Dr Brent Bauer, director of the Mayo Clinic Complementary and Integrative Medicine Program, discusses alternative therapies such as acupuncture, meditation or yoga that can be effective pain relievers for some people.
Genetics Matter In Risk of Opioid Addiction
Dr. Curry from the Mayo Clinic discusses how genetics influence how the body processes and reacts to medications. Excepts are from the meeting sponsored by the Mayo Clinic in October 2017 : IIndividualizing Medicine 2017: Advancing Care Through Genomics, a two day conference hosted by the Mayo Clinic Center for Individualized Medicine.
New Opioid Prescribing Recommendations for Surgery
The latest opioid prescribing and counseling recommendations (last updated on 10/2/2017) are available to download.
The recommendations include appropriate patient education and counseling for all patients.
New Technique Can Help Pinpoint Where Heroin Batches Come From
New method describes measuring strontium isotopes can be used as a chemical marker for geography and geology to differentiate heroin samples from different geographic regions.
Joshua DeBord, Ali Pourmand, Sarah C. Jantzi, Sini Panicker, Jose Almirall. Profiling of heroin and assignment of provenance by 87 Sr/ 86 Sr isotope ratio analysis. Inorganica Chimica Acta, 2017; DOI: 10.1016/j.ica.2017.07.049
FDA To Require Opioid Manufacturers To Train Health Care Providers
The FDA “notified 74 manufacturers of immediate-release opioid analgesics intended for use in the outpatient setting that their drugs will now be subject to a more stringent set of requirements under a Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy (REMS).
The REMS requires that training be made available to health care providers who prescribe IR opioids, including training on safe prescribing practices and consideration of non-opioid alternatives.”
https://blogs.fda.gov/fdavoice/index.php/2017/09/fda-takes-important-steps-to-stem-the-tide-of-opioid-misuse-and-abuse/
Study Reviews Imitrex Nasal Spray (sumatriptan) for Migraine Pain Relief
This study is systematic review and meta-analysis to evaluate the tolerability and efficacy of intranasal sumatriptan for the treatment of acute migraine attacks. Taste disturbance was a leading side effect.
Intranasal sumatriptan for acute migraine attacks: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
Menshawy A1,2,3, Ahmed H2,4,5, Ismail A1,2,6, Abushouk AI7,8,9, Ghanem E1,2, Pallanti R1,10, Negida A2,4,5.
Note: Content is Not intended as medical advice. Please consult your health care provider regarding your specific medical condition and questions.
Emergency Rooms Using Shorter, Lower Doses of Opioids
A recent study from the Annals of Emergency Medicine founds that compared to other settings, emergency room prescriptions for opioids found more likely to be in compliance with CDC recommendations and have a lower risk of progression to long term opioid use.
- Opioid Prescribing for Opioid-Naive Patients in Emergency Departments and Other Settings: Characteristics of Prescriptions and Association With Long-Term Use
Jeffery, Molly Moore et al.
Annals of Emergency Medicine , Volume 0 , Issue 0 ,
Cardiovascular Risk of NSAIDS for Pain Relief
Patompong Ungprasert, MD, MS of the Mayo Clinic reviews the cardiovascular risk of NSAIDS used for pain relief, including arthritis.
FDA Releases Cefaly® for Pain of Acute Migraine Attacks
The FDA released the use of a new Cefaly® medical device for the acute treatment of migraine, with or without aura, in patients 18 years of age or older.
https://prnmedia.prnewswire.com/news-releases/446420463.html?tc=PRNJ_email_html_abstract
CVS To Limit Opioid Prescriptions To 7 Days For New Patients
As part of CVS’s commitment to fighting the national opioid abuse epidemic, CVS is:
- limiting to seven days the supply of opioids dispensed for certain acute prescriptions for patients who are new to therapy;
- limiting the daily dosage of opioids dispensed based on the strength of the opioid; and
- requiring the use of immediate-release formulations of opioids before extended-release opioids are dispensed.