research

According to the Federal Agency for Health Care Policy and Research " Patients on long term opioid therapy usually develop tolerance over time to the respiratory depressant effects of these agents" Studies show that patients with advanced malignancies show no evidence of respiratory failure even at very high dosages of oral morphine. Note: Respiratory depression however remains a hazard in non-compliant patients, particularly when they take high dosages and mix their medications with other illegal or legal drugs or alcohol.