A new British study has identified which opioid painkillers are most closely linked to life threatening breathing problems. The findings show that the risk varies significantly between different types of opioid medication, reports Unilad.
Researchers examined the risks of opioids
Researchers from the University of Manchester investigated how different opioids affect the risk of respiratory depression, a condition that can lead to a fatal overdose.
One painkiller stood out
Among the opioids included in the study, fentanyl was the medication most strongly associated with serious breathing problems.
The risk was three times higher
Patients who received fentanyl were three times more likely to develop breathing problems than those treated with morphine.
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Significantly higher risk of respiratory depression
The study also found that fentanyl was associated with an 85 percent higher risk of respiratory depression compared with morphine.
More than 32,000 patients were included
The findings were based on electronic health records from 32,909 adults treated at hospitals in north west England.
Dangerously slow breathing was the focus
Researchers identified cases in which patients' breathing slowed to a dangerously low level after receiving opioid treatment.
The condition can have serious consequences
According to the study, respiratory depression occurs when breathing becomes too slow or too shallow and can lead to respiratory failure or cardiac arrest.
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Several opioid medications were compared
The analysis included fentanyl, morphine, codeine, tramadol and oxycodone.
Using multiple opioids increased the risk
Patients who received more than one opioid had a 50 percent higher risk of breathing problems than those treated with morphine alone.
Codeine was linked to the lowest risk
The researchers found that both morphine and oxycodone were associated with a greater risk of breathing problems than codeine.
Opioids are used to treat severe pain
According to the article, opioids are commonly prescribed following surgery, serious injuries and during cancer treatment.
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Researchers hope to improve treatment decisions
Dr. Meghna Jani, the study's senior author from the University of Manchester, said the findings could help doctors and patients make more informed treatment decisions while identifying when closer monitoring may be needed.
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