TY - JOUR T1 - In older adults with chronic non-cancer pain, short-term use of opioids reduces pain and physical disability but does not benefit mental health, and 25% discontinue due to adverse effects JF - Evidence Based Nursing JO - Evid Based Nurs DO - 10.1136/ebn1173 SP - ebnurs1173 AU - Carol Haigh Y1 - 2011/06/01 UR - http://ebn.bmj.com/content/early/2011/06/17/ebn1173.abstract N2 - Commentary on: Papaleontiou M, Henderson CR Jr., Turner BJ, et al. Outcomes associated with opioid use in the treatment of chronic noncancer pain in older adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis. J Am Geriatr Soc 2010;58:1353–69.OpenUrlCrossRefPubMedWeb of Science ■ Nurses are often hesitant to recommend opiate use for non-cancer pain.■ People aged 65 and above are as likely to benefit from opioids as younger people.■ In older people with no significant comorbidity, short-term use of opioids reduces pain and improves physical functioning.■ 25% of patients stop using opioids because of adverse events, including constipation. ■ Long-term safety, efficacy and abuse potential in older persons are yet to be determined.■ Older age is associated with a lower likelihood of abuse and misuse of opioids. There have been a number of previously published systematic reviews on short-term outcomes associated with opioid treatment … ER -