Klin Farmakol Farm. 2023;37(2):72-76 | DOI: 10.36290/far.2023.013

Risks of opioid use in the elderly with persistent pain

Marek Lapka
Ústav farmakologie, 3. lékařská fakulta UK, Praha

Opioids are commonly prescribed analgesics that work by binding to opioid receptors. Although the risks associated with the opioid use have long been known, there are several issues which clinicians still encounter with. This article aims to present selected risks of long-term use of opioid analgesics in the treatment of persistent pain in the elderly and how to prevent them. Besides, it discusses the prescribing characteristics of this population with respect to their pharmacological characteristics and summarizes the specifications of selected opioid analgesics that may be considered in the elderly.

Keywords: opioids, long-term use, risks, elderly.

Accepted: July 10, 2023; Published: July 10, 2023  Show citation

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Lapka M. Risks of opioid use in the elderly with persistent pain. Klin Farmakol Farm. 2023;37(2):72-76. doi: 10.36290/far.2023.013.
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