APS 2011 Neuropathic Pain

Comprehensive assessment of patients with fibromyalgia involves more than a physical examination. Treatment of fibromyalgia requires a multidimensional approach that addresses patient symptoms, as well as psychosocial, behavioral, and physical factors, a panel of experts said at the American Pain Society’s 30th Annual Scientific Meeting.

Sodium oxybate was shown to be effective in patients with both moderate to severe fibromyalgia symptoms, according to an analysis presented at the American Pain Society’s 30th Annual Scientific Meeting.

A 50-year-old male who presented with a 3-4 year history of burning pain to the plantar and dorsal aspects of his feet and big toes was successfully treated with an 8% capsaicin patch (Quetenza), according to a case report presented during the American Pain Society 30th Annual Scientific Meeting.

Sustained long-term efficacy and tolerability of milnacipran—in some cases, exceeding three years of continuous usage—is supported in the treatment of patients with fibromyalgia, according to results of an open-label study presented during the American Pain Society’s 30th Annual Scientific Meeting.

Patients with fibromyalgia (FM) who were prescribed pregabalin and tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs) demonstrated a considerable comorbidity and pain medication burden, investigators reported during the American Pain Society’s 30th Annual Scientific Meeting. In fact, medication use and costs increased in the follow-up period for both cohorts.

Results of a study presented at the American Pain Society’s 30th Annual Scientific Meeting found that the prescription-strength capsaicin 8% patch, NGX-4010 (Qutenza), indicated for the management of postherpetic neuralgia, provided 3 months of relief.

Fibromyalgia patients treated with pregabalin showed improvements in measure of sleep efficiency and quality and also reported reduced pain, according to results of a study presented at the American Pain Society’s 30th Annual Scientific Meeting.

Duloxetine, pregabalin, and duloxetine + gabapentin were found to be safe and tolerable for the treatment of diabetic peripheral neuropathic pain, according to results presented today at the American Pain Society’s 30th Annual Scientific Meeting.

Milnacipran treatment resulted in improvements in pain and global status regardless of baseline pain severity or fibromyalgia severity, according to data presented at the American Pain Society’s 30th Annual Scientific Meeting.

Milnacipran treatment improves fatigue in fibromyalgia patients and improves pain regardless of baseline levels of fatigue, as reported by Philip Mease, MD, from the Seattle Rheumatology Associates and Swedish Medical Center, Seattle, WA, and colleagues at the American Pain Society’s 30th Annual Scientific Meeting.