Drugs

Neck Pain, Preoperative Opioids, and Functionality After Cervical Fusion

Mhamad Faour, MD Orthopedics January/February 2017 – Volume 40 · Issue 1: 25-32 Posted January 24, 2017 DOI: 10.3928/01477447-20161013-02 Abstract The use of opioids among patients with workers’ compensation claims is associated with tremendous costs, especially for patients who undergo spinal surgery. This study compared return-to-work rates after single-level cervical fusion for degenerative disk disease […]

PPIs Do Not Reduce the Risk of Esophageal Adenocarcinoma Associated With Barrett’s Esophagus

February 07, 2017 PloS One TAKE-HOME MESSAGE No association between the use of proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) and reduced risk for esophageal adenocarcinoma and high-grade dysplasia in patients with Barrett’s esophagus was found in an analysis of nine observational studies. Nor was a duration–response relationship noted. PPIs were not found to provide any significant protection […]

The drugs don’t work, say back pain researchers

Date: February 2, 2017 Source: George Institute for Global Health Summary: Commonly used non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, such as aspirin and ibuprofen, used to treat back pain provide little benefit, but cause side effects, according to new research. The findings of the systematic review reveal only one in six patients treated with the pills, also known […]

Pain Expert: ‘I Haven’t Prescribed an Opioid in a Decade’ [Video]

by F. Perry Wilson MD, MSCE January 25, 2017 Daniel Clauw, MD, is professor of medicine, anesthesia, and psychiatry at the University of Michigan and director of the Chronic Pain and Fatigue Research Center. In this era of increasing opioid abuse and overdoses, and harsh criticism for physicians’ use of opioids in the setting of […]

Platelet-Rich Plasma Superior to Corticosteroid Injection for Lumbar Facet Joint Syndrome

Autologous platelet-rich plasma efficacious for a longer duration than LA/corticosteroid WEDNESDAY, Dec. 28, 2016 (HealthDay News) — For intra-articular injection autologous platelet-rich plasma (PRP) and local anesthetic (LA)/corticosteroid are effective, easy, and safe in the treatment of lumbar facet joint syndrome, according to a study published online Dec. 18 in Pain Practice. Jiuping Wu, from […]

Chronic Migraine Meds Stopped With Botulinum Treatment

by Kate Kneisel Contributing Writer, MedPage Today December 28, 2016 OnabotulinumtoxinA (Botox) treatment resulted in discontinuation of acute medication overuse and oral preventive therapies after 1 year in more than half of individuals with chronic migraine, researchers found. Of 115 study patients overall, 62% of the 92 characterized as overusing the medications and almost half […]

Pain Relievers Tied to Hearing Loss

By NICHOLAS BAKALAR DECEMBER 14, 2016 Long-term use of pain relievers may increase the risk for hearing loss, according to new findings. Researchers prospectively tracked the use of pain relievers and self-reported hearing loss in 55,850 women over six years. They found that compared with women who used nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (such as ibuprofen or naproxen) two […]

Acetaminophen and Alcohol May Be Nephrotoxic

Neil Osterweil November 15, 2013 BOSTON, Massachusetts — The link between acetaminophen (Tylenol and generics) and liver damage is well established, but there is also evidence to suggest that in some asymptomatic patients, therapeutic doses of acetaminophen and light-to-moderate alcohol use can lead to renal disease. An examination of data from a nationwide health survey […]

Randomized controlled trial comparing hyaluronic acid, platelet-rich plasma and the combination of both in the treatment of mild and moderate osteoarthritis of the knee

Lana JFSD Abstract Objective: This study aims to evaluate the clinical effects of Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) and Hyaluronic Acid (HA) as individual treatments for mild to moderate Osteoarthritis (OA), and also examine the potential synergistic effects of PRP in combination with HA. Research continues to emerge examining the potential therapeutic efficacy of HA and […]

