Opioids are very effective analgesics for treating perioperative pain in our veterinary patients. Join us on May 6th to learn practical tips for managing your patients’ pain.
Click here to register or download the brochure for more information.
#1 Opioids have little cross tolerance between most receptor subtypes, which means that you can try other drugs within the same receptor class as another strategy to manage pain.
#2 Greater potency ≠ Greater efficacy
A partial agonist buprenorphine has greater potency (requires less mg to exert its effects) than full agonist morphine but does not produce the same maximal level of analgesia (less efficacy).
#3 Morphine and pethidine when administered rapidly intravenously (IV) can result in a histamine release in your patient.
#4 Whilst Antagonists completely reverse the opioids effect (and side effects) they also increase intracranial pressure
#5 Antagonist use if not carefully considered and administered will lead to acute awareness of pain, which can lead to sympathetic stimulation resulting in catecholamine release, cardiac arrhythmias, hypertension and possible death.
