Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to Elias A Khawam.
Adverse effects of antidepressant drugs can decrease compliance and delay recovery. It is therefore crucial to consider potential side effects when choosing an antidepressant. Although there is no perfect antidepressant that works quickly and is completely free of adverse reactions, newer antidepressants are safer, better tolerated, and associated with a lower rate of noncompliance.
Dyspnea, the sensation of difficult breathing, is a common debilitating symptom in advanced cancer and chronic progressive cardiopulmonary disease. Primary treatment is correction of the underlying etiology. In incurable illness wherein the cause is irreversible and the goal is palliation, opioids are the drugs of choice for symptomatic relief. This article reviews current knowledge in the pathophysiology of dyspnea, proposed opioid mechanism of action, and evidence of efficacy.