scholarly journals Narcotics in Rheumatology

2013 ◽  
Vol 6 ◽  
pp. HSI.S10461
Author(s):  
Mahsa Tehrani ◽  
Mathia Aguiar ◽  
James D. Katz

Patients with rheumatic conditions often suffer from related chronic pain. When first-line traditional medications such as acetaminophen and anti-inflammatory medications do not suffice, then other options are needed. The traditional medications may ultimately not provide sufficient pain relief, or alternatively, they can pose as a contraindication due to underlying hypertension, renal, and/or hepatic disease. Therefore, narcotics are an alluring alternative, which if used in a multidisciplinary and systematic approach to the patient, can prove to be quite beneficial in the lives of these patients.

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (4) ◽  
pp. 213-223 ◽  
Author(s):  
Martin Hale ◽  
Joseph Gimbel ◽  
Richard Rauck

Buprenorphine is a Schedule III opioid with unique pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetic properties that contribute to effective analgesia and fewer safety risks than other opioids. This review article focuses on the buccal film formulation, which is preferable to other buprenorphine formulations on the basis of bioavailability, safety and efficacy. The clinical studies reviewed here confirm that buprenorphine buccal film offers effective and continuous pain relief that is generally well tolerated, with no cases of respiratory depression reported in any of the studies. On the basis of these clinical data and individual patient risk/benefit assessments, clinicians should consider utilizing buprenorphine buccal film as a first-line opioid treatment for chronic pain over other buprenorphine formulations or other opioids.


2019 ◽  
Vol 2019 ◽  
pp. 1-6 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rebecca S. Y. Wong

Spondyloarthritis or spondyloarthropathy (SpA) is a group of related rheumatic disorders, which presents with axial and nonaxial features, affecting structures within the musculoskeletal system, as well as other bodily systems. Both pharmacological and nonpharmacological therapeutic options are available for SpA. For decades, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) have been used as the first-line drugs to treat the disease. Research has shown that other than pain relief, NSAIDs have disease-modifying effects in SpA. However, to achieve these effects, continuous and/or long-term NSAID use is usually required. This review will give an overview of SpA, discuss NSAIDs and their disease-modifying effects in SpA, and highlight some of the important adverse effects of long-term and continuous NSAID use, particularly those related to the gastrointestinal, renal, and cardiovascular systems.


2012 ◽  
pp. 31-41
Author(s):  
Quang Thuy Phung ◽  
Ngoc Thanh Cao ◽  
Quang Vinh Truong

Background: Pain during labor as pain in the fracture is not treated, chronic pain, so pain is very essential issues to be studied. Epidural anesthesia (NMC) has many advantages over spinal anesthesia in constant pain. Study objectives: 1. Assessing the effects analgesia by epidural anesthesia during labor. 2. Assessing progress and final results of labor for pregnant women and fetuses. Materials and Methods: The study described 37 pregnant from 38 to less than 42 weeks had a positive phase of labor to pain relief by continuous epidural anesthesia method, with cervical dilation between 3 cm and 4 cm. Results: Women feel very satisfied (67.5%) on methods of natural pain relief during labor. Most women deliver normally (73%). Evolution of the cervix takes place smoothly. Duration of labor within the normal birth. Breast sucking good condition accounted for 86.5% rate, the reflecting normal 94.6%. Conclusions: This is the effective method of pain relief during labor birth. Duration of labor in normal limits. Side effects occur less and can be well controlled. Keywords: epidural anesthesia; relief pain on labor.


Neurosurgery ◽  
1991 ◽  
Vol 28 (1) ◽  
pp. 65-71 ◽  
Author(s):  
Roberto Spiegelmann ◽  
William A. Friedman

Abstract Forty-three patients with chronic pain disorders of different causes were selected for spinal cord stimulation. All underwent implantation of a ribbon electrode through a small laminotomy, under general anesthesia. Thirteen patients (30%) failed to obtain significant pain relief during a period of trial stimulation, and their electrodes were removed. The remainder underwent a definitive implant and were followed for a mean of 13 months (range, 3-33 months). Nineteen of them (63%) continued to experience pain relief. A detailed analysis of this series, as well as a literature review, is presented.


Cells ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. 534
Author(s):  
Annina S. Vischer ◽  
Gabriela M. Kuster ◽  
Raphael Twerenbold ◽  
Otmar Pfister ◽  
Qian Zhou ◽  
...  

(1) Background: Recently, influences of antihypertensive treatment on the renin–angiotensin–aldosterone system (RAAS) has gained attention, regarding a possible influence on inflammatory and anti-inflammatory pathways. We aimed to study the effects of newly initiated antihypertensive drugs on angiotensin (Ang) II and Ang (1–7) as representers of two counter-regulatory axes. (2) Methods: In this randomized, open-label trial investigating RAAS peptides after the initiation of perindopril, olmesartan, amlodipine, or hydrochlorothiazide, Ang II and Ang (1–7) equilibrium concentrations were measured at 8 a.m. and 12 a.m. at baseline and after four weeks of treatment. Eighty patients were randomized (1:1:1:1 fashion). (3) Results: Between the four substances, we found significant differences regarding the concentrations of Ang II (p < 0.0005 for 8 a.m., 12 a.m.) and Ang (1–7) (p = 0.019 for 8 a.m., <0.0005 for 12 a.m.) four weeks after treatment start. Ang II was decreased by perindopril (p = 0.002), and increased by olmesartan (p < 0.0005), amlodipine (p = 0.012), and hydrochlorothiazide (p = 0.001). Ang (1–7) was increased by perindopril and olmesartan (p = 0.008/0.002), but not measurably altered by amlodipine and hydrochlorothiazide (p = 0.317/ 0.109). (4) Conclusion: The initiation of all first line antihypertensive treatments causes early and distinct alterations of equilibrium angiotensin levels. Given the additional AT1R blocking action of olmesartan, RAAS peptides shift upon initiation of perindopril and olmesartan appear to work in favor of the anti-inflammatory axis compared to amlodipine and hydrochlorothiazide.


