Drug | Backpain Treatments Blog

Vera Appleyard has worked in the addiction treatment field for over a decade. She has an MFA in Dramatic Writing from Tisch School of the Arts at New York University. Vera is currently VP of Internet Marketing at Elements Behavioral Health. She blogs about addiction and recovery at <a href=”http://www.addictiontreatmentmagazine.com”> http://www.addictiontreatmentmagazine.com</a>
and <a href=”http://www.addiction-recovery-blog.com”> http://www.addiction-recovery-blog.com</a>
.

(ArticlesBase SC #2919935)

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/ – The Thin Line between Pain Management and Drug Addiction

Pain management has come under fire in recent years, to the detriment of some who truly could not function or participate in the basic activities of daily living without the help of prescription drugs. High-profile tales of drug addiction and overdose, such as the celebrity tales of Michael Jackson and Anna Nicole Smith, have shone a harsh light on how some doctors prescribe powerful prescription drugs. The backlash effect makes doctors more reluctant to treat pain aggressively, even when it is warranted.

There are doctors who prescribe opiates without regard for the long-term effects. Pain clinics in Florida are the most obvious problem. Known as “pill mills,” these clinics have proliferated to the point that people travel to Florida from out of state, knowing that for a few hundred dollars they can get the prescriptions they want. As opiate deaths have risen in Florida, calls to regulate these “pain clinics” have become more urgent.

When do we cross a line, but, from simply protecting people from too much pain medication and consequent addiction to preventing people with real pain from being able to function?

The first question we need to examine is, “What is pain management?” In a video on the subject, addiction interventionist Earl Hightower reminds us that it is pain management, not pain eradication (you can <a rel=”nofollow” onclick=”javascript:_gaq.push(['_trackPageview', '/outgoing/article_exit_link']);” href=”http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fxaVXnUGJZw”>
view the video here</a>).

The goal of pain management cannot necessarily be to eradicate pain completely because you have to balance the reduction of pain with the ability to still function with a clear mind. This means that pain management is a highly involved process, not simply getting someone to write prescriptions. It may involve special daily exercises, physical therapy, yoga, Pilates, acupuncture, meditation, cognitive behavioral therapy, and other therapeutic modalities. People who manage long-term back pain faithfully do their prescribed daily stretches each morning and each night year after year. Those who slack off on those exercises have to rely more on pain pills to get through the day.

Prescription opiates have surpassed illegal drugs as a leading cause of emergency room admissions, bringing the issue of proper prescribing of these controlled substances to the forefront. Those who take opiates for extended periods of time with no intention of becoming dependent on them can become accidental addicts. Their doctor may start to question how much they are taking. Their prescriptions may run out too early in the month. They may start doctor shopping to get multiple prescriptions or, if truly desperate, forge prescriptions or steal from friends’ medicine cabinets.

Opiates are some of the most addictive substances available and their abuse has increased dramatically in the last two decades. Dr. David Sack, an addiction psychiatrist and CEO of Promises Treatment Centers, clarifies, “Prescription opiates are very similar to heroin and morphine in how they work in the nervous system, and they produce an intense sense of relaxation and euphoria that is very attractive. Between 1990 and 2000, four times as many people started abusing prescription narcotics because they were more available, they were more widely prescribed, and there were fewer restrictions on them,” Dr. David Sack, addiction psychiatrist says.

Dr. Sack says part of the problem is that patients will sometimes lie to doctors to get their prescriptions. He says an early warning sign for doctors is when patients start to call in early for their refills.

Education is of key importance when helping patients cope with chronic pain. Patients must know the impact of opiates on the nervous system and the consequences of combining different medications. Doctors need to know how to monitor pain and their patients’ compliance with complementary therapies, as well as know the early warning signs of addiction. The more knowledge each party has the less likely the patient with truly debilitating pain will suffer pain needlessly and the less likely the doctor will be fueling a perilous addiction.

Retrieved from “http://www.articlesbase.com/diseases-and-conditions-articles/the-thin-line-between-pain-management-and-drug-addiction-2919935.html”

(ArticlesBase SC #2919935)

Vera Appleyard -
About the Author:

Vera Appleyard has worked in the addiction treatment field for over a decade. She has an MFA in Dramatic Writing from Tisch School of the Arts at New York University. Vera is currently VP of Internet Marketing at Elements Behavioral Health. She blogs about addiction and recovery at <a rel=”nofollow” onclick=”javascript:_gaq.push(['_trackPageview', '/outgoing/article_exit_link']);” href=”http://www.addictiontreatmentmagazine.com”> http://www.addictiontreatmentmagazine.com</a>
and <a rel=”nofollow” onclick=”javascript:_gaq.push(['_trackPageview', '/outgoing/article_exit_link']);” href=”http://www.addiction-recovery-blog.com”> http://www.addiction-recovery-blog.com</a>
.

