RT Journal
A1 Darnall BD, Stacey BR
T1 Sex differences in long-term opioid use: Cautionary notes for prescribing in women
JF Archives of Internal Medicine
JO Archives of Internal Medicine
YR 2012
FD March 12
VO 172
IS 5
SP 431
OP 432
DO 10.1001/archinternmed.2011.1741
UL http://dx.doi.org/10.1001/archinternmed.2011.1741
AB 
Opioid therapy for chronic noncancer pain has been the topic of debate, including who is an appropriate candidate for prescription, what are correct dosages, and how to prevent opioid-related accidental death. One overlooked aspect of this debate is attention to the sex differences related to the use of opioids and the specific risks for women. Epidemiological studies of pharmacy claims in the United States show that opioids are more likely to be prescribed to women than men and that women are more likely to be taking higher doses of opioids.1 In recent years, opioid prescription has increased among both sexes, but the temporal slope for opioid prescription is greater for women than for men, suggesting that this sex disparity is widening over time.2