Effect of Opioids on Sleep

Karen Bergman Schieman; Jaime Rohr

doi:10.1016/j.cnc.2021.01.003

Effect of Opioids on Sleep

Crit Care Nurs Clin North Am. 2021 Jun;33(2):203-212. doi: 10.1016/j.cnc.2021.01.003. Epub 2021 Apr 28.

Authors

Karen Bergman Schieman¹, Jaime Rohr²

Affiliations

¹ Bronson School of Nursing, Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo, MI, USA. Electronic address: karen.bergman@wmich.edu.
² Bronson School of Nursing, Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo, MI, USA.

PMID: 34023086
DOI: 10.1016/j.cnc.2021.01.003

Abstract

Opioid medications are often used to manage pain in the intensive care unit. Opioids, whether used as recreational drugs or for hospital patient pain management, impact the quality of sleep. Nurses should assess for pain and provide appropriate amounts of pain medications, while minimizing opioid use once the patient can tolerate non-narcotic medications. Nurses should assess the intensive care unit patient's sleep quality and be mindful of the effect that opioid medications have on sleep quality.

Keywords: Intensive care unit; Opioids; Sleep; Withdrawal.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Analgesics, Opioid* / adverse effects
Humans
Pain Management
Pain* / drug therapy
Sleep

Substances

Analgesics, Opioid