Neuropsychological effects of long-term
opioid use in chronic pain patients
by
Jamison RN, Schein JR, Vallow S,
Ascher S, Vorsanger GJ, Katz NP.
Departments of Anesthesiology,
Perioperative and Pain Medicine
(R.N.J., N.P.K.)
and Psychiatry (R.N.J),
Brigham and Women's Hospital,
Harvard Medical School,
Boston, Massachusetts;
and
Janssen Pharmaceutica Inc.
(J.R.S, S.V., S.A., G.J.V.),
Titusville, New Jersey, USA
J Pain Symptom Manage. 2003 Oct;26(4):913-921

ABSTRACT

Opioids are thought to worsen the performance of psychomotor tasks due to their sedating and mental-clouding effects. As a result, some safety regulations currently restrict the use of opioids when driving or using heavy equipment. We investigated the psychomotor effects of long-term opioid use in 144 patients with low back pain. All subjects were administered two neuropsychological tests (Digit Symbol and Trail Making Test-B) before being prescribed opioids for pain; tests were re-administered at 90- and 180-day intervals. Test scores significantly improved while subjects were taking opioids for pain, which suggests that long-term use of oxycodone with acetaminophen or transdermal fentanyl does not significantly impair cognitive ability or psychomotor function.

Duragesic
Fentanyl for cats
Fentanyl analogs
4-methyl fentanyl
Driving on fentanyl
Fentanyl: synthesis
Transdermal fentanyl
Intravenous fentanyl
Push-button fentanyl
Fentanyl and serotonin
Fentanyl and ketamine
Opioids and anaesthesia
Fentanyl patches for dogs
Fentanyl patches for horses
Fentanyl: subjective effects
From codeine to transdermal fentanyl
Actiq ('perc-a-pop'): the fentanyl lollipop
Morphine: a mood-brightening smart drug?

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