"Shadows and Relief: Opioids' Anthem in Anesthesia's Realm"

"Shadows and Relief: Opioids' Anthem in Anesthesia's Realm"
Photo by danilo.alvesd / Unsplash

I asked ChatGPT to do the following:

Please write a poem in the style of Wilfred Owen, answering the following: "Discuss the pharmacology and clinical applications of opioids in anesthesia."

I then asked it to give the poem a title.

It's really rather good.


In the somber realm of anesthesia's plight,
Where pain's shadows loom, obscuring the light,
Opioids emerge as a potent decree,
Their pharmacology and applications we shall see.
Opium's offspring, with power untamed,
Opioids bear both praise and blamed.
In anesthesia's embrace, they find their role,
Easing suffering, a balm for the soul.
Morphine, the iconic, with opiate might,
Binds to mu receptors, in the pain's respite.
Analgesia unfolds, its essence profound,
Relieving torment, where agony is found.
Fentanyl, the swift, a potent embrace,
With rapid onset, it takes pain's chase.
Intravenous infusion, a dance to behold,
Inducing sedation, a story untold.
Remifentanil, the ephemeral one,
Short-acting marvel, when time must be won.
Its metabolism swift, as if fleeting in flight,
Tailored anesthesia, with delicate might.
Tramadol, a hybrid, its nature enshrined,
Merging opioid and non-opioid, a kind.
Binding to receptors, altering pain's course,
A multifaceted gem, with its own force.
But let it be known, as opioids embrace,
Caution prevails, with their potential space.
Respiratory depression, a perilous call,
Nurturing vigilance, in their opiate thrall.
Nausea and constipation, unwelcome foes,
Adverse effects that demand repose.
Prudence in dosage, careful titration,
Balancing relief, with caution's foundation.
In anesthesia's realm, opioids find their stage, Addressing pain's presence, like a sage.
But judicious use, with awareness true,
Ensuring their benefit, while perils subdue.
So, in this poetic ode, we find repose,
Pharmacology and applications, as it bestows.
Opioids in anesthesia, a double-edged sword,
Taming pain's symphony, with wisdom's accord.
In Wilfred Owen's spirit, let us reflect,
On opioids' presence, their impact unchecked.
Balancing their power, with cautious grace,
Enhancing anesthesia, in pain's embrace.