stop childhood pain

Opioids, Morphine,
and Other Agents

Morphine and other opioids should not be used in children who have amplified musculoskeletal pain syndromes.

It has led to deaths. A Cochrane systematic review concluded that in adults with neuropathic pain there was only equivocal evidence of efficacy.  There is a risk for opioid and other drug addiction in those who use these medications.

  1. McNicol ED, Midbari A, Eisenberg E. Opioids for neuropathic pain. The Cochrane database of systematic reviews 2013;8:Cd006146

ABOUT DR. SHERRY

David D. Sherry, MD is the Clinical Director of Rheumatology, Professor of Pediatrics, at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. He is a medical editor for the Pediatric Rheumatology sub-board of the American Board of Pediatrics. Dr. Sherry authored the chapter on amplified pain in “Textbook of Pediatric Rheumatology” (Cassidy, et al) and he lectures internationally on the topic. Over the span of his career, he has treated over 2000 children diagnosed with amplified pain syndromes.

An Overview of Amplified Musculoskeletal Pain Syndromes – 2000

Criteria for the Diagnosis of Fibromyalgia

Video – Amplified Musculoskeletal Pain Syndromes in Children: Diagnostic & Treatment Guidelines – 118 minutes – For families and healthcare professionals

Amplified Pain Explained

Dr. Sherry explains amplified pain.