Towards a Comprehensive Theory of Non-Cancer Acute and Chronic Pain Management: The Critical Role of Reactive Oxygen and Nitrogen Species in Pain, and Opioid Dependence, Addiction, Hyperalgesia, and Tolerance

Background: In the past three decades, prescription opioid use has increased dramatically in the United States (US). This has resulted in opioid addiction, increased overdose deaths, and switch to heroin and illicitly manufactured fentanyl use. Although there has been a reduction in opioid prescript...

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Main Author: Tobore Onojighofia Tobore
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2021-07-01
Series:Advances in Redox Research
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2667137921000035
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author Tobore Onojighofia Tobore
author_facet Tobore Onojighofia Tobore
author_sort Tobore Onojighofia Tobore
collection DOAJ
description Background: In the past three decades, prescription opioid use has increased dramatically in the United States (US). This has resulted in opioid addiction, increased overdose deaths, and switch to heroin and illicitly manufactured fentanyl use. Although there has been a reduction in opioid prescriptions from peak levels, they remain critical in pain management. The objective of this narrative review is to discuss the complex role of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species in opioid adverse effects, pain, and pain management. Methods: PubMed/Medline, PsycINFO, PubMed Central, and EBSCO were accessed for published articles between January 1, 1970, and February 20, 2021. 419 relevant articles including preclinical studies, randomized clinical trials, observational studies, meta-analyses, narrative and systemic reviews were selected. Results: Reactive oxygen and nitrogen species play a critical role in pain, and opioid dependence, tolerance, addiction, and hyperalgesia. Oxidative/Nitroxidative stress modulates the complex relationship between pain, opioids, and pain exacerbating factors. Conclusions: Opioids remain useful in both acute and chronic pain management but should be used cautiously and at specific times aided by tools assessing patient's risk of opioid abuse and pain chronicity. The best way to treat pain that does not require surgery is an integrated approach aimed at attenuating oxidative/nitroxidative stress which includes lifestyle changes, sleep improvement, diet, exercise, stress reduction, patient education, and opioid-free multimodal analgesic (MMA) regimen. For non-emergency treatment/surgeries, moderate and high-risk patients for increased pain chronicity and poor pain treatment outcomes should be recommended to engage in activities that attenuate oxidative/nitroxidative stress 4-8 weeks before treatment/surgery. The same activities should be recommended for such patients in emergency and non-emergency situations 4-8 weeks post-treatment/surgery.
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spelling doaj.art-d4be9585ccf44d6e92c2ca2e2b7dd2682022-12-21T19:24:48ZengElsevierAdvances in Redox Research2667-13792021-07-012100003Towards a Comprehensive Theory of Non-Cancer Acute and Chronic Pain Management: The Critical Role of Reactive Oxygen and Nitrogen Species in Pain, and Opioid Dependence, Addiction, Hyperalgesia, and ToleranceTobore Onojighofia Tobore0Independent Scholar, San Diego, California, United StatesBackground: In the past three decades, prescription opioid use has increased dramatically in the United States (US). This has resulted in opioid addiction, increased overdose deaths, and switch to heroin and illicitly manufactured fentanyl use. Although there has been a reduction in opioid prescriptions from peak levels, they remain critical in pain management. The objective of this narrative review is to discuss the complex role of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species in opioid adverse effects, pain, and pain management. Methods: PubMed/Medline, PsycINFO, PubMed Central, and EBSCO were accessed for published articles between January 1, 1970, and February 20, 2021. 419 relevant articles including preclinical studies, randomized clinical trials, observational studies, meta-analyses, narrative and systemic reviews were selected. Results: Reactive oxygen and nitrogen species play a critical role in pain, and opioid dependence, tolerance, addiction, and hyperalgesia. Oxidative/Nitroxidative stress modulates the complex relationship between pain, opioids, and pain exacerbating factors. Conclusions: Opioids remain useful in both acute and chronic pain management but should be used cautiously and at specific times aided by tools assessing patient's risk of opioid abuse and pain chronicity. The best way to treat pain that does not require surgery is an integrated approach aimed at attenuating oxidative/nitroxidative stress which includes lifestyle changes, sleep improvement, diet, exercise, stress reduction, patient education, and opioid-free multimodal analgesic (MMA) regimen. For non-emergency treatment/surgeries, moderate and high-risk patients for increased pain chronicity and poor pain treatment outcomes should be recommended to engage in activities that attenuate oxidative/nitroxidative stress 4-8 weeks before treatment/surgery. The same activities should be recommended for such patients in emergency and non-emergency situations 4-8 weeks post-treatment/surgery.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2667137921000035Acute and Chronic Pain ManagementMultimodal analgesic regimen (MMA)OpioidsDependenceAddictionHyperalgesia
spellingShingle Tobore Onojighofia Tobore
Towards a Comprehensive Theory of Non-Cancer Acute and Chronic Pain Management: The Critical Role of Reactive Oxygen and Nitrogen Species in Pain, and Opioid Dependence, Addiction, Hyperalgesia, and Tolerance
Advances in Redox Research
Acute and Chronic Pain Management
Multimodal analgesic regimen (MMA)
Opioids
Dependence
Addiction
Hyperalgesia
title Towards a Comprehensive Theory of Non-Cancer Acute and Chronic Pain Management: The Critical Role of Reactive Oxygen and Nitrogen Species in Pain, and Opioid Dependence, Addiction, Hyperalgesia, and Tolerance
title_full Towards a Comprehensive Theory of Non-Cancer Acute and Chronic Pain Management: The Critical Role of Reactive Oxygen and Nitrogen Species in Pain, and Opioid Dependence, Addiction, Hyperalgesia, and Tolerance
title_fullStr Towards a Comprehensive Theory of Non-Cancer Acute and Chronic Pain Management: The Critical Role of Reactive Oxygen and Nitrogen Species in Pain, and Opioid Dependence, Addiction, Hyperalgesia, and Tolerance
title_full_unstemmed Towards a Comprehensive Theory of Non-Cancer Acute and Chronic Pain Management: The Critical Role of Reactive Oxygen and Nitrogen Species in Pain, and Opioid Dependence, Addiction, Hyperalgesia, and Tolerance
title_short Towards a Comprehensive Theory of Non-Cancer Acute and Chronic Pain Management: The Critical Role of Reactive Oxygen and Nitrogen Species in Pain, and Opioid Dependence, Addiction, Hyperalgesia, and Tolerance
title_sort towards a comprehensive theory of non cancer acute and chronic pain management the critical role of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species in pain and opioid dependence addiction hyperalgesia and tolerance
topic Acute and Chronic Pain Management
Multimodal analgesic regimen (MMA)
Opioids
Dependence
Addiction
Hyperalgesia
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2667137921000035
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