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Safety Issues in the Pharmacologic Management of Chronic Pain in the Elderly
Author(s) -
Shimp Leslie A.
Publication year - 1998
Publication title -
pharmacotherapy: the journal of human pharmacology and drug therapy
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.227
H-Index - 109
eISSN - 1875-9114
pISSN - 0277-0008
DOI - 10.1002/j.1875-9114.1998.tb03154.x
Subject(s) - medicine , adverse effect , chronic pain , intensive care medicine , nonsteroidal , population , pain management , physical therapy , environmental health
Chronic pain is commonly encountered in elderly patients. About 20–50% of community‐dwelling elderly experience it, and 45–80% of nursing home residents may be affected. Selection of pharmacologic therapy for the management of chronic pain must take into consideration the increased potential for adverse effects in this population. Major classes of drugs used to treat chronic pain (nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs, opioids, antidepressants) have adverse effects that occur more frequently in elderly than in younger patients. Given the often prolonged duration of therapy, optimal management requires minimizing the risk of adverse reactions.