Open AccessImprovement in Sexual Function After Reduction of Chronic High‐Dose Opioid Medication in a Cancer Survivor
Author(s) -
Rajagopal Arun,
Bruera Eduardo D.
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
pain medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.893
H-Index - 97
eISSN - 1526-4637
pISSN - 1526-2375
DOI - 10.1111/j.1526-4637.2003.03041.x
Subject(s) - sexual function , medicine , opioid , libido , cancer pain , morphine , anesthesia , chronic pain , cancer , sexual dysfunction , visual analogue scale , physical therapy , receptor
ABSTRACT Objective. To demonstrate improvement in sexual function after reduction of opioids. Methods. This was a retrospective examination of a single patient at the cancer pain management clinic at M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas. The patient was a 58‐year‐old male, free of cancer for 12 years, with chronic low back pain from a prior retroperitoneal mass. Changes in scores from the Brief Male Sexual Inventory and visual analog scale pain questionnaires were used to evaluate the patient. Results. In this patient, a decrease in morphine‐equivalent daily dose from 690 mg to 20 mg resulted in a significant increase in sexual function. Sexual inventory scores increased from 4 to 43. Conclusions. Reduction in opioid consumption can dramatically increase libido and sexual function. A possible mechanism involves opioid‐related effects on the hypothalamic‐pituitary‐gonadal axis.