Articles: opioid.
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Psychiatry research · Jun 2015
Prevalence and correlates of co-prescribing psychotropic medications with long-term opioid use nationally in the Veterans Health Administration.
We used national data for fiscal year 2012 to examine demographic, psychiatric and medical diagnoses, indications for psychotropics, and service use correlates of psychotropic medication fills in Veterans with at least 10 opioid prescriptions during the year (the highest 29% of opioid users); and whether the Veteran was treated in a specialty mental health clinic. Of the 328,398 Veterans who filled at least 10 opioid prescriptions, 77% also received psychotropics, of whom: 74% received antidepressants, 55% anxiolytics/sedatives/hypnotics, and 26% three or more classes of psychotropic medications. ⋯ Indicated psychiatric diagnoses were the strongest predictors of specific class of psychotropics prescribed; anxiety disorder and insomnia were most strongly associated with anxioloytics/sedatives/hypnotics receipt. Since psychotropics and opioids can produce harmful side effects, especially when combined, and since they are likely prescribed by separate providers in different settings, coordinated consideration of the risks and benefits of co-prescribing these medications may be needed, along with further study of related adverse events.
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Journal of critical care · Jun 2015
Mutual relationship between anxiety and pain in the intensive care unit and its effect on medications.
Little is known about the relationship between anxiety and pain in intensive care unit (ICU) patients despite its importance. The aims of the present study are to examine the correlation between pain and anxiety during ICU care and to investigate its effects on the dose of opioids and anxiolytics administered. ⋯ Pain and anxiety among critically ill patients in the ICU were closely correlated. Pain and anxiety influenced the dose of anxiolytics administered. Therefore, a precise evaluation and comprehensive approach to the management of pain and anxiety are important for treating ICU patients.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Patient-Controlled Remifentanil Analgesia as Alternative for Pethidine with Midazolam During Oocyte Retrieval in IVF/ICSI Procedures: A Randomized Controlled Trial.
Pethidine with midazolam-induced conscious sedation for pain relief during transvaginal oocyte retrieval for in vitro fertilization (IVF) or intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) procedures is associated with residual pain and oversedation. Patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) with remifentanil may serve as an alternative for pethidine. We investigated whether PCA remifentanil with diclofenac was associated with improved periprocedural pain relief than pethidine analgesia during IVF/ICSI procedures, with sedation scores, safety profiles, and patient satisfaction as secondary endpoints. ⋯ Patient-controlled analgesia with remifentanil showed a similar reduction in pain scores than pethidine with midazolam during oocyte retrieval, while pethidine induced the highest pain relief after the procedure. However, PCA remifentanil was associated with less sedation and a better patient satisfaction profile than pethidine.
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Psychoneuroendocrinology · Jun 2015
Randomized Controlled Trial Observational StudyLow-dose hydrocortisone replacement improves wellbeing and pain tolerance in chronic pain patients with opioid-induced hypocortisolemic responses. A pilot randomized, placebo-controlled trial.
Long-term opioid therapy has been associated with low cortisol levels due to central suppression of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis. The implications of hypocortisolism on wellbeing have not been established. Our aim was to determine whether intervention with physiologic glucocorticoid replacement therapy improves wellbeing and analgesic responses in patients with chronic non-cancer pain on long-term opioid therapy with mild cortisol deficiency. We performed a pilot randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover study of oral hydrocortisone replacement therapy in 17 patients recruited from a Pain Clinic at a single tertiary center in Adelaide, Australia. Patients were receiving long-term opioid therapy (≥ 20 mg morphine equivalents per day for ≥ 4 weeks) for chronic non-cancer pain with mild hypocortisolism, as defined by a plasma cortisol response ≤ 350 nmol/L at 60 min following a cold pressor test. The crossover intervention included 28-day treatment with either 10mg/m(2)/day of oral hydrocortisone in three divided doses or placebo. Improvement in wellbeing was assessed using Version 2 of the Short Form-36 (SF-36v2), Brief Pain Inventory-Short Form, and Addison's disease quality of life questionnaires; improvement in analgesic response was assessed using cold pressor threshold and tolerance times. Following treatment with hydrocortisone, the bodily pain (P=0.042) and vitality (P=0.013) subscales of the SF-36v2 were significantly better than scores following treatment with placebo. There was also an improvement in pain interference on general activity (P=0.035), mood (P=0.03) and work (P=0.04) following hydrocortisone compared with placebo. This is the first randomized, double-blind placebo-controlled trial of glucocorticoid replacement in opioid users with chronic non-cancer pain and mild hypocortisolism. Our data suggest that physiologic hydrocortisone replacement produces improvements in vitality and pain experiences in this cohort compared with placebo.
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J Pain Palliat Care Pharmacother · Jun 2015
Observational StudyA pilot evaluation of a hydromorphone dose substitution policy and the effects on patient safety and pain management.
Hydromorphone is a potent opioid analgesic commonly utilized in the hospital setting for the management of acute pain. Initial dose recommendations range from 0.1 to 2 mg of hydromorphone for opioid-naïve patients. This creates a challenge to optimally dose hydromorphone in opioid-naïve patients with the goals of avoiding opioid toxicities while also providing adequate pain management. ⋯ The primary outcome of the study was the incidence of opioid toxicity. The secondary outcome of the study was adequate pain management. The results of this study showed no difference in opioid toxicity; however, patients required less per day hydromorphone and other opioids while still adequately managing patients' pain.