Opioids are commonly prescribed because they are effective in relieving many types of pain. These medications are classified as narcotics and can be dangerous when abused. When used properly, opioids such as morphine help relieve the severe pain that follows surgery and alleviate the suffering of people with advanced cancer. For many people, opioids have been remarkably helpful; for others, it either hasn't worked or has created problems over time.
A study on postoperative pain management in children found that four COMT SNPs may play a significant role in inter-individual variation in postoperative pain perception and postoperative morphine requirements in children. 1
Related to:
pain medication, analgesics