Articles tagged with Analgesics
Chronic pain affects an estimated 100 million US residents, costing $635 billion annually in healthcare costs and lost productivity. To address this issue, physicians must consider the psychological, social, and cultural contexts of their patients, as well as medication risks and benefits.
A Duke University study found that a compound called neuroprotectin D1 can relieve neuropathic pain caused by nerve injuries. The derivative of DHA, a main ingredient of fish oil supplements, inhibits the production of cytokines and chemokines, protecting nerve cells from further damage.
Long-term aspirin use has been linked to reduced colorectal cancer risk, but alternate-day dosing shows increased gastrointestinal bleeding. Electronic health records adoption led to ambulatory cost savings of 3% per member per month and reductions in radiology costs in experimental pilot communities.
Researchers have identified a new chemical compound, CYM51010, that targets the opioid receptor complex and shows promise as an alternative to morphine. The compound is potent and less likely to result in tolerance and negative side effects.
Researchers have developed two compounds that show promise as safer alternatives to acetaminophen, reducing the risk of liver damage. The new substances have a similar architecture to acetaminophen but are non-toxic to liver cells grown in the laboratory.
Patients who survived acetaminophen overdose have significantly lower overall health, reporting more days of impaired mental and physical health, pain, anxiety, and depression. The study also found that these patients had higher rates of substance abuse and psychiatric disease compared to non-overdose survivors and transplant recipients.
Dual antiplatelet therapy with aspirin and a P2Y12 inhibitor significantly improves patient outcomes after coronary stenting. The therapy is associated with reduced risk of in-stent restenosis and stent thrombosis, as well as major adverse cardiac events.
Researchers at Duke University Medical Center developed a blood-based test that accurately identifies who will respond to aspirin therapy and predicts patients at risk for heart attacks. The test, known as the 'aspirin response signature,' measures gene activity patterns in the blood.
A weekly yoga class provided similar lower back pain relief as twice weekly classes in a study of predominantly low-income adults. The results suggest that attending a medically appropriate weekly yoga class could benefit patients interested in trying yoga for lower back pain.
A Loyola University Medical Center study found that statin-intolerant patients who received specialized lipid clinic care had significantly reduced total and LDL cholesterol levels. In contrast, those not referred to a lipid clinic showed minimal improvement in their cholesterol levels.
A Phase III clinical trial showed that a simple drug regimen of clopidogrel and aspirin lowered the risk of stroke by almost one-third compared to aspirin alone. The three-month period following stroke is critical for medical intervention, and the combination was found to be more effective in preventing subsequent strokes.
A study found that patients from lower socioeconomic backgrounds are less likely to receive opioid pain medications, regardless of racial or ethnic background. The results highlight the need for increased awareness and consistent treatment practices to address these disparities.
A large study found that regular aspirin use is associated with a lower risk of BRAF-wild-type colorectal cancer, but not BRAF-mutated cancer. The researchers also observed a significant risk reduction for BRAF-wild-type cancer with increasing aspirin tablets per week and longer duration of use.
A new study suggests that aspirin slows the accumulation of DNA mutations in abnormal cells in Barrett's esophagus, a pre-cancerous condition. This finding implies that aspirin may exert cancer-preventing effects by lowering mutation rates.
A new study suggests that testosterone therapy can reduce pain perception and tolerance in men with low testosterone levels caused by opioid pain relievers. The study found significant improvements in pain sensitivity during laboratory pain testing after testosterone administration compared to placebo.
Researchers have identified a novel approach to moderate and severe pain therapy that could lead to lower dosage painkillers. The compounds bind to a separate site on the opioid receptor, potentially working with the body's own natural painkillers to manage pain.
Recent data suggest that aspirin reduces heart attacks, but also increases risk of gastrointestinal bleeding and stroke. The study found that including a cancer mortality benefit influences aspirin prescribing thresholds, making middle-aged men eligible for prevention.
A retrospective study found that higher numbers of lumbar epidural steroid injections (LESI) were associated with increased risk of bone fragility and vertebral fractures. Patients at high risk for fractures include older women, those who have had an earlier fracture, smokers, and underweight individuals.
Researchers found that daily sunscreen use significantly slows skin aging, with a 24% decrease in photoaging compared to discretionary application. In contrast, a survey of 1,820 physicians revealed that only about 43% had basic electronic health record systems and 10% met meaningful use criteria, highlighting challenges in EHR adoptio...