]]>

Rate this Article

1
2
3
4
5

vote(s)
0 vote(s)

Feedback
RSS
Print
Email
Re-Publish

Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/diseases-and-conditions-articles/the-thin-line-between-pain-management-and-drug-addiction-2919935.html

Article Tags:
prescription drug abuse, drug addiction, chronic pain, pain management

Pfizer’s novel NGF pain drug is potential game changer

Posted on 31 August 2010. Tags: changer, drug, Game, novel, pain, Pfizer's, potential

Pfizer’s novel NGF pain drug is potential game changer

Phase II clinical trials of tanezumab in osteoarthritis, chronic low back pain and interstitial cystitis have demonstrated the drug’s analgesic efficacy across these three chronic pain settings. Despite safety concerns and a high price point, it expects tanezumab to delight in a significant first-in-class advantage in a potentially lucrative novel area of pain therapy. ( http://www.bharatbook.com/detail.asp?id=130154&rt=Stakeholder-Insight-Osteoarthritis-Drug-development-lags-behind-rising-osteoarthritis-population.html )

Pfizer has announced positive results from three Phase II trials in pain at the American Academy of Pain Medicine’s 26th Annual Meeting. The randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled six-week trials in patients with chronic low back pain (CLBP) and interstitial cystitis receiving a single intravenous infusion of tanezumab (200mcg/kg) met their primary endpoints of significantly superior pain relief over placebo. The CLBP study also included a third treatment group receiving naproxen twice daily, and tanezumab showed a greater analgesic effect than this competitor. In the 16-week osteoarthritis trial, patients were randomized to received tanezumab (10mcg/kg, 25mcg/kg, 50mcg/kg, 100mcg/kg or 200mcg/kg) or placebo. All doses of the drug achieved a reduction in pain while at the same time demonstrating a favorable safety profile.

It estimates that 140 million people suffer from chronic pain across the seven major markets (the US, Japan, France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the UK). Chronic pain treatments include narcotic analgesics and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs); but, these therapies suffer from high abuse potential and limited efficacy. Given that pain will become more prevalent in the future due to the aging population, the chronic pain market continues to represent an attractive commercial opportunity for pharmaceutical developers.

Tanezumab is a humanized monoclonal antibody (mAb) against nerve growth factor (NGF) and is in position to become Pfizer’s first pain medication since its neuropathic pain treatment Lyrica (pregabalin) was approved in 2005. With strong efficacy demonstrated in different pain settings, the drug is expected to be the first major novel therapy in the management of pain for a number of years. But, while tanezumab offers excellent evidence as a ‘proof of concept’ that interfering with the NGF pathway provides an analgesic effect, strong competition exists in the pipeline: Johnson & Johnson’s JNJ-42160443; Sanofi-Aventis’ and Regeneron’s Phase II drug REGN475; and Abbott’s PG110, which entered Phase I clinical trials in mid-2009.

Although the NGF class uses a novel mechanism for the treatment of pain, it believes that drug safety profiles may limit the patient population. Adverse events documented thus far include an abnormal peripheral sensation (tingling and numbness) and muscle aches. Moreover, given that NGF is involved in the development of the nervous system, reproductive toxicology issues will prevent its use in women of childbearing age. Another limiting factor could be cost: It expects that these therapies will be priced similarly to the biologics available to treat rheumatoid arthritis, and as such will be far more expensive than existing pain treatments. This will lead to insurance companies effectively forcing clinicians to try current therapies first, with NGF drugs held back as last-line alternatives.

With the investment made by major pharmaceutical companies, the success of tanezumab (and that of the whole NGF class) will be dependent on the characterized risk-benefit profile. Phase II data suggest efficacy in a number of pain conditions. But, at present no patient has received at least a year’s treatment with tanezumab, so its long-term safety profile remains unknown. its recommends that NGF drug developers also pursue indications in acute pain, in case the chronic use of these therapies proves intolerable. With the pain market totaling .4 billion in 2008 across the seven major markets and the lack of efficacious pain treatments, NGF drugs could capture a considerable proportion of this market. Following analysis of Phase III trials that are due to end in 2011, it anticipates the launch of tanezumab in 2012 as the first biologic for the management of pain.

