Articles: opioid.
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Public awareness of the opioid epidemic is increasing nationally, emphasizing the need to develop methods to reduce opioid use. We determined patient preference for analgesics before and after a brief educational intervention informing them of the risks and benefits of opioids versus non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID's). We hypothesized 50% of patients would prefer opioids pre-intervention and that this would be reduced by the intervention by at least 15%. ⋯ Many adult ED patients with acute musculoskeletal pain do not desire any analgesics and few specifically prefer opioids. This knowledge can prove helpful to ED physicians across the country in discussing pain management options with patients as we attempt to combat the opioid epidemic.
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To examine the effects of a harm reduction policy, specifically Good Samaritan (GS) policy, on overdose deaths. ⋯ While we are unable to identify an effect of GS policy on overdose deaths, GS policy may have important effects on first-stage outcomes not investigated in this paper. Given recent state policy changes and rapid increase in many categories of overdose deaths, additional research should continue to examine the implementation and effects of harm reduction policy specifically and substance use prevention policy broadly.
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BMC palliative care · Mar 2019
Observational StudyOptimal treatment of opioid induced constipation in daily clinical practice - an observational study.
Opioids are prescribed in over 40% of patients with advanced cancer, but side effects occur frequently. In this study we evaluated the development and treatment of opioid induced constipation (OIC), and OIC resolving effect of methylnaltrexone for different opioid subtypes in daily clinical practice. ⋯ OIC is a burdensome clinical problem independent of opioid subtype. Timely intensification of prophylactic laxative treatment, especially when opioid doses increase, may help to prevent OIC. Clinically overt OIC requires a more intensive laxative regimen with for example methylnaltrexone.