Articles: opioid.
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J Pain Symptom Manage · Oct 2024
Opioid Access among Advanced Cancer Patients in Low- and Middle-Income Countries in Asia.
Most cancer-associated pain is experienced in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) due to inequitable access to opioids. ⋯ Study findings emphasize the importance of palliative care training-even a minimal amount-in supporting access to opioids for advanced cancer patients. This study also highlights pragmatic site-level policies, such as extended morphine prescription durations, enabling access.
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Anesthesia and analgesia · Oct 2024
Association Between Cannabis Use and Opioid Consumption, Pain, and Respiratory Complications After Surgery: A Retrospective Cohort Analysis.
Cannabis is a widely used illicit drug with effects on different pain pathways. However, interactions between cannabis and postoperative pain are unclear. Cannabis smoking also affects the lungs, but the impact of cannabis use on postoperative pulmonary complications is unknown. We hypothesized that preoperative cannabis use in adults having elective surgery is associated with higher postoperative opioid consumption. Secondarily, we tested the hypothesis that cannabis use is associated with higher pain scores, hypoxemia (oxygen saturation [Sp o2 ]/fraction of inspired oxygen [F io2 ] ratio), and higher postoperative pulmonary complications compared to nonuse of cannabis. ⋯ Adult cannabis users undergoing surgeries were found to have significantly higher postoperative opioid consumption and pain scores than nonusers. Cannabis use did not have a clinically meaningful association with hypoxia or composite pulmonary complications.
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Tramadol has been associated with chronic opioid use and emergency room (ER) visits. However, little is known about trends in prescription tramadol use in the U.S. ⋯ Tramadol use was higher in females and older adults, exhibited heterogeneous trends across states, and shifted from primary care to ER and specialist settings over time. Co-dispensing with other CNS agents was common and warrants further monitoring.
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Context: Pain and symptom management at the end of life (EoL) can pose unique challenges, particularly when symptoms are refractory to conventional methods. Dexmedetomidine, originally approved for sedation in ventilated patients, has been demonstrated to be beneficial in pain management and palliative care settings by functioning as an alpha-2 agonist. Methods: A retrospective review of inpatient palliative care unit (IPU) records from January 2020 to December 2023 was conducted. ⋯ There was a trend toward a decreased opioid requirement 24 hours after initiation. Patients transferred from the ICU showed a progressive increase in opioid use. Conclusion: This study contributes to understanding dexmedetomidine's role in managing refractory symptoms at the EoL in the palliative care setting.