Pain management for drug abusers in intensive care unit

Abstract

Pain is the most common reason a patient sees a physician, however, the physician faces one of the greatest challenges: the relief of chronic pain. Addiction, tolerance and dependence are the main terms of drug abuse in ICU. Addiction is characterized by an inability to stop using a drug; failure to meet work, social, or family obligations The tolerance, reflect physical dependence in which the body adapts to the drug, requiring more of it to achieve a certain effect and eliciting drug-specific physical or mental symptoms while, Dependence is caused by changes in the body as a result of constant exposure to a drug. Drug dependence is a medically treatable condition. The goal is to separate the patient from the drug slowly, instead of suddenly, to allow the body to readjust for normal functioning. For patients who have developed dependence as a side effect of taking a needed medication, a doctor can use the tapering method to minimize withdrawal. Withdrawal syndrome occurs in drug- and alcohol-addicted individuals who discontinue or reduce the use of their drug of choice. Signs and symptoms of withdrawal vary depending on the substance discontinued.