Journal of opioid management
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Comparative Study
Economic evaluation of OROS hydromorphone for chronic pain: a Pan-European perspective.
OROS hydromorphone (osmotic extended-release oral delivery system [OROS] hydromorphone) is a long-acting opioid analgesic, which is approved in Europe for the management of severe pain. The authors aimed to estimate the economic value of this product relative to other widely used oral opioids, including sustained-release morphine, extended-release (ER) oxycodone, and twice-daily (bid) hydromorphone. ⋯ This model demonstrates the cost effectiveness of OROS hydromorphone relative to other strong oral opioids in the treatment of chronic severe malignant and nonmalignant pain.
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Review Meta Analysis
Analgesic efficacy of intravenous naloxone for the treatment of postoperative pruritus: a meta-analysis.
Pruritus may be a significant problem for patients in the postoperative period. There are many options for the treatment of pruritus including intravenous (IV) naloxone. However, it is not clear whether the use of IV naloxone may also affect analgesia or other opioid-related side effects. The authors have performed a systematic review to further examine this issue. ⋯ Our pooled analysis examining the analgesic efficacy of IV naloxone (either as a continuous infusion or IV PCA) revealed that naloxone was associated with a decrease in pruritus and nausea without any increase in pain scores. When compared with controls, the use of IV naloxone was not associated with any significant changes in opioid consumption or with the risk of sedation or emesis.
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Multicenter Study Clinical Trial
Effect of fentanyl buccal tablet on pain-related anxiety: a 4-week open-label study among opioid-tolerant patients with chronic and breakthrough pain.
To evaluate the effect of fentanyl buccal tablet (FBT) on pain-related anxiety in opioid-tolerant patients with chronic pain and breakthrough pain (BTP). ⋯ Four weeks of treatment with FBT did not reduce anxiety to a clinically meaningful extent, although improvement was reported in several secondary measures of functioning. Further research is needed to assess the impact of treatment for BTP on anxiety symptoms in opioid-tolerant patients with BTP.
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Multicenter Study
Depressive symptoms in community-dwelling older adults receiving opioid therapy for chronic pain.
The purpose of the study was to identify factors associated with depressive symptoms in community-dwelling older adults receiving prescription opioids for chronic pain. ⋯ Depression is an underdiagnosed, treatable pain comorbidity that should be evaluated in older patients receiving opioid therapy. Undertreated depression in chronic pain patients receiving opioid medications may explain suboptimal improvement in pain and functional status despite increasing opioid dosage.
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Although opioid therapy is widely used for the treatment of chronic pain conditions, there is a lack of consensus on a number of practical issues related to the use of prescription opioids. The authors conducted a comprehensive practice-oriented survey to examine physicians' attitudes, knowledge, experience, and practice patterns regarding opioid therapy for chronic pain management. The survey was conducted during 2007 and 2008 through nationwide direct mails and e-mails to physicians who are currently practicing in the United States. ⋯ The survey results suggest that opioid therapy remains as an important treatment option for chronic malignant and nonmalignant pain. However, the survey results should be viewed in the context of a low response rate (18.2 percent). These results also suggest that by improving the clinical knowledge of physicians participating in opioid therapy through education and collaboration, including a team approach with consultation from pain specialists, psychologists, and others, a better outcome for opioid therapy in patients with chronic pain conditions could be achieved.