Side effects of commonly prescribed analgesic medications

Gregory T Carter; Vicky Duong; Stanley Ho; Kathryn C Ngo; Christopher L Greer; Douglas L Weeks

doi:10.1016/j.pmr.2014.01.007

Side effects of commonly prescribed analgesic medications

Phys Med Rehabil Clin N Am. 2014 May;25(2):457-70. doi: 10.1016/j.pmr.2014.01.007.

Authors

Gregory T Carter¹, Vicky Duong², Stanley Ho², Kathryn C Ngo², Christopher L Greer³, Douglas L Weeks³

Affiliations

¹ St. Luke's Rehabilitation Institute, 711 South Cowley Street, Spokane, WA 99202-1330, USA; University of Washington, School of Medicine, Seattle, WA 98195, USA. Electronic address: gtcarter@uw.edu.
² Department of Pharmacotherapy, Washington State University, Spokane, WA 99202-1330, USA.
³ St. Luke's Rehabilitation Institute, 711 South Cowley Street, Spokane, WA 99202-1330, USA; Department of Pharmacotherapy, Washington State University, Spokane, WA 99202-1330, USA.

PMID: 24787343
DOI: 10.1016/j.pmr.2014.01.007

Abstract

Analgesics, including opioids, steroidal and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, aspirin, acetaminophen, antiepileptics, and serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors, are medications commonly used to treat many forms of pain. However, all of these agents may have significant adverse side effects. Adverse effects may occasionally be inseparable from desired effects. Side effects are often dose dependent and time dependent. It is critical that the prescribing practitioner and the dispensing pharmacist provide a thorough, understandable review of the potential side effects to all patients before these drugs are administered. Proper monitoring and follow-up during therapy are crucial.

Keywords: Adverse drug events; Analgesics; Chronic pain; Patient counseling; Side effects.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Analgesics / adverse effects
Analgesics / therapeutic use
Analgesics, Opioid / adverse effects
Analgesics, Opioid / therapeutic use
Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / adverse effects
Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / therapeutic use
Chronic Pain / diagnosis
Chronic Pain / drug therapy*
Counseling / methods
Drug-Related Side Effects and Adverse Reactions / epidemiology*
Drug-Related Side Effects and Adverse Reactions / etiology*
Drug-Related Side Effects and Adverse Reactions / physiopathology
Female
Humans
Incidence
Male
Monitoring, Physiologic
Pain Management / adverse effects*
Pain Management / methods
Pain, Intractable / diagnosis
Pain, Intractable / drug therapy
Prognosis
Risk Assessment
Severity of Illness Index

Substances

Analgesics
Analgesics, Opioid
Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal