Journal of Pain & Palliative Care Pharmacotherapy最新文献

Ketamine is an N-methyl D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonist used to treat pain at subanesthetic doses. Ketamine is beneficial for pain control in patients who have a high tolerance to opioids and are experiencing opioid-induced hyperalgesia. This study characterizes oral ketamine use for analgesia at a large academic hospital and reports safety outcomes for hospitalized patients. This study was a retrospective electronic health record (EHR) review of patients ≥ 18 years or older receiving oral ketamine. The primary endpoint was median ketamine starting dose and maximum dose (mg/kg/day) during treatment duration. Secondary outcomes included oral Morphine Milligram Equivalents (MMEs), buprenorphine dose, minimum and maximum pain scores on the first and last day of therapy. Safety endpoints were reported. The median starting dose was 1 mg/kg/day, and the median maximum dose was 1.6 mg/kg/day. Median MMEs decreased from the first day to the last day of oral ketamine therapy. The study population experienced a low incidence of safety events overall. Oral ketamine was administered safely for analgesia, with patients receiving ketamine doses that were on the lower end of the established therapeutic range. Evaluation of the efficacy and safety of oral ketamine use for analgesia should be further studied.

This article aims to summarize the existing evidence on shared decision-making and collaborative care models for acute and chronic pain management. We searched the PubMed database for articles published between 1980 and 2023 and scanned included articles' references to identify additional sources. Two reviewers independently screened titles and abstracts. Studies met inclusion criteria if they implemented or evaluated shared decision-making or collaborative care interventions in patients with acute or chronic pain. A total of 690 articles were reviewed, with 32 full text articles meeting inclusion criteria. Most studies assessed changes in prescription opioid quantities and patient-reported pain levels. Secondary measures generally included patient satisfaction, 30-day refill rate, and use of non-opioid analgesics. Shared decision-making and collaborative care models are promising interventions to improve pain management. These interventions are effective at reducing opioid consumption among acute and chronic pain patients without compromising patient-reported pain levels. There is further research needed to evaluate how shared decision-making and collaborative care interventions impact patient-centered outcomes such as patient satisfaction, quality of life, and patient-provider communication.

Opioid induced hyperalgesia in the postoperative setting presents a significant challenge for clinicians managing postoperative pain in opioid tolerant patients. Remifentanil is a fentanyl analog frequently utilized in anesthesia for its favorable pharmacokinetic profile. However, as described in the case report, it may also increase the risk of postoperative hyperalgesia. Management of postoperative pain in the setting of hyperalgesia should be approached in a stepwise fashion, emphasizing therapy options with analgesic effects achieved outside of the opioidergic system while maintaining a neutral opioid balance.

Lumbar spondylosis is a common condition that is quite prevalent, affecting 57% of Indian men. Ayurveda, an indigenous medical system, is highly efficient in treating this ailment when it is in a mild to moderate state. This case report aims to provide a detailed account of a successfully managed case of lumbar spondylosis characterized by severe lumbar pain. A 59-year-old man, who has been suffering from lumbar spondylosis for the last 8 years, was presented with complaints of severe to moderate low back pain, disability, and pain in both legs. According to Ayurvedic principles, the condition was diagnosed as "Katigraha," and a nine-day treatment plan, including three Niruha Basti consecutively, followed by one Anuvasan Basti with the use of Ayurvedic medications was suggested. The lumbar pain severity fell from 8 to 2 points, while the leg pain decreased from 7 to 1 point. The Oswestry Low Back Disability Index (ODI) showed a significant reduction, from 49 to 18. The flexion and extension range of motion grew from 1 to 3 cm, and from 1 to 2 cm, respectively. The case study indicates a reduction in severe low back pain, but further investigation is required to determine the underlying mechanisms.

