Pain Stories
In India, a quest to ease the pain of the dying
September 10, 2007
About 1.6 million Indians endure cancer pain each year. But only a tiny fraction get relief. Clinics dispensing morphine are so scarce that some patients live 500 miles from the nearest. Calcutta, a city of 14 million, has only one. Story
Japanese Slowly Shedding Their Misgivings About the Use of Painkilling Drugs
September 10, 2007
On charts detailing the per capita consumption of narcotic painkillers throughout the world ˜ routinely topped by the world‚s richest countries ˜ Japan is down in the neighborhood of Bulgaria and South Africa. It consumes one-twelfth as much per capita as the United States. Story
Migraines -- options to prevent and treat the pounding pain
September 4, 2007
Migraines are more than a bad headache. As nearly 30 million Americans can attest, the throbbing pain of a migraine can be debilitating, lasting from a few hours to several days. The condition can be aggravated by light, sounds, odors, exercise, even routine physical activities. Nausea, with or without vomiting, may occur. Story
Preventing patient deaths from fentanyl patches
September 3, 2007
A recent report from the Institute for Safe Medication Practices warns about the dangers of misprescribing fentanyl transdermal patches, such as Duragesic. ISMP reminds practitioners that these patches are intended only for patients who are opioid-tolerant, and should not be used for acute pain. Story
Mind over matter, with a machine’s help (free registration required)
August 26, 2007
Omneuron has created technologies that teach sufferers to think away their pain, and plans to similarly treat addiction, depression and other intractable neurological and psychological conditions. Story
New NICE guideline to improve diagnosis and management of chronic fatigue
August 23, 2007
The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) and the National Collaborating Centre for Primary Care have published a clinical guideline on how to effectively diagnose and manage CFS/ME in adults and children Story
Hydrocodone abuse on rise in Appalachia
August 21, 2007
With 124 million prescriptions in 2005, drugs containing hydrocodone are the most popular of their type in the country, according to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration's Office of Diversion Control. They are sold under hundreds of brand names and generic titles, and hydrocodone can be found in medication ranging from cough syrup to painkillers. Story
International experts cite shortcomings in pediatric pain and palliative care
August 16, 2007
While acknowledging that lessons from adults can be borrowed to help pediatric patients, an international team of pediatric palliative care specialists is also calling for increased research to address children's differing physical, psycho-social and clinical needs. Story
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