Opioids and long-term pain management: nursing considerations
Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: Evidence suggests that opioids are no longer appropriate for long-term use in chronic non-malignant pain, due to lack of efficacy and risks to patients such as increasing tolerance and dependency, multiple physical side effects, mental health issues or even death from accidental overdose. This article considers the evidence on the appropriate use of opioids, and ways to safely implement and manage their long-term use. The author details best practice for nurses on subjects such as the use of opioids in the treatment of various types of pain, the principles of opioid stewardship, optimising the effects of opioids, and the risk of tolerance, dependency and dose escalation.
Source: Nursing Standard
Author: Rachael Barton
Institution: Edge Hill University
Language: English
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W4416841370