UI - 000250

AU - France RD

AU - Urban BJ

AU - Keefe FJ

TI - Long-term use of narcotic analgesics in chronic pain

AB - AB - The use of narcotic analgesics have been avoided by clinicians in patients with chronic pain

syndromes. Uncertainty as to the etiological cause of chronic pain, development of addiction and habituation

and associated psychological and behavioral symptoms found in chronic pain states which are not amenable

to narcotic medications are the major reasons narcotics are not prescribed. This communication describes the

long-term use of low dose narcotic analgesics as a treatment component of a comprehensive pain

management program and addresses the questions of whether or not narcotic efficacy is maintained in long-

term use, improvement of patients' function is continued and side effects develop as a result of this treatment

UI - 85168356

SO - Soc Sci Med 1984;19:1379-1382