Abstract

Pain is a general symptom of disease, the most common reason for a patient to seek medical attention, and one of the most important symptoms requiring therapeutic intervention. Pain can be both an independent pathophysiological process and a concomitant symptom of many diseases.
Opioids play an important role in the management of moderate to severe pain. However, the use of opioid analgesics in Estonia is significantly lower when compared to neighbouring countries.
The purpose of this article is to provide an overview of the mechanisms of pain, opioid analgesics, and their usage statistics over the last 10 years in the Republic of Estonia.