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs for sciatica

Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2016 Oct 15;10:CD012382. Rasmussen-Barr E1, Held U, Grooten WJ, Roelofs PD, Koes BW, van Tulder MW, Wertli MM. Abstract BACKGROUND: Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are one of the most frequently prescribed drugs for the treatment of sciatica. A previous Cochrane review on the efficacy of NSAIDs summarised findings for acute and chronic low back pain (LBP) and sciatica. […]

Prenatal Acetaminophen Linked to Behavioral Problems in Kids

Megan Brooks February 24, 2014 Prenatal exposure to acetaminophen ― a drug considered safe in pregnancy ― may raise the risk for behavioral problems in children, including attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and hyperkinetic disorder (HKD), a severe form of ADHD, new research suggests. “Because the exposure and outcomes are frequent, these results are of public health […]

Are Oral Bisphosphonates Associated With Risk for Wet AMD?

William C. Ou; Charles C. Wykoff, MD, PhD September 23, 2016 Bisphosphonates: A Staple of Osteoporosis Treatment Osteoporosis is a disease characterized by weak and brittle bones that affects 10 million Americans over the age of 50 years and leads to 1.5 million bone fractures annually in the United States.[1,2] Several mechanisms can underlie this […]

Economic Burden of U.S. Opioid Epidemic $78.5 Billion Annually

Costs includes health care, lost productivity, treatment programs WEDNESDAY, Sept. 21, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Abuse of opioids costs the U.S. economy $78.5 billion a year, according to a study published in the October issue of Medical Care. Researchers from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention analyzed the financial toll of opioid abuse, […]

Mediterranean diet better for the heart than taking statins, major study suggests

by Laura Donnelly 28 AUGUST 2016 • 5:00PM A Mediterranean diet could be better than statins at reducing the risk of an early death for millions of Britons, research suggests. Leading heart experts said patients should be prescribed the diet – rich in fruit, vegetables, fish, nuts, whole grains and olive oil – before being […]

Early Life Antibiotic Use Tied to Future Allergy Risk

Meta-analysis links hay fever, atopy risk to antibiotics in babyhood by Salynn Boyles Contributing Writer September 07, 2016 LONDON — Early life exposure to antibiotics was associated with an increased risk for both hay fever and eczema later in life in a pooled analysis reported here that included more than half a million people. Findings […]

Screening tool can reduce antibiotics in kids with respiratory infection and cough

John Murphy, MDLinx, 09/01/2016 Researchers in England have developed a simple 7-item checklist to help primary care practitioners decide whether a child with cough and a respiratory tract infection (RTI) is at risk for hospitalization. Identifying children at low risk would reduce the overprescribing of antibiotics in these young patients, the researchers predicted in their […]

11 things you should know about common pain relievers

The Family Health Guide Understanding the differences between acetaminophen and NSAIDs Once upon a time, easing pain was relatively simple: take two aspirin and call the doctor in the morning. Now there are many pain relievers to choose from (see “Pain relievers at a glance”). Willow bark was one of the earliest painkillers. Extracts or […]

Many patients who already take opioids continue their use after joint replacement

June 22, 2016 According to results recently published in Pain, many patients who took opioids prior to total knee or total hip arthroplasty persisted to use opioids 6 months postoperatively and a smaller percentage of patients who were opioid-naïve preoperatively also remained on opioids at the follow-up. “After a successful surgery as pain in the […]

Chiropractic: A Safer Strategy than Opioids

Our profession is positioned to play a leading role in helping Americans take advantage of non-pharmacological pain management — and the Foundation for Chiropractic Progress (F4CP) is empowering YOU and every doctor of chiropractic (DC) to lead the discussion in your states and cities. Our landmark positioning paper, “Chiropractic: A Safer Strategy Than Opioids,” is […]

PPI Use Ups Risk of Osteoporosis, Osteopenia in Femur

June 10, 2016 PPI users have reduced mean femoral T-scores, increased frequency of osteoporosis, osteopenia WEDNESDAY, June 8, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Proton pump inhibitor (PPI) use is associated with increased risk of developing osteoporosis and osteopenia in femur bones, according to a study published online May 31 in the International Journal of Rheumatic Diseases. […]