The Journal of the Arkansas Medical Society
The most recent articles from:
J Ark Med Soc
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Controlled Clinical Trial
Effect of cigarette smoking on serum hydrocodone levels in chronic pain patients.
Nicotine is reported to have analgesic properties. Patients with chronic pain who smoke could therefore, be expected to require less analgesia than non-smokers because of the possible synergism of the two substances. One hundred healthy patients were studied who had non-radicular low back pain for greater than three months. ⋯ Smokers had higher end of study pain scores and required more hydrocodone than non-smokers but had significantly lower serum levels of hydrocodone than non-smokers. The results of this study suggest that cigarette smoking adversely affects serum hydrocodone levels. Prescribing physicians should be aware that in some cigarette smokers, serum hydrocodone levels might not be detectible.