Pain Studies In The News

Data support use of web-based non-Rx therapies for chronic pain
Source: Elsevier Global Medical News
Evidence-based nonpharmacologic therapies, such as cognitive-behavioral therapy, may be at least as effective as medications in treating chronic pain. Yet the use of nonpharmacologic treatment has been limited for a variety of reasons: medical schools don't spend much time teaching it, insurance companies often don't adequately cover it, and patients often can't access it. Delivering such evidence-based interventions via the Internet potentially sidesteps several of these barriers.
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Hand splints may ease arthritis pain
Source: Reuters
Hand splints to steady achy joints may ease the pain for people who suffer from degenerative arthritis, concludes a new review of the medical literature. It appears that hand exercises might have some effect, too, but the evidence is less solid.
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Common painkillers linked to increased risk of heart problems
Source: BMJ-British Medical Journal
Researchers say that doctors and patients need to be aware that prescription of any anti-inflammatory drug needs to take cardiovascular risk into account. While the absolute risk of cardiovascular problems among people taking painkillers is low, certain COX-2 inhibitors are associated with twice the risk of heart attack and the NSAID ibuprofen with more than three times the risk of stroke.
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9 More Pain Studies In The News

 Stories

Central factors seen as key to chronic pain
Source: Elsevier Global Medical News
Dr. Daniel J. Clauw says that there is no chronic pain state where degree of damage or inflammation in the periphery correlates well with level of pain. Yet the paradigms that everyone uses for treating chronic pain still assume that all pain is nociceptive. A new scientific paradigm suggests that, regardless of the specific diagnosis, "central pain states" all tend to share certain characteristics that can be better assessed by asking questions than by physical examination.
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Army Surgeon General presents top 10 initiatives for Army medicine
February 2, 2011 Source: Army News Service
The overall focus of the week-long Military Health System conference was to harness the power of 130,000 health care professionals and achieve the Quadruple Aim Performance Goals of medical readiness, experience of care, population health and per capita cost of care. The highlight was on the Army Surgeon General's Top 10 initiatives for army medicine, which include: soldier medical readiness, development of medical home implementation, and culture of trust.
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Perspective – management of endometriosis
January 27, 2011 Source: Elsevier Global Medical News
Endometriosis occurs in approximately 8% of reproductive-age women and can have severe consequences, including chronic pelvic pain and infertility. The first-line therapy is nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). If NSAIDs are not sufficient to control pain, the next line of therapy is oral contraceptives. An alternative approach includes more empiric therapy or attempting other medical therapies.
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3 More Pain Stories In The News

 Policy and Law

Prescription acetaminophen drugs to have 325 milligram limit to protect liver
January 13, 2011 Source: FDA
Manufacturers that produce prescription combination products containing acetaminophen are being asked by the FDA to limit the dosage to 325 mg per capsule or tablet to protect liver toxicity. The FDA (Food and Drug Administration) has informed manufacturers that all their prescription products containing an acetaminophen combination will need updated labels, warning about potential severe liver injury risk.
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 Prescription Addiction, Diversion, and Abuse

2009 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) data and reports released
Source: SAMHSA
Two reports from the 2009 NSDUH are now available: National Findings Report, which presents national estimates of rates of use, numbers of users, and other measures related to illicit drugs, alcohol, and tobacco products. The report focuses on trends between 2008 and 2009 and from 2002 to 2009 and Mental Health Findings, which presents national estimates of the prevalence of past-year mental health disorders and past-year mental health service utilization for youth and adults.
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Experts see increasing numbers of teens abusing prescription drugs
February 3, 2011 Source: Johns Hopkins Medicine
Illicit drugs like marijuana, cocaine and heroin have always been a parent's nightmare. But perfectly legal and easily accessible prescription medications are now the recreational drugs of choice for many teenagers, prompting physicians at Johns Hopkins Children's Center to urge pediatricians to screen specifically for their abuse during routine visits.
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 Product News/Clinical Trial Results

FDA orders postmarket surveillance of certain TMJ implants
February 7, 2011 Source: U.S. Food and Drug Administration
The U.S. FDA ordered three manufacturers of temporomandibular joint (TMJ) implants to conduct postmarket surveillance studies to determine the length of time before the implants are removed or replaced. The FDA analyzed TMJ implant-related adverse event reports and described a substantial number of patients who had implants replaced within three years or less after implantation because of extreme pain, which is considerably shorter than the minimum five-year life span of the device.
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QD gabapentin wins FDA nod for shingles pain
Source: MedPage Today
The FDA has approved Depomed's novel once-daily formulation of gabapentin (Gralise) for postherpetic neuralgia. Despite the approval, Depomed indicated that patients may have to wait for Gralise to show up in pharmacies, owing to a dispute with Abbott Laboratories. Abbott indicated that the product did not fit into its corporate strategy.
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4 More Product News/Clinical Trial Results

 New Online Publications

ACPA Consumer Guide to Pain Medication & Treatment – 2011
January 2011 Source: American Chronic Pain Association
This document is revised annually to provide current information on drugs as well as their potential side effects and other treatments. Written initially for patients, it is perhaps the most concise and comprehensive document of its kind, which also makes it an excellent reference for all healthcare providers. Beginning with the 2009 edition, the guide features expanded coverage of non-drug interventions and complementary therapy options.
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