Opioids: Basic Concepts in Clinical Practice

For centuries, opioids have been utilized to relieve pain and suffering. In current practice, opiates are employed to provide analgesia arising from both acute and chronic conditions. Acutely, opioids are most commonly used to treat pain following injury, surgery, or labor and delivery. They are also used to treat discomfort arising from exacerbations of medical disorders. In addition, opiates have been used in lower doses to treat cough; and they can also be effective in causing constipation or treating diarrhea. It is important to remember, however, that opiates merely treat these symptoms; the underlying disease remains.