European journal of pain : EJP
-
Longitudinal population-based studies of long-term opioid therapy (L-TOT) in chronic non-cancer pain (CNCP) patients are sparse. Our study investigated incidence and predictors for initiating L-TOT and changes in self-rated health, pain interference and physical activities in long-term opioid users. ⋯ Long-term opioid therapy does not seem to provide pain relief, improvement in HRQOL and physical capacity in CNCP patients in a general population.
-
Randomized Controlled Trial
Conditioned pain modulation dampens the thermal grill illusion.
The thermal grill illusion (TGI) refers to the perception of burning heat and often pain that arises from simultaneous cutaneous application of innocuous warm and cool stimuli. This study utilized conditioned pain modulation (CPM) to help elucidate the TGI's underlying neural mechanisms, including the debated role of ascending nociceptive signals in generating the illusion. ⋯ Conditioned pain modulation reduces the perceived painfulness, unpleasantness and heat of the thermal grill illusion and noxious heat similarly. The results have important theoretical implications for both types of pain.
-
Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study
A phase III randomized controlled study on the efficacy and improved bowel function of prolonged-release (PR) oxycodone-naloxone (up to 160/80 mg daily) vs oxycodone PR.
Oxycodone/naloxone (OXN PR) is a prolonged-release formulation containing oxycodone and naloxone in a 2:1 ratio. This study aimed to evaluate the tolerability and efficacy of doses up to OXN160/80 mg PR compared with oxycodone prolonged-release formulation (OxyPR) in a randomised controlled trial. ⋯ Effective analgesia can be achieved using oxycodone/naloxone PR up to 160/80 mg daily without compromising bowel function. A similar outcome was reported in cancer and non-cancer patients.
-
Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study
Long-term efficacy and safety of oxycodone-naloxone prolonged-release formulation (up to 180/90 mg daily) - results of the open-label extension phase of a phase III multicenter, multiple-dose, randomized, controlled study.
The inclusion of naloxone with oxycodone in a fixed combination prolonged-release formulation (OXN PR) improves bowel function compared with oxycodone (Oxy) alone without compromising analgesic efficacy. In a recent 5-week, randomized, double-blind comparative trial of OXN PR and OxyPR, it could be shown that the beneficial properties of OXN PR extend to doses up to 160/80 mg. ⋯ In patients with pain requiring continuous opioid therapy at doses above 80 mg of oxycodone, stable and effective long-term analgesia can be achieved using OXN PR up to 180/90 mg daily without compromising bowel function and may be preferential to supplemental oxycodone.