Maria Cristina Constantinescu *, Delia Cinteză **
* Dr. Maria Cristina Constantinescu, asistent universitar, Catedra de Farmacologie, UMF Carol
Davila, București
** Dr. Delia Cinteză, asistent universitar, Catedra de Recuperare Medicală și Balneofizioterapie, UMF Carol Davila, București
Abstract
Morphine and other strong opioids are still, more than 180 years after the synthesis of morphine, not adequately used in clinical practice and many patients suffer unnecessarily severe pain in consequence. The underuse of morphine and its restriction in many countries is mostly due to fears concerning respiratory depression, tolerance and addiction, myths that clinical experience do not show to be entirely true. Individualization of analgesic dosage to each patient’s needs can provide excellent relief of pain in most patients, but requires selection of the right analgesic in the right dose at the right intervals.