Both opiates and dissociatives have strong side effects which can limit
their usefulness in pain treatment. When the two are combined, however, a
synergistic effect occurs, and patients can lower the dose of both drugs to
the point where side effects are minimalized (236,267,278). Dissociatives
prevent tolerance to opiates (248) and can alleviate opiate withdrawal
(254). On the other hand, combining the two may increase the chance for
respiratory depression and fatal overdose.
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