Anaesthesia | Pain | Step II-III: Opioids - Principles of Opioid Treatment

Step II-III: Opioids - Principles of Opioid Treatment
Session Overview
Description
This session describes the principles of opioid therapy in particular dose titration and analgesic failure. It discusses how to control some of the adverse effects of opioid therapies.

Learning Objectives
By the end of this session you will be able to:

• Discuss the initiation of opioid therapy
• List the principles of dose titration
• Explain the principles of analgesic failure

Prerequisites
Before commencing this session you should:

• Module 07c/Systematic Pharmacology/Analgesics/ Opioid drugs: general properties and mechanisms of action (001-0776)
• Module 07c/Systematic Pharmacology/Analgesics/Morphine and other opioids (001-0777)
• Module 05a/Pharmacology Treatments/Atep I: Appropriate clinical use of simple analgesics (001-0511)
• Module 05a/Pharmacology Treatments/Step II-III: Commonly available opioids (001-0512)

One of the major reasons for inadequate pain control is the clinicians’ fear of the many well recognized side effects of opioids, namely:

• Sedation
• Respiratory depression
• Addiction

This session aims to:

• Describe the principles of opioid therapy
• Explain how to control adverse effects of opioid therapies

The key to a successful opioid pain treatment is achieving adequate analgesia while avoiding side effects.