Table 4.
Prevalence of Analgesic Side Effects by Type of Analgesic Prescription
| Side effect | No Opioid n = 19 |
Only PRN Opioid n = 72 |
Only ATC Opioid n = 32 |
ATC + PRN Opioid N = 50 |
Statistic |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| % | % | % | % | ||
| Difficulty concentrating | 10.5 | 26.8 | 41.9 | 52.1 | X2=14.0, P =0.003 |
| Lack of energy | 52.6 | 57.7 | 71.0 | 79.2 | X2=7.7, P =0.05 |
| Nightmares | 0.0 | 8.5 | 6.7 | 24.5 | X2=11.6, P =0.009 |
| Nausea | 31.6 | 28.2 | 41.9 | 53.1 | X2=8.1, P =0.04 |
| Vomiting | 5.3 | 7.1 | 32.3 | 18.4 | X2=12.6, P =0.006 |
| Constipation | 15.8 | 44.3 | 54.8 | 63.3 | X2=13.4, P =0.004 |
| Difficulty sleeping | 56.2 | 47.9 | 45.2 | 47.9 | X2=.26, P =0.97 |
| Feeling drowsy | 31.6 | 57.1 | 71.0 | 83.3 | X2=18.6, P <0.0001 |
| Light headedness | 10.5 | 23.9 | 48.4 | 26.5 | X2=10.0, P =0.02 |
| Poor coordination | 5.3 | 26.8 | 38.7 | 39.6 | X2=9.1, P =0.03 |
| Indigestion/upset stomach | 31.6 | 38.0 | 51.6 | 47.9 | X2=3.1, P =0.37 |
ATC = around-the-clock; PRN = pro re nata.
Post hoc contrasts:
Difficulty concentrating – only PRN < ATC + PRN (P =0.007).
Lack of energy – no opioid and only PRN < ATC + PRN (both P ≤ 0.004).
Nightmares - no significant pair wise differences were found in the post hoc contrasts using the Bonferroni criteria.
Nausea – only PRN < ATC + PRN (P =0.008).
Vomiting - no significant pair wise differences were found in the post hoc contrasts using the Bonferroni criteria.
Constipation – no opioid < only ATC and ATC + PRN (both P ≤ 0.008).
Feeling drowsy – no opioid < only ATC and ATC + PRN (both P ≤ 0.009); only PRN < ATC + PRN (P =0.003).
Light headedness – no opioid < only ATC (P = 0.007).
Poor coordination – no opioid < only ATC and ATC + PRN (both P ≤ 0.009).