Abstract
Opioid-Induced Sleep Apnea: Is It a Real Problem?
Highlights
In 1997 the American Academy of Pain Medicine and the American Pain Society stated that “it is accepted...that respiratory depression induced by opioids tends to be a short lived phenomenon, generally occurs only in opioid-naïve patients and is antagonized by pain
The author pointed out that respiration becomes shallow and irregular leading to hypercapnia and hypoxia
The respiratory disturbances differed according to the mode of application
Summary
In 1997 the American Academy of Pain Medicine and the American Pain Society stated that “it is accepted...that respiratory depression induced by opioids tends to be a short lived phenomenon, generally occurs only in opioid-naïve patients and is antagonized by pain. Pain therapists and oncologists reassure their patients regarding respiratory side effects in longterm treatment with opioids? That for far too long sufficient palliation has been withheld from pain patients, in fear of side effects, addiction, and misuse of opioids. In 2007 the broad spectrum of SRBD under opioids were described retrospectively by Walker et al.[8] Besides obstructive disturbances, they found central apneas, ataxic or irregular respiration, and periods of sustained hypoventilation.
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