Articles: opioid-analgesics.
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Acta Anaesthesiol Scand · Jul 1992
Comparative StudyReaction time in cancer patients receiving peripherally acting analgesics alone or in combination with opioids.
Continuous Reaction Time (CRT) was measured in cancer patients receiving peripherally acting analgesics either alone (n = 16) or in combination with opioids (n = 16). Comparison was performed matching the patients from each group for age and performance status. Statistically significant prolongations of CRT and higher sedation scores were seen in the opioid group, while performance status did not have any influence on CRT.
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To determine the causes and frequency of overdoses associated with the administration of opioid analgesics in hospitalized patients. ⋯ The causes of overdoses are not limited to prescribing and administration errors. Some patients, despite proper execution of appropriate orders, develop a narcotic overdose. Caregivers must be aware of this problem and monitor patients for a decrease in mental status and respiratory rate. In addition, we conclude that an important number of hospitalized patients develop an overdose even though the frequency is low related to the number of patients receiving narcotics.
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Non-opioide analgesics have different pharmacological effects and different profiles of their risks. The life-threatening side effects i.e. agranulocytosis after administration of Dipyrone (Metamizol) are rare, but the must be known and cautions must be considered. On the other hand information must be given about the severe side effects following the not-recommended use i.e. end-stage renal disease after misuse of non-opioid analgesics, because these diseases are preventable.