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Nury E, Schmucker C, Nagavci B, Motschall E, Nitschke K, Schulte E, Wegwarth O, Meerpohl JJ. Efficacy and safety of strong opioids for chronic noncancer pain and chronic low back pain: a systematic review and meta-analyses. Pain 2022; 163:610-636. [PMID: 34326292 DOI: 10.1097/j.pain.0000000000002423] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2021] [Accepted: 07/22/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
ABSTRACT In recent years, long-term prescribing and use of strong opioids for chronic noncancer pain (CNCP) has increased in high-income countries. Yet existing uncertainties, controversies, and differing recommendations make the rationale for prolonged opioid use in CNCP unclear. This systematic review and meta-analyses compared the efficacy, safety, and tolerability of strong opioids with placebo or nonopioid therapy in CNCP, with a special focus on chronic low back pain (CLBP). Systematic literature searches were performed in 4 electronic databases (MEDLINE, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, and CINAHL) in July 2019 and updated by regular alerts until December 2020. We included 16 placebo-controlled randomized controlled trials for CLBP and 5 studies (2 randomized controlled trials and 3 nonrandomized studies) of opioids vs nonopioids for CNCP in the quantitative and qualitative synthesis. Random effects pairwise meta-analyses were performed for efficacy, safety, and tolerability outcomes and subgroup analyses for treatment duration, study design, and opioid experience status. Very low to low certainty findings suggest that 4 to 15 weeks (short or intermediate term) opioid therapy in CLBP (compared with placebo) may cause clinically relevant reductions in pain but also more gastrointestinal and nervous system adverse events, with likely no effect on disability. By contrast, long-term opioid therapy (≥6 months) in CNCP may not be superior to nonopioids in improving pain or disability or pain-related function but seems to be associated with more adverse events, opioid abuse or dependence, and possibly an increase in all-cause mortality. Our findings also underline the importance and need for well-designed trials assessing long-term efficacy and safety of opioids for CNCP and CLBP.
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Affiliation(s)
- Edris Nury
- Institute for Evidence in Medicine, Medical Center-University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Christine Schmucker
- Institute for Evidence in Medicine, Medical Center-University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Blin Nagavci
- Institute for Evidence in Medicine, Medical Center-University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Edith Motschall
- Institute of Medical Biometry and Statistics, Medical Center-University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Kai Nitschke
- Institute for Evidence in Medicine, Medical Center-University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Erika Schulte
- Department of Anesthesiology and Operative Intensive Care Medicine (CCM, CVK), Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Germany
| | - Odette Wegwarth
- Department of Anesthesiology and Operative Intensive Care Medicine (CCM, CVK), Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Germany
- Max Planck Institute for Human Development, Center for Adaptive Rationality, Berlin, Germany
| | - Joerg J Meerpohl
- Institute for Evidence in Medicine, Medical Center-University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
- Cochrane Germany, Cochrane Germany Foundation, Freiburg, Germany
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McGann M, Sacco A, Barnachea L. Evaluation of Extended-Release Oxycodone Administered through Enteral Tubes for the Management of Pain in Patients with Head and Neck Cancer: A Case Series. J Pain Palliat Care Pharmacother 2021; 35:240-245. [PMID: 34506216 DOI: 10.1080/15360288.2020.1830224] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
An abuse-deterrent, microsphere-in-capsule extended-release formulation of oxycodone myristate (Xtampza® ER, Collegium Pharmaceutical Inc, Canton, Massachusetts), was approved by the FDA in 2016 for the management of pain. The advantage of this formulation of oxycodone is that the microspheres can be administered via enteral tubes without compromising the long-acting formulation. This case series characterizes the experiences of five head and neck cancer patients initiated on oxycodone myristate through enteral tube administration for control of cancer-related pain. The primary outcome of patient reported subjective improvement in pain within one week occurred in all five patients. The median time to pain control was 4 days. The safety profile of oxycodone myristate was consistent with the package insert with no new findings reported. Oxycodone myristate can be an appropriate long-acting opioid analgesic option for patients requiring enteral tube administration of medications to achieve adequate cancer-related pain control.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mary McGann
- Mary McGann, PharmD, PGY-2 Oncology Pharmacy Resident, Department of Pharmacy, UC San Diego Health, San Diego, California, USA; Assuntina Sacco, MD, Medical Oncologist; Associate Professor of Medicine, Division of Hematology-Oncology, Moores Cancer Center, UC San Diego Health, San Diego, California, USA; Linda Barnachea, PharmD, BCOP, Clinical Pharmacist, Department of Pharmacy, UC San Diego Health, San Diego, California, USA
| | - Assuntina Sacco
- Mary McGann, PharmD, PGY-2 Oncology Pharmacy Resident, Department of Pharmacy, UC San Diego Health, San Diego, California, USA; Assuntina Sacco, MD, Medical Oncologist; Associate Professor of Medicine, Division of Hematology-Oncology, Moores Cancer Center, UC San Diego Health, San Diego, California, USA; Linda Barnachea, PharmD, BCOP, Clinical Pharmacist, Department of Pharmacy, UC San Diego Health, San Diego, California, USA
