Opioids are most often used medically to relieve pain by attaching to opioid receptors in the brain, spinal cord, gastrointestinal tract and other organs in the body and facilitating reduction in the pain perception. During treatment with opioids can some of adverse effects appear. Recently, studies confirming the relationship between opioid use and the lack of antioxidant defence of the body have been published. Negative intervention of opioid metabolism into the function of antioxidant mechanisms leads to the induction of oxidative stress, reduction in efficacy, modulation of pain perception and pathogenesis of other disease states.

ANTIOXIDANT CAPACITIES OF PATIENTS WITH CHRONIC PAIN AFTER STRONG OPIOID TREATMENT