Iatrogenic Side Effects of Pain Therapies

Pain treatments, especially for long-lasting pain, need to carefully balance the benefits of easing pain against the risks of side effects. Many common pain treatments can cause unwanted side effects. Even common over-the-counter pain relievers can have side effects, and stronger medications like opioids can cause constipation. It's important for doctors to check what medicines older patients are taking, because taking many medicines at once can be risky. Sometimes, stopping certain medicines may be a good idea, but this should be done carefully with a doctor's help. The goal is to make sure pain relief doesn't cause more problems than it solves.

• 1
  Interventional pain procedures can lead to nerve or vascular injuries, spinal cord trauma, and epidural abscesses, though these are rare.
• 2
  Opioids, while effective for pain relief, commonly cause constipation due to their action on opioid receptors in the gut.
• 3
  Polypharmacy in geriatric patients is a significant concern, increasing the risk of drug interactions and adverse effects.