Tag: Opioid induced hyperalgesia

Despite clear clinical guidelines against their use, studies show that opioids, including morphine, continue to be prescribed for a significant portion of migraine-related emergency department visits. However, morphine is contraindicated in headaches due to a higher risk of adverse effects compared to its limited effectiveness.

For more than a century, clinicians have noted a baffling phenomenon in which patients on opioid pain medication experience a worsening of pain instead of relief. This paradoxical effect of opioids, known as opioid-induced hyperalgesia (OIH), is a serious and complex side effect of long-term opioid therapy. It is crucial for patients and healthcare providers to understand this condition to manage pain safely and effectively.

In 2019, approximately 50.2 million U.S. adults experienced chronic pain, with over 22% using prescription opioids [1.6.2]. A perplexing issue in jejich management is the opioid paradox, a state where these potent painkillers actually increase pain sensitivity [1.2.2].