Posted by Todd (216.199.4.154) on October 24, 1999 at 16:24:27:
In Reply to: Please Disreguard IF posted by h2odog on October 24, 1999 at 11:15:25:
Very interesting, Dog. Perhaps you know the answers to a few questions that come to mind.
1)Has the AMA issued a statement on this subject? I notice they didn't join the concensus statement of the AAPM and APS.
2)Dr. Hurwitz's article avoided the issue of addiction, but did mention "Withdrawal Symptoms" as a possible side effect. The symptoms sound pretty nasty, including an actual INCREASE in the underlying pain. He did say that resumption of the opioid would resolve these Withdrawal Symptoms. How does this differ from addiction, or dependence, if you prefer?
3) In the feature article about Patricia Townsend, the following was stated "Finally, a pain specialist prescribed morphine. While no cure, the pills gave her enough relief that she was able to visit friends for an hour." The unfortunate Ms. Townsend suffers incessant pain, 24/7, and uses the opioid for brief periods of relief. How does this relate to clusterheads, who rarely suffer more than 4 attacks of an hour or less per day? Would an on-going regimen of opioids prevent these attacks? Or would the opioid be used as an abortive? If the latter, how are opioids preferable to triptans and ergots>
Thanks for any insight you can provide!!!
KTSSU,
T