Opioid
Higher buprenorphine doses for opioid use disorder may lower risk for ED, inpatient visits
Higher doses of buprenorphine were associated with significantly lower rates of acute care utilization among adults with opioid use disorder compared with the FDA’s recommended dose, according to a study published in JAMA Network Open.
Substance use disorder predicts long-term opioid use in psoriatic arthritis, axial SpA
Smoking, substance use disorder and taking gabapentinoids or antidepressants predict long-term opioid use among patients with axial spondyloarthritis and psoriatic arthritis, according to data published in Rheumatology.
Focus on access, health literacy to improve headache management in rural areas
ORLANDO, Fla. — To properly address headache care gaps in rural areas, clinicians must focus on boosting access, improving health literacy and formulating simple but informative plans for medication usage, according to a speaker.
21% of patients with chronic cough prescribed opioid-containing cough suppressant
A prescription for an opioid-containing cough suppressant was found in more adults with chronic vs. non-chronic cough, according to results published in Therapeutic Advances in Respiratory Disease.
Recreational drug use elevates chance of repeat serious heart-related event
Among patients admitted to the cardiac ICU, those engaging in recreational drug use were almost three times as likely to experience a repeat serious CV event within 1 year compared with nonusers, researchers reported.
Cryo-pneumatic compression may reduce opioid use, improve function after shoulder surgery
Use of a cryo-pneumatic compression device may decrease opioid consumption and improve function after shoulder surgery compared with standard of care rehabilitation, according to published results.
Opioid use has fallen 15% annually since 2014 in autoimmune rheumatic disease
Opioid use in patients with autoimmune rheumatic disease has decreased 15% annually since 2014, while use of non-opioid options for pain management has either increased or stabilized, according to data published in The Lancet Rheumatology.
Nearly 10% of those prescribed opioids become addicted
Almost one in 10 patients treated with prescription opioid painkillers experience opioid dependency or opioid use disorder, a result from a systematic review and meta-analysis showed.
FDA approves nalmefene hydrochloride auto-injector for opioid overdose
The FDA approved Zurnai, the first nalmefene hydrochloride auto-injector, for emergency treatment of opioid overdose in adults and youth aged 12 years and older.
Fewer prescribed opioids at discharge with individualized protocol, shared decision-making
An individualized opioid-prescription protocol with shared decision-making was associated with similar pain reports as fixed-quantity opioid prescriptions but with fewer prescribed opioids at hospital discharge following cesarean births.