Definition of and mechanism for opioid-induced sedation

Although sedation is acknowledged to be one of the most common side effects of opioid analgesics, the mechanisms and characteristics of this phenomenon remain elusive, and research in this area is extremely limited. This report integrates research findings on the mechanism of action of opioids with...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Pain management nursing 2001-09, Vol.2 (3), p.84-97
Main Authors: Young-McCaughan, Stacey, Miaskowski, Christine
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Analgesics, Opioid - pharmacology
Animals
Anti-Anxiety Agents - pharmacology
Arousal - drug effects
Arousal - physiology
Benzodiazepines
Circadian Rhythm - drug effects
Circadian Rhythm - physiology
Conscious Sedation
Consciousness - drug effects
Consciousness - physiology
Drug Therapy, Combination
Electroencephalography - drug effects
Female
Humans
Male
Nursing
Rats
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Summary:Although sedation is acknowledged to be one of the most common side effects of opioid analgesics, the mechanisms and characteristics of this phenomenon remain elusive, and research in this area is extremely limited. This report integrates research findings on the mechanism of action of opioids with research findings on the phenomenon of consciousness to develop a model of how opioids may act in the central nervous system to produce sedation. Based on this integration, a definition of opioid-induced sedation is proposed to encourage dialogue and research on this perplexing and clinically significant phenomenon. © 2001 by the American Society of Pain Management Nurses
ISSN:1524-9042
1532-8635
DOI:10.1053/jpmn.2001.25012