Pharmacology
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Review
Meeting the challenges of opioid-induced constipation in chronic pain management - a novel approach.
Opioid analgesics are the cornerstone of pain management for moderate-to-severe cancer pain and, increasingly, chronic noncancer pain. Despite proven analgesic efficacy, the use of opioids is commonly associated with frequently dose-limiting constipation that seriously impacts on patients' quality of life. Agents currently used to manage opioid-induced constipation (OIC), such as laxatives, do not address the underlying opioid receptor-mediated cause of constipation and are often ineffective. ⋯ A novel approach for selectively and locally antagonizing the gastrointestinal effects of opioids involves the coadministration of a mu-opioid receptor antagonist with negligible systemic availability, such as oral naloxone. Combination therapy with prolonged-release (PR) oxycodone plus PR naloxone has been shown to provide effective analgesia while preventing or reducing constipation. The current article highlights this novel strategy in its potential to significantly improve the quality of life of patients suffering from chronic pain, affording patients the benefit of full analgesia, without the burden of OIC.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Haloperidol versus haloperidol plus ondansetron for the prophylaxis of postoperative nausea and vomiting after ophthalmologic surgery.
In this prospective, randomized, and double-blinded study we investigated the efficacy of haloperidol (10 microg/kg) and the combination of haloperidol (10 microg/kg) with ondansetron (0.1 mg/kg) for the prophylaxis of postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) after ophthalmologic surgery. ⋯ The single use of haloperidol for the prophylaxis of PONV is doubtful. Better results were obtained with the combination therapy of haloperidol with ondansetron, especially for vomiting.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study
Clinical equivalence of controlled-release oxycodone 20 mg and controlled-release tramadol 200 mg after surgery for breast cancer.
To assess clinical equivalence of 20 mg controlled-release oxycodone (Oxygesic; Mundipharma, Limburg, Germany) and 200 mg controlled-release tramadol (Tramal long; Grunenthal, Aachen, Germany) on a 12-hour dosing schedule in a randomized, double-blinded study of 54 ASA I-III physical status (American Society of Anesthesiologists classification of physical status) patients undergoing surgery for breast cancer. ⋯ 20 mg controlled-release oxycodone is clinically equivalent to 200 mg controlled-release tramadol for postoperative analgesia after surgery for breast cancer.
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Multicenter Study
Gender-based differences in drug prescription: relation to adverse drug reactions.
The female gender appears to suffer from more adverse drug reactions (ADRs) than the male gender. So far, there has been no epidemiologic study analyzing gender-based differences in drug prescribing and its ADR risks. The aim of the present study was to establish a drug risk stratification adjusted to age, number of prescriptions and drug classes with respect to gender differences based on intensive data acquisition methods. ⋯ Antibacterials and anti-inflammatory agents cause more ADRs in females as compared to males.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Effects of changes in alveolar ventilation on isoflurane arterial blood concentration and its uptake into the human body.
We investigated whether minute alveolar ventilation affects isoflurane concentration in arterial blood and uptake of isoflurane into the body. Thirty female patients scheduled to undergo elective gynecological surgery were randomly assigned to one of three groups: i.e. hyperventilation, normal ventilation and hypoventilation. Inspiratory (CIiso) and end-tidal (CEiso) concentrations of isoflurane were measured by infrared analysis, and arterial blood isoflurane concentration (Aiso) was analyzed by gas chromatography. ⋯ During the second half of the study (20-40 min), the slope Aiso-over-time curve did not differ among the three groups. Changes in ventilation affected the concentration of isoflurane in arterial blood but did not significantly alter the uptake of it during the last 20 min of the study. The change of alveolar ventilation altered the speed of functional residual capacity wash-in by isoflurane, which was the integral factor influencing Aiso and body uptake of isoflurane.