Jenny Ko, PharmD

Multiple inflammatory markers should simultaneously be tested to best detect unresolved inflammation in pain patients according to results presented at PAINWeek 2013 from a study conducted by pain specialist Forest Tennant, MD, DrPH.

Gastroretentive gabapentin (Gralise) is a safe and effective treatment option that significantly reduces pain intensity but also improves patients’ quality of life according to data presented by Matthew Clark, MS and colleagues at PAINWeek 2013.

Oral fluid as a matrix for drug testing shows great promise as an alternative to traditional urine drug testing based on evidence presented by Frank Kunkel, MD, and Richard Stripp, PhD, at PAINWeek 2013.

Vijay Arvind, MD, and colleagues presented to PAINWeek 2013 attendees study findings of the effect of an alkaline diet on pain scores and narcotic intake in patients with chronic pain.

National data show that women are more likely to be uninsured, and when they have insurance, can pay premiums up to 84% higher than men who are receiving the same coverage. The Affordable Care Act contains a provision that enforces private insurance companies to make certain preventive services (e.g., mammograms, screenings for cervical cancer, prenatal care, and other services) available without co-pays, co-insurance or deductibles.

Using nano-formulated, lower-dose NSAIDs may provide clinical benefit for relieving mild to moderate acute pain, reported Garen Manvelian, MD, with Iroko Pharmaceuticals, Philadelphia, PA, at the American Pain Society’s 31st Annual Scientific Meeting.

At the American Pain Society’s 31st Annual Scientific Meeting, study investigators presented data indicating that high dosages of oxymorphone extended-release (ER) appear to be generally well tolerated in patients with chronic noncancer pain.

Panadol Advance (paracetamol; fast-absorbing) 1,000mg tablets were more efficacious and demonstrated faster onset and longer duration of pain relief compared with Panadol Advance 500mg, standard paracetamol 650mg, and placebo, reported Yong Yue, MD, from Jean Brown Research, Salt Lake City, UT at the American Pain Society’s 31st Annual Scientific Meeting.

Diclofenac sodium 1% gel is well tolerated for up to 1 year for the relief of osteoarthritis (OA) pain in patients both <65 years and ≥65 years of age, according to 12-month data presented at the American Pain Society's 31st Annual Scientific Meeting.

At the American Pain Society’s 31st Annual Scientific Meeting, Jon Levine, MD, PhD discussed recent data showing that kappa-opioids, generally observed to be less effective in providing pain relief than mu-receptor opioids, were not only equally effective in producing pain relief in a female patient population, but were also associated with a reduced incidence of adverse effects and greater overall patient satisfaction.