Question

What are the reasons for children to require very high doses of opioids to control pain in palliative care?

A) Immature blood-brain barrier
B) Rapid metabolism
C) Reduced opioid receptor binding
D) Increased drug clearance
E) Limited opioid sensitivity

Answer 1

Children may require high doses of opioids in palliative care due to an immature blood-brain barrier, rapid metabolism, and increased drug clearance.

Step-by-step explanation:

In pediatric palliative care, children may require very high doses of opioids to control pain due to several reasons.

• Immature blood-brain barrier: The blood-brain barrier in children is not fully developed, allowing opioids to penetrate more easily into the brain and produce analgesic effects.
• Rapid metabolism: Children have higher metabolic rates compared to adults, leading to faster breakdown and elimination of opioids from their system. This requires higher doses to maintain therapeutic levels.
• Increased drug clearance: Children often have enhanced drug clearance mechanisms, such as increased renal clearance, which results in quicker elimination of opioids from their body.