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Opioids: endocrine disruptors

 Adverse Effects  Data from clinical trials, cohort studies and other sources show that opioids also have several endocrine effects, usually in the form of a hormone insufficiency, by acting on the hypothalamic-pituitary axis.
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  • Opioids are used as analgesics, cough suppressants, antidiarrhoeals or replacement therapy for other opioids. They have many adverse effects, especially gastrointestinal and neuropsychiatric disorders, respiratory depression and addiction.
     
  • Opioids also have endocrine adverse effects that differ according to the drug, route of administration, dose, treatment duration, and patient characteristics such as age and renal function. As a result, some effects appear more marked for opioids with a long duration of action or when taken for a long period or at high doses.

©Prescrire 1 December 2022

Source: "Opioids: endocrine disruptors" Prescrire International 2022; 31 (243): 296-298. Subscribers only.

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