Sensitized brain response to acute pain in patients using prescription opiates for chronic pain: A pilot study.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Chronic opiate use leads to a sensitized behavioral response to acute pain, which in turn, leads to escalating doses of opiates. This study was designed to test the hypothesis that chronic opiate usage is also associated with a sensitized neurobiological response to acute pain in individuals that have used prescription opiates for 6 or more months.

Methods

Fourteen patients with non-alcoholic chronic pancreatitis that have been taking prescription opiates for 6 or more months and 14 gender matched, non-opiate using controls were enrolled. Functional neuroimaging data was acquired while participants received blocks of thermal stimulation to their wrist (individually-tailored to their pain threshold).

Results

Self-reported pain was significantly greater in op

SUBMITTER: Dowdle LT 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6914256 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature