Articles tagged with Opioids
A large national database found that nearly 40% of patients who didn't use opioids before undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting or heart valve procedures developed persistent opioid use afterwards. The study suggests that cardiac surgery may be a contributing factor to the development of opioid dependence in some individuals
A new study found that nearly 10% of patients prescribed opioid medications following heart surgery will continue to use them more than 90 days after the procedure. The study also revealed a direct link between the dosage of opioids first prescribed and the likelihood of persistent opioid use.
Researchers found that 45% of patients had low levels of pain effectively managed by a non-opioid regimen, with no reported side effects. Patients who required opioids were more likely to have anxiety/depression and higher pain scores, highlighting the potential for reduced opioid use in surgical settings.
A new study found that depressive and anxious symptoms are linked to reduced opioid receptors in the brain, which can be an important mechanism in treating depression. The study, conducted with Positron Emission Tomography (PET) scans, suggests that drugs affecting the opioid system may help treat depression.
A study of 1,201 patients found that pre-surgery use of opioids, sedatives, or antidepressants increased complications after colorectal surgery. Regular opioid users faced higher risks of infections, respiratory failure, and mortality.
A new study by Vanderbilt University Medical Center researchers found that opioid prescriptions after childbirth are associated with a higher risk of overdose and persistent use. Over 160,000 pregnant women were followed for their opioid prescription filling rates after delivery.
A team of UTHSC researchers will study genetic differences in stress response, oxycodone consumption and stress-induced drug seeking in rats. The findings have great potential to translate to human conditions of opioid addiction.
The study found that prescriptions for buprenorphine treatment increased significantly among adults, particularly those prescribed by primary care providers. However, access to treatment decreased among young adults and teens, primarily due to a decline in prescriptions from psychiatrists and addiction medicine specialists.
A growing number of patients in Europe are taking opioids for pain related to rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases, with risks of addiction and dependency identified. Experts warn that measures must be taken to use these analgesics more safely.
Research reveals that age, sex and smoking impact μ-opioid receptor density in brain. Dysfunctions of the brain's opioid system are linked to disorders like addiction and chronic pain.
A health system implemented a three-pronged public health strategy to address the opioid epidemic, reducing opioid use by 19% and shortening duration of use. The strategy included primary prevention, safe prescribing guidelines, and access to treatment for Opioid Use Disorder.
A study found that taking short-acting benzodiazepines and opioids together increases the risk of premature death in patients with kidney failure. The analysis of over 69,000 US adults with kidney disease who initiated hemodialysis revealed a 1.9-fold higher risk of dying among those taking both medications.
A new study analyzed four years' worth of data from two million patients and found that those having dental procedures on Fridays or before holidays were more likely to fill opioid prescriptions. Non-opioid painkillers are equally effective at controlling pain with lower risks.
Researchers analyzed deaths following nonfatal opioid overdoses in California from 2009 to 2011, finding that patients with intentional overdoses were more likely to die by suicide than those with unintentional overdoses. The study sheds light on the complex relationship between opioid use and suicidal behavior.
Rates of neonatal abstinence syndrome have plateaued, with NAS per 1,000 live births stabilizing in 2016 after peaking in 2014. The study found significantly higher rates than 20 years ago, highlighting the need for continued action to improve outcomes.
A study by Yale researchers found that only 21% of emergency department clinicians indicated readiness to offer buprenorphine to patients with opioid use disorder. Barriers included lack of formal training, time limitations, and perceptions that initiating therapy falls outside the scope of emergency medicine.
Long-term buprenorphine treatment is associated with improved health care outcomes, including lower prescription opioid use and opioid-related events. Patients with continuous treatment had significantly lower rates of overdose events, inpatient and emergency department services, and prescription opioids use compared to those who disco...
Researchers discovered that inhibiting heat shock protein 90 in the spinal cord enhances opioid efficacy and decreases side effects. Hsp90 inhibitors could enable dose-reduction strategies for patients while maintaining pain relief.
A new study shows that financial incentives can increase the number of emergency department physicians trained to prescribe buprenorphine, a potentially life-saving medication for opioid overdose. By offering reimbursement and a $750 incentive, 89% of physicians were fully trained in six weeks.
A new study found that pharmacies in Appalachian Kentucky are limiting buprenorphine dispensing due to concerns about DEA caps, distrust of pharmaceutical companies, and stigma against people who use drugs. This limits access to effective treatment for opioid use disorder, which affects fewer than two in ten individuals.
A study published in eNeuro found that gut microbes significantly impact the brain's response to opioids in rats, altering the pattern of neuron recruitment during addiction and withdrawal. This discovery may lead to new prevention and treatment strategies for drug abuse.
Taking antibiotics with opioids may exacerbate addiction by altering brain responses to opioids, according to research on rats depleted of their gut microbiome. The study found that a weakened microbiome intensified opioid intoxication while reducing withdrawal effects.
The Rural Opioid Telehealth Project will connect underserved communities in Virginia and West Virginia to life-saving services through rapid response remote care. The project aims to address opioid dependency and provide other telehealth services to low-income residents.
A new study found that almost 4 out of 5 patients with moderate pain intensity considered it tolerable, and 30-40% of those with severe pain also described it as tolerable. This suggests an alternative to traditional 0-10 rating scales could help doctors better understand patient needs.
A study published in JAMA Network Open found that more than half of Americans starting highly regulated opioids may be receiving inappropriate treatment. The research team used pharmacy and medical claims data to identify nearly 300,000 instances of prescriptions for medications reserved for people with opioid tolerance. However, less ...
Researchers at the University of Queensland have designed a novel tarantula venom mini-protein that can relieve severe pain without addiction. The mini-protein, Huwentoxin-IV, binds to specific pain receptors and has been tested in mouse models with promising results.
A new measure of patient frailty could improve accuracy, fairness, and equity in Medicare value-based payment models. Researchers found that incorporating this measure into cost prediction improved performance, especially among frail patients.
Two studies from Boston University School of Public Health found that patients with higher BMIs were up to 158% more likely to use prescription opioids long-term. Osteoarthritis, other joint disorders, and back pain accounted for most opioid prescriptions linked to obesity.
A study of 72,000 adolescents and young adults found that exposure to family members with opioid prescriptions increases the youth's own risk of overdose. Higher rates of opioid prescription among young people also contribute to their increased risk of overdose.
A pair of new studies indicate parents are more reluctant to have opioids prescribed for their children than doctors, citing fears of addiction and side-effects. Pediatricians emphasize the importance of treating children's pain while acknowledging the unknown risks of opioid treatment.
Researchers are studying gene transcription in blood of patients undergoing buprenorphine treatment to understand its therapeutic effects. The study aims to identify key genes and their association with clinical results, potentially leading to new treatments for opioid use disorder.
A new study published in Drug and Alcohol Dependence reveals that experiencing opioid withdrawal increases the likelihood of needle sharing and non-fatal overdose among individuals who inject drugs. The research also highlights the urgent need for medication-assisted treatment to address this public health issue.
Life expectancy in the US has stagnated since 2010, with cardiovascular diseases having a greater impact than drug deaths from the opioid crisis. The number of drug-related deaths had a small influence on life expectancy, rising by just 0.4 years between 2010 and 2017.
Researchers have found a new mechanism for long-lasting pain relief through the production of endogenous opioids by immune cells. The discovery uses cytokine interleukin-4 to induce M2 macrophages, which produce opioids and reduce pain, offering potential alternative pain management options.
Nonmedical opioid prescription use is common among transgender girls and young women, linked to history of trauma and mental health struggles. The study highlights the need for targeted interventions and support services to address this critical public health issue.
Researchers found that patients prescribed opioids after tooth extraction reported worse pain, and half of prescribed opioids remained unused. The study suggests that alternatives such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or acetaminophen control pain better and improve patient satisfaction.
A study found that patients who take less opioid pain medication before discharge have lower usage during the four weeks following. Quantifying pre-discharge opioid intake may inform better pain management practices.
A study found that a collaborative diabetes management tool, FAST, improved glycemic control in fasting adults with type 2 diabetes. The tool empowered diabetic patients with Ramadan-specific educational materials and encouraged active self-monitoring of blood glucose.
A new study from the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus found that patients who took fewer opioids pre-discharge also reported less opioid intake in the following weeks. The study suggests tailoring opioid prescriptions to individual patient needs, balancing pain management and reducing leftover pills.
Researchers at Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin have developed new painkillers that target tissue acidity to reduce the risk of addiction. By fine-tuning the acid dissociation constant (pKa) of opioid molecules, these new drugs can selectively activate opioid receptors in injured tissue, preventing severe side effects.
