Articles: analgesics.
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The rising number of people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) worldwide has made health care professionals and policy makers search for accessible health care that will meet the needs of people who are suffering from the disease and enhance their quality of life (QoL). This study investigated met and unmet palliative care needs of PLWHA in selected areas in Rwanda. The study sample included 306 participants: PLWHA, health care professionals and coordinators of HIV/AIDS units. ⋯ They indicated that inadequate policy and resources were the main obstacles to the provision of optimal palliative care. Addressing unmet palliative care needs would enhance the QoL of PLWHA. In addition, developing policy related to the provision of palliative care and building the capacity of health care providers is essential for the provision of adequate palliative care services in Rwanda.
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Clinical therapeutics · Apr 2007
Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter StudyFentanyl buccal tablet for the relief of breakthrough pain in opioid-tolerant adult patients with chronic neuropathic pain: a multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study.
Patients with chronic noncancer pain, including neuropathic pain, may have transitory exacerbations of pain (median duration, 60 minutes), termed breakthrough pain (BTP), that may reach peak intensity within minutes. Typical short-acting oral opioids may not provide sufficiently rapid relief (30- to 60-minute onset of analgesia). The fentanyl buccal tablet (FBT) provides a rapid onset of analgesia (10-15 minutes) by enhancing fentanyl absorption across the buccal mucosa. ⋯ In these opioid-tolerant patients with chronic neuropathic pain who identified an effective FBT dose, FBT had a rapid onset of action and was effective and well tolerated in the treatment of BTP.
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Arthritis and rheumatism · Apr 2007
Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter StudyGabapentin in the treatment of fibromyalgia: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicenter trial.
To assess the efficacy and safety of gabapentin in patients with fibromyalgia. ⋯ Gabapentin (1,200-2,400 mg/day) is safe and efficacious for the treatment of pain and other symptoms associated with fibromyalgia.
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Multicenter Study
Current practices in sedation and analgesia for mechanically ventilated critically ill patients: a prospective multicenter patient-based study.
The authors conducted a patient-based survey of practices to fully describe the assessment and the management of pain and sedation of a large cohort of mechanically ventilated patients during their first week of intensive care unit (ICU) stay. ⋯ Excessively deep states of sedation and a lack of analgesia during painful procedures must be prevented. To facilitate systematic pain and sedation assessment and to adjust daily drug dosages accordingly, it seems crucial to promote educational programs and elaboration of protocols/guidelines in the ICU.
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Multicenter Study Clinical Trial
Impact of breakthrough pain on quality of life in patients with chronic, noncancer pain: patient perceptions and effect of treatment with oral transmucosal fentanyl citrate (OTFC, ACTIQ).
To characterize breakthrough pain (BTP), its qualitative impact on quality of life (QoL), and the effects of BTP treatment on QoL. ⋯ BTP appears to be a clinically important condition in this population and is associated with an adverse impact on QoL. Understanding those QoL domains most affected by BTP and those potentially improved with treatment should help in developing quantitative QoL assessment tools and other outcome measures for BTP management studies.