Abstract:Background
Opioids are commonly used in the management of pain, diarrhoea, cough and dyspnoea. However, their ability to modulate the ubiquitous endogenous opioid system can lead to many side effects. A potentially covert side effect which has been attracting increasing interest relates to opioid-induced immune suppression. This may be of particular importance in patients with cancer or infection. The immunomodulatory effects of opioids require an increased awareness within palliative care given that patients … Show more
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