The guideline advises that taking aspirin or warfarin before dental procedures, cataract surgery, and dermatologic procedures is likely safe. However, patients undergoing procedures like retinal surgery or orthopaedic hip procedures may experience increased bleeding risk.
A meta-analysis of 639 trials shows that higher-dose NSAIDs like diclofenac and ibuprofen are associated with increased risks of heart disease and fatal heart attacks. The study suggests that the size of these risks can be predicted, helping physicians choose safer NSAID regimens for patients.
The new guideline from the American Academy of Neurology helps people with stroke and atrial fibrillation decide whether to take blood thinners during surgery. For minor procedures, the risk of bleeding is small, but for certain hip and colon procedures, it's higher.
A study found that patients with COPD experience chronic pain comparable to those with osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis, with higher use of opioids. The researchers also noted a significant impact on quality of life and healthcare costs.
A study published in Gaceta Sanitaria found that women are more likely to be prescribed analgesics due to socioeconomic inequality. The researchers used the Gender-related Development Index to analyze prescription patterns in areas with higher and lower gender development indices.
A study suggests that early childhood respiratory infections, rather than analgesic use, may be driving the link between asthma and acetaminophen or ibuprofen. Researchers found a higher exposure to acetaminophen both prenatally and during infancy compared to ibuprofen.
A Kaiser Permanente study found that long-term use of prescription painkillers is associated with a higher risk of erectile dysfunction (ED) in men. Men taking high-dose opioids for at least four months were 50% more likely to receive ED prescriptions than those who did not take opioids.
Researchers have found that combining a new-generation mechanical heart valve with low-dose anticoagulation therapy significantly lowers the risk of bleeding events while maintaining stroke and neurological event rates. This study uses a new bileaflet design, and its findings may lead to reduced anticoagulation therapy for patients
A national study found that one in four teens has misused or abused a prescription drug at least once in their lifetime, with stimulants contributing to the sustained Rx epidemic. The Partnership at Drugfree.org reports that nearly a quarter of teens mistakenly believe that misusing prescription drugs is safer than using street drugs.
A study found that low-dose aspirin slowed the growth of two breast cancer lines in lab tests and reduced tumor growth in mice. The compound also inhibited tumor cells from spreading and enhanced the effect of tamoxifen, a common drug therapy for hormone-receptor positive breast cancer.
Taking painkillers before marathons increases the risk of gastrointestinal problems by 13%. The rate of symptoms rises with increasing dose. Runners who took painkillers were five times as likely to experience symptoms as those who didn't, according to a recent study.
Scientists need to find better ways to prevent sickling in red blood cells, which impairs oxygen delivery and damages blood vessel walls and organs. Anti-sickling therapies are crucial to reducing damage and improving patient outcomes.
A new study published in Critical Care finds that reducing movement in ICUs can decrease severe pain and serious adverse events, while increasing analgesic use. The training program implemented by the University of Montpellier Saint Eloi Hospital increased staff awareness and reduced side effects.
Researchers found Tylenol reduces psychological effects of fear and anxiety, suggesting the drug inhibits distress signals to the brain. The study built on previous research that acetaminophen can reduce social pain, advancing understanding of how the human brain processes different types of pain.
New research suggests that Tylenol can alleviate existential pain and anxiety by inhibiting brain signals associated with distress. The study found that participants who took Tylenol were less harsh in setting bail after writing about their own death, compared to those who took a sugar pill.
FitzGerald shared the prize with Carlo Patrono for developing low-dose aspirin to prevent cardiovascular disease. The breakthrough work assessed prostaglandins' role in blood clotting and saved millions of lives worldwide.
Cryoneurolysis, a new interventional radiology treatment, safely short circuits chronic pain caused by nerve damage. After treatment, patients experienced significant lasting pain relief and were able to reduce or eliminate pain medication use.
A new study suggests that bone-marrow grafts may be effective in treating low-back pain, with patients experiencing significant improvements in pain relief and activity tolerance. The procedure involves injecting a concentrated form of bone-marrow cellular aspirate into affected discs.
Researchers found that dexmedetomidine alleviated symptoms of opioid-induced hyperalgesia in patients receiving high doses of remifentanil. Patients treated with dexmedetomidine reported less pain and used less morphine compared to those receiving placebo.
Researchers investigated the use of bone-marrow grafts to treat low-back pain. The study found that some patients experienced complete pain relief after treatment, while others showed no improvement.
A UNC School of Medicine study found that cold perception is enhanced when nerve circuitry for heat is inactivated, impacting how people with chronic pain experience temperature sensations. The research also has implications for why some patients taking pain relief drugs shiver before hyperthermia sets in.
