The Relationship between Opioids Use, Cortisol and DHEAS.
10.14475/kjhpc.2015.18.2.105
- Author:
Ji Hoon JUNG
1
;
Youn Seon CHOI
;
Seon Mee KIM
;
June Young LEE
;
Eun Hye KIM
;
Jung Eun KIM
;
E Yeon KIM
;
Hee Jin PARK
;
Dong Jin YOON
Author Information
1. Department of Family Medicine, Korea University Guro Hospital, Seoul, Korea. younseon@korea.ac.kr
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
Opioid analgesics;
Adrenal insufficiency;
Hydrocortisone;
Dehydroepiandrosterone
- MeSH:
Adrenal Insufficiency;
Analgesics, Opioid*;
Appetite;
Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate;
Dehydroepiandrosterone*;
Fatigue;
Hospices;
Humans;
Hydrocortisone*;
Palliative Care;
Terminally Ill
- From:Korean Journal of Hospice and Palliative Care
2015;18(2):105-111
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
-
Abstract:
PURPOSE: Fatigue, energy loss, feeling of helplessness, poor appetite, pain besides general weakness are major symptoms presented to terminally ill cancer patients. These symptoms are similar to those that appeared with adrenal insufficiency. Also, for terminally ill cancer patients who are hospitalized for palliative care, opioid agents are prescribed to control moderate to severe pain. We studied the relationship of opioid agents and adrenal insufficiency. METHODS: From November 2013 through June 2014, we monitored the serum level of cortisol and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS, serum) in 55 cancer patients who were over 18 years old and were treated at a hospice center. We also checked the treatment period and dosage of opioid agents. RESULTS: The DHEAS level, treatment period and dosage of opioid agents did not have significant correlation. Correlation between the serum cortisol level and the opioid agent treatment period was not significant either, but the serum cortisol level was positively correlated with the dosage of opioid agents (P value 0.0322). CONCLUSION: This study did not identify a novel link between treatment period, dosage of opioid agents and adrenal insufficiency. But, the DHEAS level was mostly below the normal level in patients who were treated with opioid agents.
