Articles: opioid.
-
Review Meta Analysis
Effects of opioids on breathlessness and exercise capacity in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. A systematic review.
Patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) commonly suffer from breathlessness, deconditioning, and reduced health-related quality of life (HRQL) despite best medical management. Opioids may relieve breathlessness at rest and on exertion in COPD. ⋯ Opioids improved breathlessness but not exercise capacity in severe COPD.
-
Randomized Controlled Trial
Patient Satisfaction with Fentanyl Sublingual Spray in Opioid-Tolerant Patients with Breakthrough Cancer Pain.
Breakthrough cancer pain (BTCP) is associated with decreased satisfaction with around-the-clock opioid therapy. This analysis examined patient satisfaction with fentanyl sublingual spray for BTCP during the open-label titration period of a randomized, placebo-controlled study. ⋯ These data indicate markedly improved satisfaction among patients receiving fentanyl sublingual spray relative to previous BTCP medications.
-
Therap Adv Gastroenterol · Jul 2015
ReviewChronic opioid induced constipation in patients with nonmalignant pain: challenges and opportunities.
With the recent introduction and approval of medications directed at the treatment of opioid induced constipation (OIC) in patients with nonmalignant pain, there is increased interest and understanding of the unmet need and opportunities to enhance patient management. The high incidence of OIC is associated with rapid increase of narcotic analgesic prescriptions for nonmalignant chronic pain. This review addresses briefly the mechanisms of action of opioids that lead to OIC, the differential tolerance of gastrointestinal organs to the effects of opioids, the size and scope of the problem, the definition and outcome measures for OIC, current differential diagnosis and management algorithms, and the pharmacology and efficacy of treatments for OIC in patients with nonmalignant pain.
-
Int. J. Drug Policy · Jul 2015
High prevalence of non-fatal overdose among people who inject drugs in Malaysia: Correlates of overdose and implications for overdose prevention from a cross-sectional study.
Overdose is the leading cause of death among opioid users, but no data are available on overdose among people who inject drugs in Malaysia. We present the first estimates of the prevalence and correlates of recent non-fatal overdose among people who inject drugs in Malaysia. ⋯ This study reveals a large, previously undocumented burden of non-fatal overdose among people who inject drugs in Malaysia and highlights the need for interventions that might reduce the risk of overdose, such as continuous opioid substitution therapy, provision of naloxone to prevent fatal overdose, treatment of polysubstance use, and working with police to improve the risk environment.