Articles: opioid.
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Drug Alcohol Depend · Aug 2016
Decreased diversion by doctor-shopping for a reformulated extended release oxycodone product (OxyContin).
Doctor-shopping (obtaining prescriptions from multiple prescribers/pharmacies) for opioid analgesics produces a supply for diversion and abuse, and represents a major public health issue. ⋯ The rate of doctor-shopping for brand ER oxycodone decreased substantially after its reformulation, which did not occur for other prescription opioids. The largest reductions in doctor-shopping occurred with characteristics associated with higher abuse risk such as youth, cash payment and high dose, and with more specific thresholds of doctor-shopping. A higher prescriber and/or pharmacy threshold also increased the magnitude of the decrease, suggesting that it better captured the effect of the reformulation on actual doctor-shoppers.
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J Pain Symptom Manage · Aug 2016
A Multifaceted Approach to Improve the Availability and Accessibility of Opioids for the Treatment of Cancer Pain in Serbia: Results from the International Pain Policy Fellowship (2006-2012) and Recommendations for Action.
Cancer is the second leading cause of death in Serbia, and at least 14,000-16,000 patients experience moderate-to-severe cancer pain every year. Cancer pain relief has been impeded by inadequate availability of opioid analgesics and barriers to their accessibility. In 2006, a Serbian oncologist was selected as an International Pain Policy Fellow. ⋯ Collaborative efforts resulted in availability of immediate-release oral morphine, registration of controlled-release hydromorphone, and reimbursement of oral methadone for cancer pain; numerous educational activities aimed at changing inadequate knowledge and negative attitudes toward opioids; recognition of opioids as essential medicines for palliative care in a new National Palliative Care Strategy; and recognition of the medical use of opioids as psychoactive-controlled substances for the relief of pain included in a new national law on psychoactive-controlled substances, and the development of recommendations for updating regulations on prescribing and dispensing opioids. An increase in opioid consumption at the institutional and national levels also was observed. This article outlines a multifaceted approach to improving access to strong opioids for cancer pain management and palliative care in a middle-income country and offers a potential road map to success.
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Journal of anesthesia · Aug 2016
Effect of interleukin 6 -174G>C gene polymorphism on opioid requirements after total hip replacement.
In recent years, increasing attention has been paid to the contribution of genetic factors to variability in patient pain threshold and the efficacy of pain management. One of the genes implicated in pain pathology and treatment response is interleukin 6 (IL6). The aim of the present study was to evaluate the association between IL6 (rs1800795: -174G>C) and opioid requirements in patients after total hip replacement (THR). ⋯ The presence of the G allele IL6 gene (-174G>C) polymorphism was found to be an independent factor predisposing to a higher dose and more frequent administration of opioids in the first days after total hip replacement.
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Am. J. Physiol. Gastrointest. Liver Physiol. · Aug 2016
Distribution and trafficking of the μ-opioid receptor in enteric neurons of the guinea pig.
The μ-opioid receptor (MOR) is a major regulator of gastrointestinal motility and secretion and mediates opiate-induced bowel dysfunction. Although MOR is of physiological and therapeutic importance to gut function, the cellular and subcellular distribution and regulation of MOR within the enteric nervous system are largely undefined. Herein, we defined the neurochemical coding of MOR-expressing neurons in the guinea pig gut and examined the effects of opioids on MOR trafficking and regulation. ⋯ After stimulation with DAMGO and morphiceptin, MOR recycled, whereas MOR was retained within endosomes following loperamide treatment. Herkinorin or the δ-opioid receptor agonist [d-Ala(2), d-Leu(5)]enkephalin (DADLE) did not evoke MOR endocytosis. In summary, we have identified the neurochemical coding of MOR-positive enteric neurons and have demonstrated differential trafficking of MOR in these neurons in response to established and putative MOR agonists.
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Mechanically ventilated patients may receive more sedation during the night than during the day, potentially delaying extubation. We compared nighttime and daytime benzodiazepine and opioid administration in adult patients enrolled in a multicenter sedation trial comparing protocolized sedation alone or protocolized sedation combined with daily sedation interruption; and we evaluated whether nighttime and daytime doses were associated with liberation from mechanical ventilation. ⋯ Patients received higher doses of opioids and benzodiazepines at night. Higher nighttime doses were associated with SBT failure and delayed extubation.