Opioid analgesics are commonly and in most cases effectively used to manage chronic pain of moderate to severe intensity. Apart from analgesia, opioids exert numerous adverse ef‐ fects, several of which impact the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. The chronic use of opioid anal‐ gesics in fact is commonly associated with adverse effects on the gastrointestinal tract. [1] Opioid–induced bowel dysfunc...

Opioids are a group of analgesic agents commonly used in clinical practice. There are three classical opioid receptors (DOP, KOP and MOP), while the novel NOP receptor is considered to be a non-opioid branch of the opioid receptor family. Opioids can act at these receptors as agonists, antagonists or partial agonists. Opioid agonists bind to G-protein coupled receptors to cause cellular hyperpo...

UNLABELLED Little is known about physical barriers to adequate pain treatment for minorities. This investigation explored sociodemographic determinants of pain medication availability in Michigan pharmacies. A cross-sectional survey-based study with census data and data provided by Michigan community retail pharmacists was designed. Sufficient opioid analgesic supplies was defined as stocking a...

Background It has been reported that delirium causes various problems. Many researchers have the risk factors associated with onset of delirium; however, there are few reports focused on persistent delirium. This study aimed to identify Methods A total 573 patients hospitalised in Nara Prefecture General Medical Centre from October 2014 through September 2017 who were referred psychiatry consul...

BACKGROUND Pain in opioid-dependent patients is common but data measuring the course of pain (and its correlates) using validated scales in patients initiating methadone treatment are sparse. We aimed to assess pain and its interference in daily life, associated correlates, and undertreatment before and during methadone treatment. METHODS This is a secondary analysis using longitudinal data o...

Opioid rotation is a common and necessary clinical practice in the management of chronic non-cancer pain to improve therapeutic efficacy with the lowest opioid dose. When dose escalations fail to achieve adequate analgesia or are associated with intolerable side effects, a trial of a new opioid should be considered. Much of the scientific rationale of opioid rotation is based on the wide interi...

BACKGROUND Although it is becoming acknowledged that pain management is generally poor for older people, little is known about pain management for nursing home residents in the United Kingdom, and the specific problems for those with cognitive impairments. AIMS This section of a larger study of pain aimed to explore analgesic prescription and administration according to nursing home residents...

Paracetamol has analgesic and antipyretic e ects that are similar to aspirin, but little or no antiin ammatory activity. It is generally accepted that it has little e ect on extracerebral COX-1 or COX-2, although it inhibits central COX-3. Consequently, it prevents the enhanced synthesis of prostaglandin E2 in the hypothalamus during pyrexia, and thus reduces elevated body temperature. It has s...