OBJECTIVE: One potential consequence of chronic opioid analgesic administration is a paradoxical increase of pain sensitivity over time. Little scientific attention has been given to how cessation of opioid medication affects the hyperalgesic state. In this study, we examined the effects of opioid tapering on pain sensitivity in chronic pain patients. DESIGN: Twelve chronic pain patients on long-term opioid analgesic treatment were observed in a 7- to 14-day inpatient pain rehabilitation program, with cold pain tolerance assessed at admission and discharge. The majority of participants were completely withdrawn from their opioids during their stay. OUTCOME MEASURES: We hypothesized that those patients with the greatest reduction in daily opioid use would show the greatest increases in pain tolerance, as assessed by a cold pressor task. RESULTS: A linear regression revealed that the amount of opioid medication withdrawn was a significant predictor of pain tolerance changes, but not in the direction hypothesized. Greater opioid reduction was associated with decreased pain tolerance. This reduction of pain tolerance was not associated with opioid withdrawal symptoms or changes in general pain. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that the withdrawal of opioids in a chronic pain sample leads to an acute increase in pain sensitivity.
OBJECTIVE: One potential consequence of chronic opioid analgesic administration is a paradoxical increase of pain sensitivity over time. Little scientific attention has been given to how cessation of opioid medication affects the hyperalgesic state. In this study, we examined the effects of opioid tapering on pain sensitivity in chronic painpatients. DESIGN: Twelve chronic painpatients on long-term opioid analgesic treatment were observed in a 7- to 14-day inpatient pain rehabilitation program, with cold pain tolerance assessed at admission and discharge. The majority of participants were completely withdrawn from their opioids during their stay. OUTCOME MEASURES: We hypothesized that those patients with the greatest reduction in daily opioid use would show the greatest increases in pain tolerance, as assessed by a cold pressor task. RESULTS: A linear regression revealed that the amount of opioid medication withdrawn was a significant predictor of pain tolerance changes, but not in the direction hypothesized. Greater opioid reduction was associated with decreased pain tolerance. This reduction of pain tolerance was not associated with opioid withdrawal symptoms or changes in general pain. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that the withdrawal of opioids in a chronic pain sample leads to an acute increase in pain sensitivity.
Authors: Luis R Gardell; Ruizhong Wang; Shannon E Burgess; Michael H Ossipov; Todd W Vanderah; T Philip Malan; Josephine Lai; Frank Porreca Journal: J Neurosci Date: 2002-08-01 Impact factor: 6.167
Authors: Nicholas Avery; Amy G McNeilage; Fiona Stanaway; Claire E Ashton-James; Fiona M Blyth; Rebecca Martin; Ali Gholamrezaei; Paul Glare Journal: BMJ Date: 2022-04-04