| | - Linda Barnachea
- Mary McGann, PharmD, PGY-2 Oncology Pharmacy Resident, Department of Pharmacy, UC San Diego Health, San Diego, California, USA; Assuntina Sacco, MD, Medical Oncologist; Associate Professor of Medicine, Division of Hematology-Oncology, Moores Cancer Center, UC San Diego Health, San Diego, California, USA; Linda Barnachea, PharmD, BCOP, Clinical Pharmacist, Department of Pharmacy, UC San Diego Health, San Diego, California, USA
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Abstract
This paper is the forty-second consecutive installment of the annual anthological review of research concerning the endogenous opioid system, summarizing articles published during 2019 that studied the behavioral effects of molecular, pharmacological and genetic manipulation of opioid peptides and receptors as well as effects of opioid/opiate agonists and antagonists. The review is subdivided into the following specific topics: molecular-biochemical effects and neurochemical localization studies of endogenous opioids and their receptors (1), the roles of these opioid peptides and receptors in pain and analgesia in animals (2) and humans (3), opioid-sensitive and opioid-insensitive effects of nonopioid analgesics (4), opioid peptide and receptor involvement in tolerance and dependence (5), stress and social status (6), learning and memory (7), eating and drinking (8), drug abuse and alcohol (9), sexual activity and hormones, pregnancy, development and endocrinology (10), mental illness and mood (11), seizures and neurologic disorders (12), electrical-related activity and neurophysiology (13), general activity and locomotion (14), gastrointestinal, renal and hepatic functions (15), cardiovascular responses (16), respiration and thermoregulation (17), and immunological responses (18).
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard J Bodnar
- Department of Psychology and Neuropsychology Doctoral Sub-Program, Queens College, City University of New York, 65-30 Kissena Blvd., Flushing, NY, 11367, United States.
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Jovanovic F, Pirvulescu I, Knezevic E, Candido KD, Knezevic NN. Comparative safety review of current treatment options for chronic low back pain and unmet needs: a narrative review. Expert Opin Drug Saf 2021; 20:1005-1033. [PMID: 33945371 DOI: 10.1080/14740338.2021.1921142] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
Introduction: The healthcare expenditures in the United States are substantial for the management of refractory, chronic low back pain (CLBP). The objective of this review is to summarize and evaluate the safety profiles of different pharmacological treatment options used in the management of CLBP.Areas covered: The authors conducted a search of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) assessing the safety profiles of different pharmacological agents used in the management of CLBP. This narrative review covered corticosteroids, opioids, antidepressants, gabapentinoids, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, muscle relaxants, anti-nerve growth factor antibodies and topical agents, as monotherapy or in combination.Expert opinion: The risk-benefit ratio of a particular treatment is a subject driving the ongoing development of pharmaceuticals. The most commonly reported AEs across all drug classes are of gastrointestinal nature, followed by neurological and skin-related. These AEs include nausea, dizziness, constipation, arthralgia, headache, dry mouth, pruritus, etc. The majority of the AEs reported are not life-threatening, although they may lower patients' quality of life, thus, affecting their compliance. One of the biggest limitations of our review stems from the paucity of safety assessments in published RCTs. Advances in our understanding of the neurobiology of pain will promote development of new therapeutic strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Filip Jovanovic
- Department of Anesthesiology, Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center, Chicago, IL, United States
| | - Iulia Pirvulescu
- Department of Anesthesiology, Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center, Chicago, IL, United States
| | - Emilija Knezevic
- College of Liberal Arts & Sciences, University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign, IL, United States
| | - Kenneth D Candido
- Department of Anesthesiology, Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center, Chicago, IL, United States.,Department of Anesthesiology, College of Medicine, University of Illinois, Chicago, IL, United States.,Department of Surgery, College of Medicine, University of Illinois, Chicago, IL, United States
| | - Nebojsa Nick Knezevic
- Department of Anesthesiology, Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center, Chicago, IL, United States.,Department of Anesthesiology, College of Medicine, University of Illinois, Chicago, IL, United States.,Department of Surgery, College of Medicine, University of Illinois, Chicago, IL, United States
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Abstract
This review paper covers the forensic-relevant literature in controlled substances from 2016 to 2019 as a part of the 19th Interpol International Forensic Science Managers Symposium. The review papers are also available at the Interpol website at: https://www.interpol.int/content/download/14458/file/Interpol%20Review%20Papers%202019.pdf.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicole S. Jones
- RTI International, Applied Justice Research Division, Center for Forensic Sciences, 3040 E. Cornwallis Road, Research Triangle Park, NC, 22709-2194, USA
| | - Jeffrey H. Comparin
- United States Drug Enforcement Administration, Special Testing and Research Laboratory, USA
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