Buprenorphine demonstrates efficacy in chronic pain and may offer a safer profile than full opioid agonists.
Conclusions:
- Clinicians must acknowledge health inequities and stigma in pain management.
- Opioid use should be reserved for refractory cases where benefits outweigh significant risks.
- Buprenorphine presents a viable and potentially safer option for chronic pain management, especially for those with opioid use disorder or overdose risk.
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