부산대학교 도서관

Opioids are a powerful tool to manage a variety of symptoms related to advanced illness, such as dyspnea and cancer-related pain. Common side effects seen in 15–25% of patients include drowsiness, sleep disturbance, and sedation. Rare side effects seen in 1–5% of cases include hyperalgesia, opioid-induced neurotoxicity, and overdose. Management of central nervous system side effects include dose reduction, symptomatic management with additional medications, opioid rotation, and cessation of opioid administration. The most severe side effect, overdose, is treated with naloxone. The development of adverse effects from opioids should always guide clinicians to weigh the treatment risks against the expected benefits.