Articles: analgesics.
-
Multicenter Study
Negative predictive value of acetaminophen concentrations within four hours of ingestion.
The objective was to ascertain whether acetaminophen (APAP) concentrations less than 100 μg/mL obtained between 1 and 4 hours after acute ingestion accurately predict a nontoxic 4-hour concentration. ⋯ An APAP concentration of <100 μg/mL obtained between 1 and 4 hours after ingestion has a high NPV for excluding toxic ingestion. We do not recommend reliance on concentrations obtained between 1 and 4 hours to exclude toxicity, because of a potential false-negative rate of 6.5%.
-
While pain is highly prevalent in cancer patients and its management is universally challenging, it is more commonly undertreated in the developing world. Southeastern European countries have limited resources and manpower to allocate for delivery of effective care for cancer-related pain. The purpose of this study was to explore the practice methods and the barriers to effective pain management in Southeastern Europe. ⋯ The limitations faced by our respondents seem to be related mostly to the shortcomings of the respective health care systems, along with the need for more experience and knowledge about the titration of pain medications and dealing with toxicities.
-
Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study
Intrathecal gabapentin to treat chronic intractable noncancer pain.
Oral gabapentin is approved as an anticonvulsant medication and to treat postherpetic neuralgia. Its nonopioid properties and presumed spinal site of analgesic action made the study on intrathecal gabapentin attractive to establish the minimum effective dose for a later, pivotal trial. ⋯ Twenty-two days of intrathecal gabapentin did not demonstrate statistically significant or clinically meaningful analgesic effects. The study sponsor has no current plans for further studies. Drug-related adverse events were similar to those for oral gabapentin. Most device-related adverse events resulted from the implant surgery or anesthesia.
-
Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study
Intrathecal gabapentin to treat chronic intractable noncancer pain.
Oral gabapentin is approved as an anticonvulsant medication and to treat postherpetic neuralgia. Its nonopioid properties and presumed spinal site of analgesic action made the study on intrathecal gabapentin attractive to establish the minimum effective dose for a later, pivotal trial. ⋯ Twenty-two days of intrathecal gabapentin did not demonstrate statistically significant or clinically meaningful analgesic effects. The study sponsor has no current plans for further studies. Drug-related adverse events were similar to those for oral gabapentin. Most device-related adverse events resulted from the implant surgery or anesthesia.
-
Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study
Endogenous opioid function mediates the association between laboratory-evoked pain sensitivity and morphine analgesic responses.
Predictors of responsiveness to opioid analgesic medications are not well understood. This study tested whether individual differences in endogenous opioid (EO) function are associated with analgesic responsiveness to morphine. In randomized, counterbalanced order over 3 sessions, 45 chronic low back pain participants and 31 healthy controls received an opioid antagonist (8 mg naloxone), morphine (0.08 mg/kg), or placebo. ⋯ These latter associations were significantly mediated by EO function for 4 of these 5 pain outcomes (all P values<0.05). In the laboratory-evoked pain context, opioid analgesic medications may supplement inadequate EO analgesia, with little incremental benefit in those with preexisting high EO function. Implications for personalized medicine are discussed.