Articles: opioid.
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Am J Health Syst Pharm · Jul 2017
ReviewNebulized opioids for the palliation of dyspnea in terminally ill patients.
The use of nebulized opioids for the palliation of dyspnea in terminally ill patients is reviewed. ⋯ Nebulized opioids may provide subjective relief of dyspnea in terminally ill patients with mild-to-moderate adverse effects.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study
Subdissociative intranasal ketamine plus standard pain therapy versus standard pain therapy in the treatment of paediatric sickle cell disease vaso-occlusive crises in resource-limited settings: study protocol for a randomised controlled trial.
Pediatric sickle cell disease, highly prevalent in sub-Saharan Africa, carries great morbidity and mortality risk. Limited resources and monitoring make management of acute vaso-occlusive crises challenging. This study aims to evaluate the efficacy and safety of subdissociative intranasal ketamine as a cheap, readily available and easily administered adjunct to standard pain therapy. We hypothesise that subdissociative, intranasal ketamine may significantly augment current approaches to pain management in resource-limited settings in a safe and cost-effective manner. ⋯ The research methods for this study have been approved by the Cameroon Baptist Convention Health Board Institutional Review Board (IRB2015-07), the Tanzanian National Institute for Medical Research (NIMR/HQ/R.8a/Vol. IX/2299), Muhimbili National Hospital IRB (MNH/IRB/I/2015/14) and the Tanzanian Food and Drugs Authority (TFDA0015/CTR/0015/9). Data reports will be provided to the Data and Safety Monitoring Board (DSMB) periodically throughout the study as well as all reports of adverse events. All protocol amendments will also be reviewed by the DSMB. Study results, regardless of direction or amplitude, will be submitted for publication in relevant peer-reviewed journals.
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The bone & joint journal · Jul 2017
ReviewAn epidemic of the use, misuse and overdose of opioids and deaths due to overdose, in the United States and Canada: is Europe next?
The United States and Canada are in the midst of an epidemic of the use, misuse and overdose of opioids, and deaths related to overdose. This is the direct result of overstatement of the benefits and understatement of the risks of using opioids by advocates and pharmaceutical companies. Massive amounts of prescription opioids entered the community and were often diverted and misused. ⋯ Evidence is mounting that the best pain relief is obtained through resilience. Opioids are often prescribed when treatments to increase resilience would be more effective. Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2017;99-B:856-64.
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India has a high prevalence of chronic disorders which may be associated with persistent pain. Despite the availability of multiple treatment options, chronic pain is largely untreated and contributes to disability and mortality. ⋯ Although multiple amendments to the act have ensured ease of opioid access for medicinal purposes, concerns such as lack of awareness and prescribing practices and attitudes of physicians/patients still need to be addressed. This review aims to identify these barriers and suggest recommendations to overcome them.
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A common clinical problem with opioid analgesics is the loss of analgesic efficacy after repeated dosing; when this occurs, it is not clear what principles should guide providing effective analgesia among opioid-dependent individuals. This within-subject inpatient study aimed to determine if physically dependent opioid abusers (n = 11) experience changes in oxycodone-induced analgesia during 2 oxycodone maintenance (30 mg orally 4 times per day) phases: initial stabilization (days 1-3) and after 6 weeks of chronic dosing. Six sessions (3 each phase), measured threshold, tolerance, and pain ratings for a Pressure Pain Test and Cold Pressor Test after a single double-blind dose of oxycodone 30 mg (initial stabilization) and 0, 30, and 60 mg (chronic dosing) given in place of a scheduled maintenance dose. Physiologic and opioid agonist effects were assessed during chronic dosing sessions. There was no analgesic response to oxycodone 30 mg. Oxycodone (60 mg) produced a 25% increase in peak Cold Pressor Test threshold compared with placebo, and significantly increased expired breath CO2, miosis, and ratings of abuse liability measures. These data suggest that more than twice the acute oxycodone maintenance dose is needed to produce robust acute analgesia, although adverse effects (eg, respiratory depression and abuse signals) may occur with lower doses. ⋯ To understand sensitivity to opioid analgesia in opioid-dependent individuals, this article describes experimental pain, subjective and physiological responses during stabilization and after 6 weeks of oxycodone maintenance. Oxycodone produced euphoric effects and miosis with limited evidence of analgesia.