Clinical therapeutics
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Clinical therapeutics · Nov 2013
Randomized Controlled TrialA randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group study to evaluate the efficacy and safety of the extended-release tramadol hydrochloride/acetaminophen fixed-dose combination tablet for the treatment of chronic low back pain.
Chronic low back pain is a common condition that is often difficult to treat. The combination of tramadol hydrochloride and acetaminophen in an extended-release formulation has been shown to provide rapid and long-lasting analgesic effects resulting from the synergistic activity of these 2 active ingredients. ⋯ TA-ER was significantly more effective than placebo in providing pain relief, functional improvements, and improved quality of life. It exhibited a predictable safety profile in patients with chronic low back pain. ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT01112267.
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Chronic pain is prevalent among older adults but is underrecognized and undertreated. The approach to pain assessment and management in older adults requires an understanding of the physiology of aging, validated assessment tools, and common pain presentations among older adults. ⋯ An understanding of the basics of pain pathophysiology, assessment, pharmacologic management, and a familiarity with common pain presentations will allow clinicians to effectively manage pain for older adults.
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Clinical therapeutics · Nov 2013
Randomized Controlled TrialEfficacy of periosteal stimulation for chronic pain associated with advanced knee osteoarthritis: a randomized, controlled clinical trial.
Because of morbidity associated with painful knee osteoarthritis (OA) and commonly prescribed analgesics, patients often pursue complementary and alternative modalities (eg, acupuncture). Clinical trials have demonstrated modest therapeutic efficacy of traditional Chinese acupuncture for knee OA pain, and patients with advanced disease have largely been excluded. We have previously demonstrated preliminary short-term tolerability and efficacy of periosteal stimulation therapy (PST) (ie, electrical stimulation of the periosteum facilitated by acupuncture needles) for older adults with advanced knee OA. ⋯ PST plus PST boosters in patients age >50 with advanced knee OA were well-tolerated and modestly reduced pain. ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT00865046.
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Clinical therapeutics · Nov 2013
Longitudinal use of complementary and alternative medicine among older adults with radiographic knee osteoarthritis.
Osteoarthritis (OA), a chronic and often painful disease for which there is no cure, accounts for more mobility issues in older adults than any other disease. Cross-sectional studies have found that arthritis is the most common reason for older adults to use complementary and alternative medicine (CAM). Although previous research has profiled the sociodemographic and clinical characteristics of CAM users, few studies have provided information on variation in CAM use over time and most only considered use of any CAM, which was often a mixture of heterogeneous therapies. ⋯ Patterns of CAM use are, to some extent, inconsistent with current guidelines for OA treatment. Evaluating the potential risks and benefits in older adults from commonly used CAM modalities, with or without combination use of conventional analgesics, is warranted.
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Clinical therapeutics · Nov 2013
Long-term patterns of use and treatment failure with anticholinergic agents for overactive bladder.
Overactive bladder (OAB) involves a complex set of symptoms with a lifetime prevalence of any symptom in ~30% of women and 20% of men. Anticholinergic agents are associated with poor medication persistence in OAB treatment. ⋯ This study provides real-world data on treatment patterns over 2 years in a large cohort of patients diagnosed with OAB. Despite the potential for better adherence with some anticholinergic agents, these analyses suggest that such benefits have not yet been realized, and many patients end up without effective pharmacotherapy. Thus, there is a need for new therapies and strategies to increase persistence and adherence to improve outcomes in OAB.