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Opioid misuse in older patients requires careful consideration of many factors

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Abstract

There is insufficient clinical data on how to optimally treat and manage opioid misuse in older patients. Opioid use affects older adults differently to younger patients, which significantly impacts management strategies and treatment outcomes. Every older patient should be regularly screened for opioid use disorder. Detoxify, then manage withdrawal, utilising mainly buprenorphine and methadone, but consider physiological differences in older patients as well as comorbidities and concomitant medications.

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  1. Springer Nature, Private Bag 65901, Mairangi Bay, 0754, Auckland, New Zealand

    Connie Kang

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  1. Connie Kang
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Correspondence to Connie Kang.

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The preparation of this review was not supported by any external funding.

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C. Kang is a salaried employee of Adis International Ltd/Springer Nature and declares no relevant conflicts of interest. All authors contributed to the review and are responsible for the article content.

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Kang, C. Opioid misuse in older patients requires careful consideration of many factors. Drugs Ther Perspect 38, 527–531 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40267-022-00964-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40267-022-00964-0

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