During their first physician visit, patients experiencing newly diagnosed chronic musculoskeletal pain are prescribed opioids more often than physical therapy, counseling, and other nonpharmacologic approaches, according to new research. The study, published in the Journal of Pain, included authors from the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH), part of the National Institutes of… Continue reading Patients with Newly Diagnosed Musculoskeletal Pain Are Prescribed Opioids More Often than Recommended
Tag: NSAIDs
Are You Making These Common Mistakes After a Bad Sunburn?
Unless you have been living under a rock, you know the importance of SPF and re-applying it. There are times when, despite your best efforts, you still manage to get burned. Perhaps you were careless, and after too many margaritas forgot to re-apply your sunblock. Now, you are literally burned by your day of fun in… Continue reading Are You Making These Common Mistakes After a Bad Sunburn?
Heightened Risk of Heart Attacks with Common Painkillers in Routine Use
People who use commonly prescribed non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) to treat pain and inflammation could be raising their risk of having a heart attack, as early as in the first week of use and especially within the first month of taking high doses of such medication, suggests a study published in May 2017 in The… Continue reading Heightened Risk of Heart Attacks with Common Painkillers in Routine Use
New Guidelines for Treating Back Pain
A physicians’ group has recommended that doctors and patients should treat acute or sub-acute low back pain with non-drug therapies. The American College of Physicians (ACP) said that the non-drug therapies included superficial heat, massage, acupuncture or spinal manipulation. Drug therapy, if desired, should consist of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS) or skeletal muscle relaxants. The… Continue reading New Guidelines for Treating Back Pain
Use of NSAIDS Linked to Risk of Hearing Loss in Older Women
Prolonged use of over-the-counter pain relievers is linked to a higher risk of hearing loss in older women, according to new research. As many as two-thirds of women in the United States over the age of 60 have some degree of hearing loss. A team led by investigators from Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, reached… Continue reading Use of NSAIDS Linked to Risk of Hearing Loss in Older Women
The Latest on Pain Relievers: Answers from the FDA
Here, a Q & A with Sharon Hertz, Deputy Director of FDA’s Division of Anesthesia, Analgesia, and Rheumatology Products, who has been with FDA for 15 years. Dr. Hertz graduated from SUNY Upstate Medical Center in Syracuse, N.Y., and completed her residency in neurology at SUNY Health Sciences Center at Brooklyn. This Q&A reflects the… Continue reading The Latest on Pain Relievers: Answers from the FDA
Why You Should Be Concerned About OTC Painkillers
Next time you reach into the medicine cabinet seeking relief for a headache, backache or arthritis, be aware of important safety information for non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. FDA is strengthening an existing warning in prescription drug labels and over-the-counter (OTC) Drug Facts labels to indicate that nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) can increase the chance of a… Continue reading Why You Should Be Concerned About OTC Painkillers
What Medicines Should You Take for Gout?
Gout, one of the most painful forms of arthritis, occurs when uric acid builds up in the body. According to the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases, this buildup can lead to sharp uric acid crystal deposits in joints, often in the big toe; deposits of uric acid (called tophi) that look… Continue reading What Medicines Should You Take for Gout?
COX-2 Inhibitors Safe for Many Patients
COX-2 inhibitors, prescription drugs which include Vioxx and Celebrex, were developed in the 1990s to avoid the risk of stomach ulcers caused by some non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), but they rapidly fell out of favor after they were linked to an increased risk of heart attacks. Some brands, including Vioxx, were withdrawn. Yet Cox-2 inhibitors,… Continue reading COX-2 Inhibitors Safe for Many Patients