A randomized phase 3 trial found that duloxetine reduced pain from chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy compared to placebo. Patients who received platinums showed greater benefits from duloxetine.
A Yale University study found that hyperoxia can activate stress pathways in developing lungs, leading to conditions like bronchopulmonary dysplasia. Blocking Cox2 with a pain drug reversed BPD in mice, suggesting it as a potential treatment target.
Post-menopausal women who received estrogen-only medication reported significantly lower joint pain frequencies compared to those receiving a placebo. The study found modest but sustained relief from joint pain in these women.
A new study in Canada has found that over 40% of healthy individuals are taking daily aspirin to prevent cardiovascular disease, despite recent literature suggesting its limited benefits. The study's authors hope to raise awareness among physicians and patients about the importance of discussing anti-platelet medication use.
The Boston University School of Medicine has launched a safe opioid prescribing education program, funded by the first of its kind $1.8 million grant from manufacturers of extended release/long-acting opioid analgesics. The program is designed to train healthcare providers on how to safely manage patients with chronic pain using opioids.
A University of Michigan Stroke Program study suggests that the combination of blood thinners and tPA treatment for stroke does not increase the risk of brain bleeding. The research, based on data from 830 patients, found no significant difference in brain bleeding rates even among those taking aspirin or clopidogrel.
Researchers found that ranolazine, an anti-anginal drug, significantly reduced weekly episodes of chest pain in patients with type 2 diabetes. The study also showed that the drug had a more pronounced effect on reducing angina frequency in patients with poorer glucose control.
A new study found that women taking aspirin have a reduced risk of developing melanoma, with the longest users showing the lowest risk. Aspirin's anti-inflammatory effects may help protect against this type of skin cancer.
A recent study by the American College of Cardiology found that patients not given aspirin before artery-clearing coronary angioplasty and stenting have a significantly higher in-hospital death rate. The study examined registry data from over 65,000 patients and found that nearly 7% did not receive aspirin as recommended.
Researchers at the University of Oxford have made a groundbreaking discovery linking brain activity to phantom pain in amputees. The study found that arm amputees with stronger phantom limb pain maintained a stronger representation of the missing hand in their brains, which was indistinguishable from those with intact limbs.
Researchers discovered that aspirin triggers the production of resolvins, naturally made by the body from omega-3 fatty acids, which resolve inflammation. Aspirin also modifies an inflammatory enzyme to produce longer acting resolvins with potent anti-inflammatory actions.
A study reveals racial differences in chronic pain management, with black patients experiencing less frequent pain level documentation and more urine drug tests. This may impact the effectiveness of pain management for black patients who overcome barriers to opioid prescriptions.
A study finds diclofenac is the most commonly used NSAID in 15 countries and is included on essential medicines lists of 74 low- to high-income countries. Despite its cardiovascular risks, researchers call for diclofenac to be removed from national lists and have its global marketing authorisations revoked.
Researchers isolated and ablated neurons expressing TRPM8 protein, which senses cold temperatures in the skin. Mice without these neurons couldn't feel cold but still responded to heat and touch, shedding light on pain treatment advancements.
Researchers suggest that a small number of cheap generic drugs can treat most non-communicable diseases (NCDs), improving availability in poorer nations. Better selection and sourcing of generics, as well as increased investment and policies, are key to making life-saving medicines affordable to all.
A recent study found that the prescription opioid overdose rate in NYC increased seven-fold between 1990 and 2006, with fatalities concentrated among white residents. The study suggests a different public health approach is needed for this demographic, as their profile differs from heroin consumers.
A new study from Kaiser Permanente found that men on long-acting opioids are 5 times more likely to have low testosterone levels than those on short-acting opioids. The study compared 81 men with chronic pain and found that long-acting opioids significantly increased the risk of low testosterone.
A new study reports that non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) cause acute kidney injury (AKI) in children, with younger patients more seriously affected and at higher risk of chronic kidney disease. The study found that 30% of patients experienced mild chronic kidney damage after recovery from AKI.
A new patent issued for an experimental compound RTX, which represents a potential new class of drugs to alleviate intractable pain. The method patent covers intrathecal administration of RTX, promising to improve lives of people with severe pain.
A new poll from the University of Michigan found that only 35% of parents are very concerned about misuse of narcotic pain medicines by children and teens. Despite rising rates of abuse and overdoses, most parents do not support policies to discourage misuse or return unused medications.