PAINWeek 2012: Chronic Pain

In a plenary session at PAINWeek 2012, three mental health experts described innovative programs that have been developed to help improve care for patients with chronic pain and psychiatric comorbidities.

A combination of ibuprofen plus a high-dose H2-receptor antagonist such as famotidine may decrease ibuprofen-induced ulcer disease, according to a study presented at PAINWeek 2012.

LAS VEGAS, NV—A meta-analysis presented at PAINWeek 2012 of two OTC doses of ibuprofen showed that 400 mg provided significantly better overall pain relief compared with 200 mg over a 6-hour period.

Theramine, a prescription-only amino acid food product, may offer a safe alternative to traditional pharmaceutical products used to treat chronic back pain, according to a presentation at PAINWeek 2012.

Oral methylnaltrexone is generally safe and well tolerated in patients with chronic, non-cancer pain and opioid-induced constipation, according to results of a study presented at PAINWeek 2012.

Deborah A. Ward, PharmD, from St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, led a symposium on the different adjuvant therapies in pain management at PAINWeek 2012.

Only a handful of agents are approved for treating CNS pain and there is little hard data to help diagnosis and treatment, Charles E. Argoff, MD, of the Comprehensive Pain Center at Albany (NY) Medical Center, told attendees of PAINWeek 2012.

Tapentadol therapy has nominal effects on luteinizing hormone and testosterone, in contrast to the opioid-induced androgen deficiency observed with other mu-opioid analgesics, according to study results presented at PAINWeek 2012.

Low levels of vitamin D are related to chronic knee pain, according to a study presented at PAINWeek 2012.

As a first-line option, buprenorphine/naloxone can plausibly be given for opioid dependency through a primary care setting, according to a study presented at PAINWeek 2012.