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Patients’ self‐reported physical and psychological effects of opioid use in chronic noncancer pain—A retrospective cross‐sectional analysis
Author(s) -
Schulte Erika,
Spies Claudia,
Denke Claudia,
Meerpohl Joerg J.,
DonnerBanzhoff Norbert,
Petzke Frank,
Hertwig Ralph,
Schäfer Michael,
Wegwarth Odette
Publication year - 2022
Publication title -
european journal of pain
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.305
H-Index - 109
eISSN - 1532-2149
pISSN - 1090-3801
DOI - 10.1002/ejp.1868
Subject(s) - medicine , discontinuation , opioid , chronic pain , medical prescription , psychiatry , cross sectional study , ambulatory , receptor , pathology , pharmacology
Background Strong opioids can have unintended effects. Clinical studies of strong opioids mainly report physical side effects, psychiatric or opioid use disorders. To date, too little attention has been paid to the psychological effects of opioids to treat patients with chronic noncancer pain (CNCP). This study aims to identify and measure (i) the nature and frequency of physical and psychological effects and (ii) the degree of physician counseling of patients with CNCP taking strong opioids. Methods Within a cross‐sectional survey—conducted as part of a randomised controlled online intervention trial (ERONA [ E xperiencing the r isk of overusing o pioids among patients with chronic n on‐cancer pain in a mbulatory care])—300 German CNCP patients were surveyed via patient‐reported outcome measures regarding on both the side effects from their use of strong opioids as well as their counselling experience. Results Among the patients’ reported effects, the psychological outcomes of the opioids in CNCP were: feeling relaxed (84%), fatigue (76%), dizziness (57%), listlessness (37%), difficulty with mental activities (23%), dulled emotions (17%) and poor memory (17%). Ninety‐two per cent of the patients reported having received information about opioid effects, and 46% had discussed cessation of the opioid medication with their physicians before commencing the prescription. Conclusions In addition to the well‐known physical side effects, patients with CNCP taking strong opioids experience significant psychological effects. In view of these effects, discontinuation of opioid therapy should be discussed early to ensure their benefits do not outweigh their harm. Significance In this study, patients with non‐cancer pain notice that opioids they have taken do not only cause physical side effects but also may have an impact on their psyche and their emotions and, thus, may also affect quality of life substantially. Clinical trial number: DRKS00020358.