The University of Tennessee Extension is launching a new effort to address the opioid crisis in rural Tennessee through the PROMPT TN program. The project aims to develop opioid-specific resources and train community members to prevent addiction, focusing on underlying causes and risk factors.
A new pain management program implemented in a Texas healthcare system reduced longer-term opioid prescriptions by two-thirds, from over five days to fewer than five days. The program used physician education, monitoring, and incentives to shift prescribing patterns.
Researchers found that Florida's law restricting opioid prescribing for acute pain led to a decrease in opioid misuse and improved patient safety. The study also showed a significant reduction in overdose deaths among patients treated with opioids.
The number of people prescribed opioids for chronic non-cancer pain increased from approximately 20% to 40% between 1991 and 2015. However, there is a crucial evidence gap in global prescription data outside the US, with few studies reporting on opioid prescribing practices in other countries.
A study found that over 50% of ED patients with dental-related conditions received antibiotic prescriptions, while 40% received opioid prescriptions. The American Dental Association emphasizes the importance of addressing these issues through education and policy changes.
A recent study by University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing found that while many PA school nurses have a supply of naloxone, important barriers to access and use exist. The study highlights the need for increased support and education among school nurses to improve naloxone administration in schools.
Researchers at UBC's Okanagan campus developed a method to separate protein from blood plasma using electricity, enabling disease detection through levitated plasma proteins. The technology uses machine-learning and predictive models to accurately diagnose diseases like opioid addictions in just five minutes.
Researchers found no association between opioid use and cancer screening, despite higher healthcare utilization among opioid users. Key cancer screenings were more common in women with frequent doctor visits regardless of opioid status.
A recent study by MUSC Health found that telemedicine can be an effective way to reach pregnant women with opioid use disorder, with no significant differences in maternal and newborn outcomes compared to in-person care. Integrated, collaborative care models are crucial for treating this chronic disease, and telemedicine maximizes the ...
Researchers Rebecca Sutter and Allison Evans Cuellar are implementing a Mobile Medication Assisted Therapy Program in Prince William Health District to support opioid use disorder treatment. The program, which began in December 2019, is staffed with a nurse practitioner, social worker, and pharmacist, and aims to provide seamless care ...
A study analyzing over 50,000 VA patients found that increasing opioid prescription doses does not improve chronic pain management. Despite higher doses, patients' pain scores showed minimal changes, indicating that clinicians should exercise caution when escalating opioid doses.
A new study found that over half of US opioid prescriptions for dental procedures exceeded the recommended 3-day supply, with nearly 1/3 of patients receiving more powerful opioids than needed. The study suggests that improving guidelines and education for dentists can help reduce overprescription.
A new Ohio law allowing pharmacists to dispense naloxone without a prescription has been linked to an increase in naloxone dispensing rates. The study found that the law resulted in more naloxone being made available to patients, potentially saving lives in opioid overdose situations.
Researchers found that smaller, younger, non-neutered dogs, and those living in US counties with high opioid prescription rates are at higher risk of accidental opioid poisoning. The study suggests increased public awareness and knowledge of drug trends could help lessen further harm.
A recent study found that leading smart device conversational agents, such as Siri and Alexa, are unable to provide meaningful help for quitting substances like opioids, alcohol, and tobacco. However, researchers suggest that updating these devices to promote resources like helplines could prove highly effective in addressing the natio...
The study reveals that a small subset of providers account for disproportionately high amounts of opioids, with the top 1% prescribing nearly 1,000 times more than the middle 1%. Most providers generally prescribe safely below recommended thresholds.
APRNs now have full prescriptive authority for opioids in 14 states and autonomous practice in another 10 states. New laws also improve access to care through state prescription drug monitoring programs.
A recent study found that many Medicare patients with new episodes of low back pain receive care inconsistent with current guidelines. This includes the overuse of opioids and advanced imaging tests, which is contrary to recommendations from the American College of Physicians and the American Academy of Family Physicians.
A new study suggests that injection drug users prescribed controlled-release hydromorphone are three times more likely to develop endocarditis than those prescribed other opioids. The findings also highlight the role of equipment used in preparing the medication as a source of bacterial contamination.
A Houston Methodist study found that using long-acting local anesthetics and scheduled non-narcotic pain medication reduced opioid prescriptions from 87% to 10% after surgery. The program successfully managed pain after surgery using over-the-counter pain medication, decreasing the chance of patients becoming addicted to narcotics.