Chronic pain is often treated with opioids, placing patients at risk for misuse. An estimated 11.5% of these patients engage in opioid misuse behaviors such as self-medication. Non-pharmacological interventions have efficacy in managing chronic pain and substance use disorders separately; comorbid management may benefit from psychotherapy. This review provides perspective on novel and existing therapies and their efficacy. The literature search was conducted using PubMed. Boolean search terms were selected from DSM and ICD diagnoses. Studies were included if patients had comorbid substance use disorder and chronic pain diagnoses, participants were age 18 or older, and psychotherapeutic interventions were implemented. The PubMed search yielded 1937 references; 25 references were obtained through other means. 30 sources met inclusion criteria. Reported trials included: Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT, 2 trials); Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT, 11 trials); Mindfulness-Oriented Recovery Enhancement (MORE, 5 trials); and novel psychotherapies (12 trials). Unique features included primary care (4 trials), technology such as phone or Internet (6 trials), and group settings (9 trials). Several psychotherapies effectively treat co-occurring substance use disorders and chronic pain; novel treatments continue to be developed. Further investigation may lead to a wider variety of treatments for clinical use.

This review evaluates the use of antidepressants in older patients for the treatment of nonspecific chronic lower back pain (LBP), emphasizing age-related physiological changes and common degenerative conditions in this age group. We conducted a comprehensive search targeting studies on antidepressant use in older patients with LBP. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, while effective for mood regulation, show limited benefits for LBP. Serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors, particularly duloxetine, demonstrate potential in managing LBP, though further research is needed to confirm these findings. Tricyclic antidepressants have shown potential for pain relief, with limited evidence for LBP, but have a substantial side effect profile, including cardiotoxicity, weight gain, and severe anticholinergic effects. The evidence for trazodone in the treatment of LBP is limited. When prescribing new medications for older adults, it is crucial to carefully consider the patient's overall health, potential drug interactions, and sensitivity to side effects, ensuring that the benefits of treatment outweigh the risks. This review underscores the need for further research to understand the long-term effects and benefits of antidepressants in older patients with LBP, aiming to balance pain relief, mood stabilization, and minimized side effects.

The study assessed sublingual fentanyl citrate (SFC) effectiveness and safety for breakthrough cancer pain (BtCP) in older patients. A multicenter, retrospective, observational study was conducted in three subgroups of cancer patients aged over 65 years with BtCP. The reports were collected by 20 oncologists across 12 hospitals. The primary goal was to measure changes in BtCP intensity with SFC treatment over 30 days; secondary objectives included pain relief onset and adverse events. A total of 127 patients with long-term cancer (mean: 3.3 years) were recruited. All of them had BtCP, mostly of mixed origin (62.5%). A significantly lower dose was needed in the high-age group at the final visit compared to baseline (212.90 ± 200.45 mcg vs. 206 ± 167.08 mcg; p = 0.000). Pain intensities at the beginning of the flare and at 30 min after SFC administration were significantly lower when the last and first visits were compared (1.9 vs. 2.3, p = 0.000; and 6.2 vs. 6.8 p = 0.006, respectively). The onset of analgesia was significantly more rapid for half of the patients ≥75 years, compared with 65-69 and 70-74 age groups. SFC appears then to be effective, well-tolerated, and safe to treat BtCP in older cancer patients.

This study explores the under-researched domain of patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) for cancer pain management in adult outpatients, focusing on the transition from patient-controlled analgesia pumps (PCA pump) to oral medications. While existing literature primarily addresses the use of PCA in inpatient settings, this descriptive study investigates the initiation of outpatient PCA in palliative care patients. The retrospective chart review includes data from all admissions between July 1, 2014, and December 31, 2020. Among the 49 identified patients, 41 were admitted for cancer-related pain, with an indication for PCA such as insufficient pain relief, highly fluctuating pain, or inadequate response to other routes. Of these patients, 13 were successfully transitioned from outpatient PCA to oral opioids. The study underscores the effective use of PCA as a transitional tool following a pain crisis that necessitates inpatient admission. Future research avenues could explore healthcare utilization, length of stay, and required outpatient resources, such as home visits or telehealth, for optimal PCA use in outpatient settings.