Opioid Pharmacotherapies for Chronic Pain

Chronic pain management employing opioids is divided into subtopics, including: risk–benefit balance; a review of the mode of action of opioid analgesics (Chap. 8); the suitability of synthetic opioids for neuropathic pain; endocrinopathy proceeding from opioid use; the use of the morphine-equivalent daily dose as a conversion tool for managing multiple opioids; the place of extended-release and long-acting opioids; current technology in abuse deterrence; and an overview of the challenges entailed in prescribing. This last section details the complex components of a decision to prescribe opioids for chronic pain. A table is provided of the classification of common opioid analgesics and their duration of activity. A text box gives the table of contents of Appendix B, supportive tables and figures therein for this chapter; there is also a text box listing additional resources.