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Opioid-induced abnormal pain sensitivity

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Abstract

Opioid analgesics are effective for treating many pain conditions. Opioid analgesic tolerance is a pharmacologic phenomenon that could affect the clinical use of opioid analgesics. Recent studies have shown that neural plasticity associated with the development of opioid tolerance may activate a pronociceptive mechanism that could counteract the analgesic effects of opioids. Thus, exposure to opioids could lead to two seemingly unrelated cellular processes (ie, the development of opioid tolerance and opioid-induced pain sensitivity). Their converging effects may be part of the mechanisms leading to the reduced opioid analgesic efficacy in chronic opioid therapy.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. MGH Pain Center, Department of Anesthesia and Critical Care, Massachusetts General Hospital, 55 Fruit Street, 02114, Boston, MA, USA

    Jianren Mao MD, PhD

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  1. Jianren Mao MD, PhD
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Correspondence to Jianren Mao MD, PhD.

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Mao, J. Opioid-induced abnormal pain sensitivity. Current Science Inc 10, 67–70 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11916-006-0011-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11916-006-0011-5

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