Resistant to morphine
July 18, 2013 | 30,00 EUR | answered by Christian Welsch
Hello. There are indeed people who are resistant to morphine or for whom it simply does not work, as is the case with the majority of patients. Is it possible to measure or medically determine and prove this resistance? If so, what is the name of this examination and which doctor/specialist offers such a test?
Dear questioner,
Some people (not all) may develop a tolerance (decreased effectiveness) to the pain-relieving effects of opioids (such as morphine, fentanyl, tramadol, etc.) after a certain period of time of taking them.
The cell receptors that process opioids may "fatigue" over time and eventually only transmit the pain-relieving effect in a weakened way.
As far as I know, this cannot be predicted or measured. This phenomenon may occur in some individuals but not in others, and it may also vary depending on the specific opioid being used. Therefore, the recommendation is: if the effectiveness of opioids diminishes, it is always worth trying a different medication with a different active ingredient.
Do you have any questions? Perhaps you would like to specify your concerns a bit more?
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