Abstract

MENCIAS, A. B.  and  RODRIGUEZ, J. L.. Considerations on the use of opioids in chronic pain of elderly patients. Rev. Soc. Esp. Dolor [online]. 2008, vol.15, n.7, pp.463-474. ISSN 1134-8046.

The number of elderly patients is increasing every day in our society. Old age, formerly a privilege of the few, is now reached by many people, who often lead social and active lives and who are also in good health. However, as one reaches sixtyfive years of age and beyond, there is a gradual reduction in one’s functional abilities and, as a result, chronic diseases are common leading to disabilities. Medical care seeks to extend the lives of the elderly but, more importantly, to improve their quality of life. We believe, as the main objective of our work, that it is essential to learn the physiological, pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic characteristics of elderly patients for the proper management and control of analgesic use while ensuring minimal risk. Similarly, we believe that increasing an elderly patient’s functional abilities and quality of life are also of the utmost importance. Opioid analgesics represent a key therapeutic weapon in the management of moderate-severe pain. Despite the reluctance to use opioids in dealing with the chronic pain of elderly patients, its analgesic efficacy and high safety profile have now been proven. Thus, we must be guided by the risk-benefit equation when it comes to considering analgesic treatments for elderly patients, always mindful of their physiological, pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic characteristics. As a final thought, we acknowledge the high prevalence of pain in the elderly but would like to stress that many of them do not receive proper treatment. Pharmacological research has helped to develop a great amount of therapeutic drugs for pain treatment, demonstrating that opioid analgesics represent a key therapeutic weapon in the management of moderate-severe pain with a high rate of analgesic efficacy and a high safety profile.

Keywords : elderly; chronic pain; opioids.

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