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Abstract
The current literature describes the possible risks for bone fracture in chronic analgesics users. There are three main hypotheses that could explain the increased risk of fracture associated with central analgesics, such as opioids: 1) the increased risk of falls caused by central nervous system effects, including sedation and dizziness; 2) reduced bone mass density caused by the direct opioid effect on osteoblasts; and 3) chronic opioid-induced hypogonadism. The impact of opioids varies by sex and among the type of opioid used (less, for example, for tapentadol and buprenorphine). Opioid-associated androgen deficiency is correlated with an increased risk of osteoporosis; thus, despite that standards have not been established for monitoring and treating opioid-induced hypogonadism or hypoadrenalism, all patients chronically taking opioids (particularly at doses ≥100 mg morphine daily) should be monitored for the early detection of hormonal impairment and low bone mass density.
Disclosure
Flaminia Coluzzi and Consalvo Mattia serve as consultants, speakers, and members of advisory boards for several pharmaceutical companies. Joseph Pergolizzi and Robert B Raffa are speakers, consultants, and/or basic science investigators for several pharmaceutical companies involved in analgesic research, but they receive no royalties (cash or otherwise) from the sale of any products. The authors report no other conflicts of interest in this work.