Pathophysiology of opioid tolerance and clinical approach to the opioid-tolerant patient

O de Leon-Casasola; A Yarussi

doi:10.1007/s11916-000-0080-9

Pathophysiology of opioid tolerance and clinical approach to the opioid-tolerant patient

Curr Rev Pain. 2000;4(3):203-5. doi: 10.1007/s11916-000-0080-9.

Authors

O de Leon-Casasola¹, A Yarussi

Affiliation

¹ Department of Anesthesiology, Pain, and Critical Care Medicine, Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Elm and Carlton Streets, Buffalo, NY 14263, USA.

PMID: 10998734
DOI: 10.1007/s11916-000-0080-9

Abstract

The physiologic basis for opioid tolerance has been elucidated, resulting in a better understanding of this problem. As a result of this ongoing effort, patients exhibiting opioid tolerance can now expect better pain management both in the postoperative period and during the course of their treatment. This article outlines the pathophysiology of opioid tolerance and a practical clinical approach to this problem.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Analgesics, Opioid / pharmacology*
Drug Tolerance / physiology
Humans
Intraoperative Care
Pain / physiopathology*
Pain Management*
Postoperative Care
Protein Kinase C / drug effects
Receptors, Cyclic AMP / drug effects
Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate / drug effects
Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate / physiology

Substances

Analgesics, Opioid
Receptors, Cyclic AMP
Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate
Protein Kinase C