APS 2012: Chronic Pain

Legislation recently enacted in the State of Washington to moderate opioid dosing in light of a 240% increase in deaths between 2001 and 2009 is placing physicians in the position of negotiating with patients with chronic noncancer pain to taper doses, a panel of physicians noted during 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.

“Significant, clinically meaningful improvements in spontaneous bowel movement (SBM) frequency were observed after CB-5945 treatment,” stated Lee Techner, DPM, from Cubist Pharmaceuticals, Lexington, MA 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.

Patients with chronic, noncancer-related pain who received fentanyl buccal tablet had consistent short-term efficacy across clinically meaningful analgesia measures, according to results of a study presented at the American Pain Society’s 31st Annual Scientific Meeting.

Fentanyl sublingual spray can be safely titrated to an effective dose in patients with breakthrough cancer pain, a study presented at the American Pain Society’s 31st Annual Scientific Meeting has found.

Fentanyl sublingual spray is generally safe and well tolerated for long-term use in opioid-tolerant patients with cancer for the treatment of breakthrough pain, study investigators at the American Pain Society’s 31st Annual Scientific Meeting reported.

Compared with previous medications for breakthrough cancer pain, use of fentanyl sublingual spray significantly improved patient satisfaction, a study presented at the American Pain Society’s 31st Annual Scientific Meeting has concluded.

Minimal systemic distribution of topical diclofenac sodium gel resulted in a lower incidence of major or moderate drug-drug interactions associated with oral diclofenac and reduced the risk of drug interaction-related adverse events. Study results were reported by Matthew Wieman, MD, from Endo Pharmaceuticals, John H. Peniston, DO, from Novartis Consumer Health, and colleagues at the American Pain Society’s 31st Annual Scientific Meeting.

Study investigators presented data from the UPLOAD (Understanding Pain & Limitations in OsteoArthritic Disease) study at the American Pain Society’s 31st Annual Scientific Meeting demonstrating that hydroxyvitamin D levels <25ng/mL were associated with an increase in osteoarthritis (OA) symptoms and a decreased threshold for pressure pain.