RT Journal
A1 Sullivan MD, Ballantyne JC
T1 WHat are we treating with long-term opioid therapy?
JF Archives of Internal Medicine
JO Archives of Internal Medicine
YR 2012
FD March 12
VO 172
IS 5
SP 433
OP 434
DO 10.1001/archinternmed.2011.2156
UL http://dx.doi.org/10.1001/archinternmed.2011.2156
AB 
At present, we see widespread use of long-term opioid therapy (LtOT) for chronic noncancer pain based on the moral argument that this type of pain causes as much suffering and deserves treatment as much as cancer pain, as well as on the “scientific” argument that enduring analgesia can be achieved at stable doses with minimal risk of addiction.1 While modest reductions (approximately 30%) in pain have been reported during the 3-month duration of most trials, other prospective studies suggest that LtOT (>3 months) may not provide sustained analgesia or improve role function in a clear majority of patients.2 Some nonrandomized prospective studies suggest that opioid treatment may actually retard functional recovery.3- 4