Molecules ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 26 (11) ◽  
pp. 3140
Author(s):  
Rocco Giordano ◽  
Zeinab Saii ◽  
Malthe Fredsgaard ◽  
Laura Sini Sofia Hulkko ◽  
Thomas Bouet Guldbæk Poulsen ◽  
...  

The pharmacological activities in bioactive plant extracts play an increasing role in sustainable resources for valorization and biomedical applications. Bioactive phytochemicals, including natural compounds, secondary metabolites and their derivatives, have attracted significant attention for use in both medicinal products and cosmetic products. Our review highlights the pharmacological mode-of-action and current biomedical applications of key bioactive compounds applied as anti-inflammatory, bactericidal with antibiotics effects, and pain relief purposes in controlled clinical studies or preclinical studies. In this systematic review, the availability of bioactive compounds from several salt-tolerant plant species, mainly focusing on the three promising species Aster tripolium, Crithmum maritimum and Salicornia europaea, are summarized and discussed. All three of them have been widely used in natural folk medicines and are now in the focus for future nutraceutical and pharmacological applications.


Pharmacy ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (4) ◽  
pp. 240
Author(s):  
José António Ferraz Gonçalves ◽  
Filipa Sousa ◽  
Lucy Alves ◽  
Patrícia Liu ◽  
Sara Coelho

Alfentanil is used for chronic pain relief in palliative care. However, there is a dearth of data on its use. For this reason, a decision was made to review the use of alfentanil in palliative care. Retrospective study was carried out in a palliative care service. The files of patients who received alfentanil as an intravenous or subcutaneous continuous infusion for pain relief, between January 2018 and April 2019. In total, 111 patients received alfentanil out of 113 admissions. Of them, 56 were male, and the median age was 70 years. The median number of days on alfentanil was 6 (range 1 to 129). The most frequent primary reasons for switching to alfentanil was uncontrolled pain in 52 (46%) patients and renal impairment in 24 (21%) patients. The median 24-h initial dose of alfentanil was 4 mg (1–20), and the median final 24-h dose of alfentanil was 5 mg (1–60), (p < 0.001). The initial 24-h median number of rescue doses was 2 (0–8), and the final median number of rescue doses was 1 (0 to 8), (p = 0.025). In 56 patients who were on alfentanil for at least 7 days, the dose decreased in 3 (5%), remained stable in 10 (18%) and increased in 43 (77%). The patient on alfentanil for 129 days maintained the same dose throughout that period. Alfentanil can be a useful second-line opioid. The induction of tolerance does not seem to be particularly rapid with alfentanil.


2015 ◽  
Vol 82 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Pier Luigi Temporelli ◽  
Giovanni Battista Zito ◽  
Roberto Franco Pedretti ◽  
Francesco Iachini Belisarii ◽  
Giuseppe Putortì ◽  
...  

Non steroid anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are largely used for treatment of acute and chronic pain, even for long periods of time (months or years). While it is known that their use is frequently associated with gastrointestinal damage, including major bleedings from peptic ulcer, the risk of cardiovascular events related to NSAID has received much less attention. However, there is a large body of evidence showing that NSAIDs (both “traditional”, such as diclofenac or indobufen, and selective cyclooxygenase inhibitors, COX-2) are associated with a significant increase of risk of cardiovascular events, both fatal and nonfatal. Consequently, several options have been proposed for the treatment of pain, including the use of analgesic drugs with different mechanisms of action, such as the opiates. Of interest, the Italian Drug Agency (AIFA) published a few years ago a warning (Nota 66) on the careful prescription of NSAIDs in patients with overt heart disease, such as coronary artery disease and heart failure. Aim of this paper is to present the current status of knowledge on the proper use of NSAIDs and other analgesic drugs in the management of acute and chronic pain.


2021 ◽  
pp. 189-191

BACKGROUND: High-frequency spinal cord stimulation (HF-SCS) has become very popular in the management of chronic pain worldwide. As it relies on generating high-frequency electrical impulses, there is a risk of interference with other devices such as cochlear implants that utilize similar principles. A literature search did not reveal any case reports of HF-SCS implantation in a patient with cochlear implants. CASE REPORT: A 75-year-old White woman with a history of bilateral cochlear implants (Cochlear Americas Nucleus® with cp910 processor) for severe sensorineural hearing loss presented to our chronic pain clinic with lumbosacral radiculopathy. The patient underwent a HF-SCS trial with entry point at the L1-L2 space and the leads positioned at the top and bottom of T8. The patient did not experience any auditory interference with her Cochlear implant at triple the average SCS stimulation strength. During the follow-up visit the next week, the patient reported nearly 80% symptomatic pain relief and significant functional improvement. There was no change in her hearing and no evidence of interference. The patient ultimately underwent percutaneous SCS paddle electrode placement and at 3 months, continues to have excellent pain relief without any auditory interactions. CONCLUSION: We successfully implanted a HF-SCS at the thoracic level in a patient with bilateral cochlear implants without any auditory interference. KEY WORDS: Cochlear implant, lumbar radiculopathy, spinal cord stimulation


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