Mayo Clinic proceedings
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Mayo Clinic proceedings · Apr 2020
ReviewOpioids in Older Adults: Indications, Prescribing, Complications, and Alternative Therapies for Primary Care.
The fact that opioids are valuable tools for the management of pain has been known and used for thousands of years. Currently, millions of Americans are treated annually with opioids, and many of these patients are elderly. ⋯ An understanding of how to select appropriate medications for the management of pain and of the myriad of alternatives available for pain management is vital to the care of older patients. This article presents a review, for primary care providers, of issues unique to opioid management in older adults.