Alternative, non-opioid treatments for chronic pain
March 30, 2018, American Physiological Society
An estimated 2 million people in the U.S. are addicted to prescription opioids—powerful doctor-prescribed medications for chronic or severe pain. The drugs are commonly prescribed to treat gastrointestinal pain caused by conditions such as Crohn's disease and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), raising the risk of addiction among this population. A review published ahead of print in the American Journal of Physiology—Gastrointestinal and Liver Physiology explores newer, potentially safer therapies for treating chronic abdominal pain with lower risks of addiction and side effects.
Opioid drugs treat pain by binding to specialized nerve cells (called opioid receptors) in the brain and other parts of the body, including the gastrointestinal tract and spinal cord. Long-term use of opioids for chronic, generalized abdominal pain—also called visceral pain—can change the way the opioid receptors work, leading to addiction. Opioids can also cause respiratory depression—slowed breathing and a reduced ability to properly inhale and exhale—which can be fatal if not treated quickly.
https://medicalxpress.com/news/2018-03-alternative-non-opioid-treatments-chronic-pain.html
