The painkiller drug linked to Prince's death doesn't work on chronic pain, says an Australian expert.
An autopsy has revealed that the 57-year-old singer died of an accidental overdose of the powerful painkiller fentanyl, a synthetic opioid 50 times more potent than heroin.
His longtime friend and collaborator Sheila E has said Prince had physical issues from performing, citing hip and knee problems that she said came from years of jumping off risers and stage speakers in heels.
Dr Meredith Craigie, Vice-Dean of the Faculty of Pain Medicine at the Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists, says opioid drugs such as fentanyl don't effectively relieve chronic non-cancer pain.
Current guidelines advise Australian doctors to wind back prescriptions for them.
"Opioids - drugs in the morphine family that are derived from opium _- are effective for short-term acute pain, and cancer pain, but not for other kinds of long-term pain," she said.
"The longer the pain goes on, the less the opioids work, in part because the body can build up a tolerance.
"They can also make pain worse."
Higher doses of opioids are linked to serious problems including accidental overdoses, because high doses can suppress breathing, and accidents such as car crashes, due to poor concentration and slowed reaction times.
Australia doctors should talk to patients with long-term pain about weaning off opioids which must be done gradually and under medical supervision, Dr Craigie said.
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