Opioid misuse in palliative care – a significant problem or unavoidable “side effect”

Łukasz Banaszek; Monika Rudzińska; Tomasz Ufniarski; Zofia Śliwa; Paulina Piechowicz; Tomasz Dzierżanowski

doi:10.5114/pm.2024.140683

eISSN: 2081-2833
ISSN: 2081-0016

Medycyna Paliatywna/Palliative Medicine

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2/2024
vol. 16

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abstract:

Guidelines/recommendations

Opioid misuse in palliative care – a significant problem or unavoidable “side effect”

Łukasz Banaszek

¹

,

Monika Rudzińska

¹

,

Tomasz Ufniarski

¹

,

Zofia Śliwa

¹

,

Paulina Piechowicz

¹

,

Tomasz Dzierżanowski

^{1, 2}

Klinika Medycyny Paliatywnej, Warszawski Uniwersytet Medyczny, Warszawa, Polska
Caritas Diecezji Warszawsko-Praskiej, Warszawa, Polska

Medycyna Paliatywna 2024; 16(2): 109–119

DOI: https://doi.org/10.5114/pm.2024.140683

Online publish date: 2024/06/19

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Opioid medication is an integral part of pain management in palliative care. However, opioid

therapy poses a risk of misuse and abuse of these drugs. Identifying this problem can be difficult due to the specificity of the patient population, as well as the complexity of the potential causes. One strategy to prevent this phenomenon is the early identification of patients at risk. Several tools exist to assess the risk of abnormalities during opioid therapy. Structured use of these tools in combination with careful clinical examination, regular medical visits, and laboratory tests can further reduce risk and increase the safety and efficacy of opioid treatment. In this article, we have presented the current state of knowledge on inappropriate use of opioid medications in palliative care, risk factors, and outcomes. In addition, we have provided examples of tools and solutions that should be implemented to minimise the risk of opioid medication inadequacies.

keywords:

Opioid misuse in palliative care – a significant problem or unavoidable “side effect”

Łukasz Banaszek 1 , Monika Rudzińska 1 , Tomasz Ufniarski 1 , Zofia Śliwa 1 , Paulina Piechowicz 1 , Tomasz Dzierżanowski 1, 2

drug misuse, opioids, opioid dependence, palliative care, palliative treatment

Łukasz Banaszek

¹

,

Monika Rudzińska

¹

,

Tomasz Ufniarski

¹

,

Zofia Śliwa

¹

,

Paulina Piechowicz

¹

,

Tomasz Dzierżanowski

^{1, 2}