Articles: opioid-analgesics.
-
Observational Study
Factors Associated with Post-Procedure Opioid Prescribing and Persistent Opioid Use Among Opioid-Naïve Patients: A Nationally Representative Sample.
Examine factors associated with postprocedure opioid receipt and persistent opioid use among opioid-naive patients in a nationally representative sample. ⋯ Procedures account for a large portion of opioid prescriptions among opioid-naive patients. This study provides evidence to inform national guidelines for opioid prescribing and postprocedure pain management.
-
Pupllary unrest in ambient light (PUAL) is the chaotic fluctuation of pupil diameter about its mean value. The degree of fluctuation is typically measured using a pupillometer and quantified using an index that sums fluctuations in a frequency range of interest. Indices that measure PUAL show promise in predicting effects of sedative or opioid drugs. ⋯ PUAL was calculated using the algorithm of the Neurolight pupillometer. We found that average PUAL typically declines by approximately 1% per year, and that the standard deviation of repeated measurements is approximately 20%. We therefore conclude that repeated, averaged measurements of age-normed PUAL are likely to be much more clinically useful than single, uncorrected values.
-
Retracted Publication
Opioids for treating refractory dyspnea in patients with heart failure: A protocol for systematic review and meta-analysis.
Dyspnea is a hallmark symptom of heart failure. The existing clinical studies have indicated that opioid can effectively improve the clinical symptoms of heart failure patients with dyspnea. However, there has not been any relevant systematic review and meta-analysis. We performed a protocol for systematic review and meta-analysis to evaluate the safety and efficacy of opioid therapy for heart failure patients with refractory dyspnea. ⋯ This meta-analysis will provide comprehensive evidence of opioid therapy for heart failure patients with dyspnea.
-
Prescribing rates of some analgesics decreased during the public health crisis. Yet, up to a quarter of opioid-naïve persons prescribed opioids for noncancer pain develop prescription opioid use disorder. We, therefore, sought to evaluate a pilot educational session to support primary care-based sparing of opioid analgesics for noncancer pain among opioid-naïve patients in British Columbia (BC). ⋯ The educational session outlined in this pilot yielded mixed results but appeared acceptable to learners and may need further refinement to become a feasible way to train professionals to help tackle the current toxic drugs crisis.