Opioids are often prescribed to help those with chronic pain manage sleep problems associated with their condition. New research reports opioids effect on sleep quality is limited and of poor quality. Additionally, opioids can increase the risk of sleep apnea.
A new study links high-dose opioid use to an increased risk of hearing loss and auditory problems. Researchers believe hearing problems may be a result of toxicity to the ear related to opioid exposure.
Centralized sensation, or abnormal pain processing in the brain and spinal cord, may be an important underlying factor complicating the treatment of chronic pain in those with opioid use disorder.
Researchers have developed a variant of the Mu opioid receptor which has several advantages for experimentation The variant can be grown in large quantities and is water soluble, allowing for experiments and applications which have previously been challenging.
According to a new study, having a larger social network can make you more tolerant to pain.
Opioid use disorder affects genes associated with proinflammatory immune molecule encoding and genes associated with remodeling the extracellular matrix, suggesting the connection between neurons may be altered as a result of opioid use. Additionally, those with OUD have higher levels of microglia in the brain.
35% of patients who used ketamine to manage pain reported significant side effects ranging from hallucination, out-of-body experiences, visual disturbances, and urinary dysfunction. 20% of the side effects were linked directly to ketamine, and 15% associated with ketamine in combination with other drugs.
Scientists reported successful preclinical tests in rats of a new vaccine against heroin addiction. The vaccine targets heroin and its psychoactive breakdown products in the bloodstream, blocking relapse.
Almost 1 in 5 people now use opioids to treat migraines. Researchers say a growing number of patients are using opioids to replace medications approved and specially designed to treat migraines, despite knowing the risks of opioid use.
Opioids impact the gut microbiome of developing fetuses, altering metabolic pathways and increasing the risks of both neurological and behavioral differences later in life.
Researchers have discovered chemical circuits and mechanisms in the brain that separate food consumption from cravings.
A new study reports on the worrying numbers of children and teens admitted to hospital each year for prescription opioid poisoning.