Opioid pharmacogenetics in anesthesia and pain management

ABSTRACT

Opioids are the cornerstone for treating moderate to severe pain and are commonly used for anesthesia and pain management. However, large inter-individual variability exists in the analgesic and adverse effects. It would be very helpful to predict the opioid response of each patient, considering the serious outcomes related to insufficient pain control and fatal side effects. Pharmacogenetic data on opioids have accumulated; thus, the aim of this article is to review the pharmacogenetic studies related to opioids frequently used for anesthesia and pain management.