Opioids News and Research

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An opioid is a chemical that works by binding to opioid receptors, which are found principally in the central nervous system and the gastrointestinal tract. The receptors in these two organ systems mediate both the beneficial effects and the side effects of opioids.

Separating side effects could pave way for safe, effective pain medications

Opioid pain relievers can be extremely effective in relieving pain, but can carry a high risk of addiction and ultimately overdose when breathing is suppressed and stops.

16 Nov 2017

One in 20 children still receiving codeine to treat pain despite warning from federal regulators

A new study shows as many as one in 20 children were still receiving codeine to treat pain after tonsil and adenoid surgery, two years after federal regulators warned doctors that prescribing the opioid to kids after the routine surgeries could be fatal.

16 Nov 2017

FDA permits marketing of first electric stimulation device to reduce opioid withdrawal symptoms

Today, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration granted a new indication to an electric stimulation device for use in helping to reduce the symptoms of opioid withdrawal.

16 Nov 2017

FDA issues warning against use of herbal medicine Kratom

The United States Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) has issued a public notice yesterday, 14th November 2017, regarding the risks associated with herbal drug Kratom. Kratom has been used for a long time and still finds numerous users.

14 Nov 2017

Taking a page from pharma’s playbook to fight the opioid crisis

Dr. Mary Meengs remembers the days, a couple of decades ago, when pharmaceutical salespeople would drop into her family practice in Chicago, eager to catch a moment between patients so they could pitch her a new drug.

14 Nov 2017

CBT offers valuable treatment alternative for millions taking opioids for chronic pain

By teaching patients better strategies for coping with chronic pain, cognitive behavioral therapy is a valuable treatment alternative for the millions of Americans taking opioids for noncancer pain, according to an article in the Journal of Psychiatric Practice. The journal is published by Wolters Kluwer.

9 Nov 2017

MGH researchers identify first effective treatment option for autoimmune small-fiber polyneuropathy

An analysis of the medical records of patients treated at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) for an often-mysterious condition involving damage to small nerve fibers supports the hypothesis that some cases are caused by autoimmune disease and also identifies the first effective treatment option.

9 Nov 2017

Research examines trend in hospitalizations from opioid poisonings

Preliminary research presented today at APHA's 2017 Annual Meeting and Expo examined the trend in hospitalizations from opioid poisonings in West Virginia, a state heavily impacted by the current opioid overdose crisis.

7 Nov 2017

Many patients with knee, hip and spine osteoarthritis use opioids to manage chronic pain

A large percentage of patients with end-stage knee, hip and spine osteoarthritis use opioids to manage their chronic pain, especially those who are younger or have symptoms of depression, according to new research findings presented this week at the 2017 ACR/ARHP Annual Meeting in San Diego.

6 Nov 2017

$Opioid and antidepressant use related to increased risk of osteoporotic fractures for RA patients$

Opioid and antidepressant use related to increased risk of osteoporotic fractures for RA patients

Opioids and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, a widely used group of antidepressants, are both associated with higher risk of osteoporotic fractures for patients with rheumatoid arthritis, according to new research findings presented this week at the 2017 ACR/ARHP Annual Meeting in San Diego.

6 Nov 2017

Researchers develop new drug screening method for rapid, accurate identification of fentanyl

Researchers at McMaster University have developed a new drug screening technique that could lead to the rapid and accurate identification of fentanyl, as well as a vast number of other drugs of abuse, which up until now have been difficult to detect by traditional urine tests.

3 Nov 2017

CRFA better than steroid injection for managing pain from knee osteoarthritis

For patients with osteoarthritis of the knee, a minimally invasive procedure called cooled radiofrequency ablation provides better pain reduction and functional improvement compared to steroid injection of the knee, concludes a study in Regional Anesthesia & Pain Medicine, published by Wolters Kluwer.

2 Nov 2017

What the Health? How confused are we?

Open enrollment started with more of a whimper than a bang Nov. 1, as the Trump administration continued to talk down the health law it is required to operate.

2 Nov 2017

Study: More than 10% of cancer patients continue to take opioids after surgery

More than two million people in the United States are dependent on prescription opioid pain relievers, a number that continues to grow as the rate of opioid prescriptions has skyrocketed in the last 25 years.

1 Nov 2017

Sanford Health to evaluate effectiveness of non-opioid medications

Sanford Health is one of three sites in the U.S. to launch a study to determine if non-opioid medications are as effective in managing pain after carpal-tunnel surgery.

30 Oct 2017

Ameritox applauds President Trump’s declaration of opioid crisis as national public health emergency

Ameritox, a national leader in medication monitoring solutions for patients prescribed opioids and other medications for chronic pain and severe mental illness, today applauded the declaration of the opioid crisis as a national public health emergency by President Donald J. Trump.

30 Oct 2017

Experts issue new report with recommendations aimed at stemming opioid epidemic

A group of experts, led by researchers at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health in collaboration with the Clinton Foundation, today issued a new report with comprehensive recommendations aimed at stemming the opioid epidemic, a spiraling crisis that kills on average 90 people a day in the U.S., and shows few signs of reversing.

28 Oct 2017

Multiple methods found to minimize pain caused by surgery and reduce use of opioids

Studies suggest that using more than one type of pain medicine to target different pain pathways has been shown to decrease pain while reducing side effects of knee replacement surgery.

28 Oct 2017

ASA applauds President Trump’s declaration of opioid crisis as public health emergency

The American Society of Anesthesiologists today announced its support of President Donald J. Trump's announcement officially declaring the opioid crisis a public health emergency.

28 Oct 2017

New study investigates extent of opioid dependence and overdose in postoperative patients

Drug overdose was the leading cause of accidental death in the U.S. in 2015. Although pain management after surgery continues to rely on opioids, there are concerns that ubiquitous use of opioids has led to a growing epidemic of addiction, dependence, and overdose (ODO).

27 Oct 2017

Opioids News and Research

Further Reading

Separating side effects could pave way for safe, effective pain medications

One in 20 children still receiving codeine to treat pain despite warning from federal regulators

FDA permits marketing of first electric stimulation device to reduce opioid withdrawal symptoms

FDA issues warning against use of herbal medicine Kratom

Taking a page from pharma’s playbook to fight the opioid crisis

CBT offers valuable treatment alternative for millions taking opioids for chronic pain

MGH researchers identify first effective treatment option for autoimmune small-fiber polyneuropathy

Research examines trend in hospitalizations from opioid poisonings

Many patients with knee, hip and spine osteoarthritis use opioids to manage chronic pain

Opioid and antidepressant use related to increased risk of osteoporotic fractures for RA patients

Researchers develop new drug screening method for rapid, accurate identification of fentanyl

CRFA better than steroid injection for managing pain from knee osteoarthritis

What the Health? How confused are we?

Study: More than 10% of cancer patients continue to take opioids after surgery

Sanford Health to evaluate effectiveness of non-opioid medications

Ameritox applauds President Trump’s declaration of opioid crisis as national public health emergency

Experts issue new report with recommendations aimed at stemming opioid epidemic

Multiple methods found to minimize pain caused by surgery and reduce use of opioids

ASA applauds President Trump’s declaration of opioid crisis as public health emergency

New study investigates extent of opioid dependence and overdose in postoperative patients

Sensing a Healthier Future

Achieving and maintaining ISO/IEC 27001 and BS 10012 certifications

Expanding research and clinical options for children with cancer

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