Sleep among opioid users.

Use of opioids in the treatment of both acute and chronic pain has increased significantly in the past 2 decades. Recent literature suggests that chronic opioid use is related to sleep-related breathing disorders, particularly central sleep apnea of both the periodic and nonperiodic breathing pattern. The clinical significance, pathogenesis, and treatment options of these sleep-related breathing disorders are not well understood. This article summarizes the current literature on the effects of both acute and chronic opioid use on sleep, sleep-disordered breathing, and the current evidence on various treatment options for breathing disorders related to chronic opioid use.