Pain practice : the official journal of World Institute of Pain
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To evaluate the effectiveness of opioids and/or pregabalin on patient-reported outcomes among fibromyalgia (FM) patients based on levels of improvement. ⋯ Pregabalin without opioids provided the most favorable outcomes overall based on ≥ 30% and ≥ 50% improvement thresholds and AUC, with support for moderate MED opioids + pregabalin in patients suffering from fatigue. While most patients took less than recommended pregabalin doses, higher doses may lead to improved outcomes.
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Opioids provide effective relief from moderate-to-severe pain and should be prescribed as part of a multifaceted approach to pain management when other treatments have failed. Fixed-dose oxycodone/naloxone prolonged-release tablets (OXN PR) were designed to address the opioid class effect of opioid-induced constipation (OIC) by combining the analgesic efficacy of oxycodone with the opioid receptor antagonist, naloxone, which has negligible systemic availability when administered orally. This formulation has abuse-deterrent properties, since systemic exposure to naloxone by parenteral administration would antagonize the euphoric effects of oxycodone. ⋯ Evidence from clinical trials and observational studies confirms that for selected patients OXN PR significantly improves moderate-to-severe chronic pain and provides relief from OIC. Treatment should be tailored to individual patients to establish the lowest effective dose. An absence of analgesic ceiling effect was seen across the clinically relevant dose range investigated (≤ 160/80 mg/day).
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This study aimed (1) to investigate the differences in clinical characteristics of patients between 2 groups, those who have atypical odontalgia (AO) only and those who have AO with burning mouth syndrome (BMS), and (2) to assess the influence of psychiatric comorbidity factors on patients' experiences. ⋯ AO-BMS patients have different epidemiological characteristics, sleep quality, and pain experiences compared to AO-only patients. The presence of psychiatric comorbidities in both groups may exacerbate sleep quality. We suggest that BMS as a comorbid oral disorder in AO patients contributes to a more intensively painful experience.
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Factors such as age, gender, and genetic polymorphisms may explain individual differences in pain phenotype. Genetic associations with pain sensitivity have previously been investigated in osteoarthritis patients, with a focus on the P2X7, TRPV1, and TACR1 genes. However, other genes may play a role as well. Osteoarthritis is a common joint disease, and many patients suffering from this disease are thought to have increased sensitivity to noxious stimuli resulting from sensitization in the nociceptive system. The aim of this study was to investigate if genetic variants of mu, kappa, and delta opioid receptor genes (OPRM1, OPRK1, and OPRD1) and the catechol-O-methyltransferase gene (COMT) influenced the pain phenotype in patients with osteoarthritis. ⋯ Results from the present study suggest that, in patients with hip osteoarthritis, genetic variants in OPRM1 and OPRD1 may contribute to the pain phenotype.
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Intrathecal drug delivery (ITDD) systems are one of a limited number of management options for chronic noncancer pain, cancer pain, and spasticity. Concerns over their effectiveness and high initial costs led National Health Service (NHS) England to decommission ITDD for patients with chronic noncancer pain. However, the extent to which this decision is in line with existing economic evidence is unclear. The aim of this systematic review was to identify and review the existing evidence on the cost effectiveness of ITDD for chronic noncancer pain. ⋯ Study findings showed ITDD to be not cost effective only in extremely conservative scenarios. There is limited evidence on the effectiveness of ITDD in noncancer pain; however, the available economic evidence controverts arguments to refute the treatment on economic grounds.