Opioid-Induced Endocrinopathy: Diagnosis and Screening

ABSTRACT

Opioid prescribing in Europe has continued to increase since the 2005 Pain in Europe report, which highlighted that a significant number of patients were treated with opioid analgesics. Chronic opioid use can cause secondary hypogonadism, affecting up to 5 million men in the USA and Canada treated for chronic noncancer pain. Studies have raised concerns regarding an increased risk of osteopenia associated with daily opioid use patients for opioid-induced hypogonadism, but more subtle signs and symptoms make screening more challenging in women than in men. Monitoring total testosterone blood level does not reliably determine the risk of developing opioid-associated osteoporosis. There is no consensus on when to screen.

KEYWORDS :

• endocrinopathy
• gonadotropin
• hypogonadism
• luteinizing hormone
• opioids