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This page was last updated 2/9/10 |
Welcome to the Pain-Topics.org NEWSROOM... 
News Flash...
A compendium of educational overviews on subjects of interest and importance to all pain practitioners and fully accessible free of charge. Topics include methadone analgesia, diabetic peripheral neuropathy, intrathecal therapy, topical analgesics, and more.
Access at: 
We are pleased to announce that Endo Pharmaceuticals, based in Chadds Ford, PA, has become a Pain Treatment Topics supporter by awarding us a medical education grant for 2010. Endo is a specialty pharmaceutical company engaged in the research, development, and marketing of branded and generic prescription pharmaceuticals used to treat and manage pain and other conditions. They join our other supporter, Purdue Pharma L.P., in helping us to continue Pain-Topics.org and provide all contents free of charge to our audience of healthcare professionals and their patients. 
Stamford, Conn. – January 20, 2010 – Purdue Pharma L.P. and its associated U.S. companies are donating close to $5 million in pharmaceutical products — including Ryzolt® (tramadol extended-release analgesic) — to aid the victims of the earthquake disaster in Haiti. The company is also making a cash donation of $25,000 to AmeriCares and is matching employee cash donations dollar for dollar to AmeriCares and the American Red Cross to further support to those organizations' relief efforts.
The National Family Caregivers Association (NFCA) has teamed up with the national pain management education program, Partners Against Pain® from Purdue Pharma L.P., and advocate and author Lee Woodruff to create a new “Caregiver Cornerstones” resource. This provides information, encouragement, and tools to help family caregivers meet the unique challenges of caring for loved ones suffering from chronic pain, such as making sure the loved one receives appropriate assessment and treatment for pain.
Healthcare professionals and patient advocates working to alleviate suffering and improve the care of Americans with undertreated pain now have a resource to help them achieve greater awareness and understanding of this serious national health problem. "In the Face of Pain®" is a free interactive toolkit enabling advocates to create action plans, educational materials, and presentations tailored to specific areas of pain focus.
In late January, the American Pain Foundation (APF) released a survey revealing that breakthrough pain — severe pain flares striking without warning even when regular pain medication is used — is considered by patients as one of the most challenging aspects of having cancer. The survey of nearly 550 American adults with cancer found that such pain negatively impacts quality of life, creates financial burdens, and interferes with patients’ ability to cope with other aspects of cancer therapy.
See survey details <
Since 2002, Fibromyalgia AWARE magazine has been the first and only consumer publication dedicated to the fibromyalgia community. A valued resource for patients and healthcare providers alike, its award-winning content includes the latest research, helpful tips, lifestyle and self-management techniques, motivational stories, and resources that will help everyone affected by fibromyalgia. The Winter 2010 edition is now available for free viewing online, or print subscriptions can be ordered from the National Fibromyalgia Association (NFA).
Despite the fact that research and information in the pain management field is mushrooming, more than 75-million Americans still suffer from pain disorders of varying intensity and duration. News/Research UPDATES take a hard look at soft evidence behind many of today’s pain management practices and beliefs. The goal of this weblog from Pain Treatment Topics is to help healthcare providers and the public to develop an educated skepticism.
For many types of pain, prescription opioids are among the most effective analgesics; yet evidence suggests potential benefits of opioid antagonists, particularly naloxone and naltrexone. This is unexpected because these drugs displace opioid molecules from their neuroreceptors, and block opioids from attaching to and activating those receptors. A peer-reviewed, evidence-based report from Pain Treatment Topics describes naloxone and naltrexone pharmacology and the theoretical foundations of opioid antagonists for pain management. Titled “Opioid Antagonists, Naloxone & Naltrexone -- Aids for Pain Management,” the 16-page report includes summaries of 17 studies -- case examples and clinical trials -- investigating opioid-antagonist therapy in adult humans.
This evidence-based review examines how ongoing opioid therapy for chronic pain can paradoxically worsen the pain in some patients, a phenomenon called Opioid-Induced Hyperalgesia or OIH. The differential diagnosis of OIH form other conditions – worsening disease, opioid tolerance, withdrawal, pseudoaddiction, or addiction – is described and strategies for avoiding or managing OIH, if it occurs, are recommended.
Helping patients to overcome their chronic musculoskeletal pain and fatigue syndromes may be as simple, well tolerated, and inexpensive as an extra daily supplement of vitamin D. A comprehensive Report and a shorter Practitioner Briefing review the clinical evidence and provide clinical guidance for healthcare providers. A special Brochure for patients explains what vitamin D is, how it works, and how it can help them. <Released June 2008>
Sexual dysfunction is a common problem in patients with chronic pain. Ironically, considerable evidence suggests that long-acting opioids used on a daily basis for more than a month to help relieve chronic pain can have a number of adverse effects on human endocrine function leading to sexual dysfunction. This commentary by practitioner Stephen Colameco, MD, MEd, examines the causes and diagnosis of endocrine disorders related to opioid therapy. Recommended clinical approaches for the treatment of associated sexual dysfunctions are discussed. <Released April 2008> 
Essential guidance for practitioners on safely prescribing methadone for patients with chronic pain, along with special instructions for patients on how to avoid methadone adverse events or overdose, are available in two new documents exclusively from Pain Treatment Topics:
According to this special report -- Should Opioid Abusers Be Discharged From Opioid-Analgesic Therapy? by Peggy Compton, RN, PhD -- practitioners prescribing opioids for pain should be prepared to deal with patients’ problems in using the medicines. Patients should not be discharged from treatment if opioid abuse or addiction occurs. Instead, pain practitioners should continue treatment for pain while also playing a role in addiction treatment. Compton outlines specific steps for any healthcare provider to follow. <Released January 2008>
Patients with kidney or liver disorders often need opioid analgesics for effective pain relief. However, there is a risk of opioid overdose or other adverse events in these patients due to the possibility of altered drug pharmacokinetics and toxic accumulation of the parent opioid and/or its metabolites. This evidence-based report exclusively from Pain Treatment Topics provides a comprehensive list of clinical cautions and dosing recommendations relating to various opioids. <Released June 2007> 
The misuse and abuse of oxycodone have been of great concern. A special peer-reviewed report exclusively from Pain Treatment Topics provides guidance on the safe prescribing of immediate release (IR) and controlled release (CR) oxycodone. Additionally, patient instructions handouts in English and Spanish emphasize medication compliance and safety to help prevent accidental misuse and avoidable adverse events. <Released June 2007> 
"A recent Google search on the word 'pain' produced an astounding 190 million hits--a daunting amount of data for just about anyone to navigate, let alone harried physicians or pharmacists. This is the challenge that led to the creation of www.Pain-Topics.org, an evidenced-based pain management Web site designed as an unbiased clearinghouse of free-of-charge news, information, research, and education covering the causes and effective management of pain." <Released May 2007 [US Pharm. 2007;32(5):73]> 
