PAINWeek 2012

John Thipphawong, MD, from Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Fremont, CA, and colleagues reported at PAINWeek 2012 that the clearance of OROS hydromorphone extended-release (ER) is predictable, stable over time, and not markedly impacted by most demographic characteristics in patients with chronic osteoarthritis pain.

Emilee Connors, PhD, of MAP Pharmaceuticals, Mountain View, CA, and colleagues reported at PAINWeek 2012 that the inhaled, investigational drug MAP0004 provided consistent and similar response rates for episodic migraine attacks even after repeated administration.

At PAINWeek 2012, investigators reported that immediate-release opioids are acceptable for supplemental analgesia when transdermal buprenorphine is being used to manage moderate-to-severe chronic pain.

At PAINWeek 2012, Wing Chow, PharmD, MPH, of Janssen Scientific Affairs, Raritan, NJ, and colleagues reported that the presence of prior antidepressant or anticonvulsant use is the most significant predictor of a patient receiving new medication for diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN).

Vincent Brett, MS, PharmD, of Janssen Scientific Affairs, Raritan, NJ, and colleagues presented a post-hoc analysis of pooled safety data at PAINWeek 2012, and found that adding tapentadol to selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) or serotonin norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) resulted in no clinically relevant adverse drug interactions.

In a live symposium at PAINWeek 2012, Deborah Ward, PharmD, BCOP, BCPS, clinical pharmacy specialist, of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, discusses major barriers to helping young patients deal with chronic and acute pain, including limited FDA testing in children, a barrier to pain assessment.

At PAINWeek 2012, Christopher M. Herndon, PharmD, BCPS, CPE, presented different management and monitoring parameters of adverse events in non-opioid adjuvant and co-analgesics. Dr. Herndon specifically covered four major drug classes, discussing their common and uncommon adverse effects: non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), acetaminophen (APAP), antidepressants, and anticonvulsants.

Daniel B. Carr, MD, of Tufts University School of Medicine delivered a keynote address titled “Have We Been Backwards, Upside Down, or Both?” at the opening session for PAINWeek 2012. He advocated teaching about pain by emphasizing the reality of pain as population-based, inter-subjective, and with an important moral dimension, rather than beginning by focusing on nociceptors and the biochemistry of pain. This perspective will allow students to face difficult interactions in the clinic.