Related research

• Stakeholder Opinions: Back Pain – Gain competitive edge by targeting subpopulations
http://www.bharatbook.com/detail.asp?id=98237&rt=Stakeholder-Opinions-Back-Pain-Gain-competitive-edge-by-targeting-subpopulations.html

• Stakeholder Insight: Osteoarthritis – Drug development lags behind rising osteoarthritis population priced
http://www.bharatbook.com/detail.asp?id=130154&rt=Stakeholder-Insight-Osteoarthritis-Drug-development-lags-behind-rising-osteoarthritis-population.html

• Pfizer Inc.: PharmaVitae Profile
http://www.bharatbook.com/detail.asp?id=70276&rt=Pfizer-Inc-PharmaVitae-Profile.html

Or

Contact us at :

Bharat Book Bureau
Tel: +91 22 27578668
Fax: +91 22 27579131
Email: info@bharatbook.com
Website: www.bharatbook.com
Follow us on twitter: http://twitter.com/3bbharatbook

Posted in Back Pain TherapyComments (0)

Will Injected Dilaudid Show Up In My Pain Management Drug Screen Differently Than Oxycodone Will?

Posted on 31 January 2010. Tags: Differently, Dilaudid, drug, Injected, management, Oxycodone, pain, Screen, Show, Than

I have been in pain management for 4 months now and have not had one problem until this month, and go figure, this is the month that I have to see my dr before he will give me anymore refills. I had kidney stones and my oxycontin and percocets weren’t touching the pain, so I went to the ER and got injected dilaudid for the pain. Will this show up differently than the pain meds i’ve already been prescribed by my Dr?

Posted in Back Pain ManagementComments (3)

The Neck & Back Pain Cure They Don’t Want You to Know About

Posted on 03 July 2009. Tags: back, clinic, concussion, cure, doctor, drug, free, head, hospital, injury, MD, neck, office, pain, relief, shoulder, surgery, treatment

2 The Neck & Back Pain Cure They Dont Want You to Know About Learn the secret CAUSE of your chronic neck, shoulder & back pain while improving your posture, facial attractiveness and mental functioning abilities. It’s all in your head — your skull really.

Breakthrough medical technology really “puts your head on straight” and adjusts the bones of your skull FROM THE INSIDE OUT without expensive drugs and perilous surgical procedures.

Your neck and back are sore because they’re compensating all day long to keep your 10 pound head balanced. Neurocranial Restructuring (NCR) is the only protocol that quickly, safely and gently rebalances both the bones of the skull, and how your head sits on top of your spine to relieve your chronic pain once and for all.

Physiotherapy, chiropractic, osteopathy, and even orthopedic surgery pale in comparison to the results of this natural treatment. Massage, exercise and stretching are fantastic, but they don’t address the cause.

Common benefits of NCR include:

- Relief from chronic shoulder, neck and back pain (upper, lower, left, right)
- Scoliosis, Lordosis (swayback) and Kyphosis (hunchback) lessen dramatically
- Long lasting relief from head injuries and post concussion syndrome symptoms

- Improved attractiveness as your ears, eyes and entire face become more symmetrical, cheek bones rise, narrow and sharp features soften, & wrinkles usually diminish
- Bald men get a sexier head as unattractive ridges, peaks, and dents lessen
- Mental clarity improves as your brain gains “more room to reckon”

- Snoring, chronic sinus and ear problems routinely improve
- TMJ symptoms diminish as the jaw starts tracking properly
- List of other conditions NCR benefits below

You’ve been to the hospital, clinic and doctors office enough. 99.9% of M.D.’s and even chiropractors are not trained in this remedy. You need a specialist.

Well-known celebrities and everyday people spend a fortune working with plastic and cosmetic surgeons. Bald men commonly were hats to hide their heads. Instead of a facelift or a nose job, try NCR.

I’m a huge supporter of Kevin Trudeau, and look forward to connecting with him. I too lost my health early and battled with “incurable” health problems. Natural Cures are the answer — you just might know this if you haven’t exhausted conventional medicine yet. If you know Kevin or are a subscriber to his naturalcures.com website, tell him about NCR. He’s got to try this. He’ll absolutely Like it!

NCR is currently available in California, Florida, Texas, Washington and even in Canada. You won’t hear about it in the news, your favorite TV show, radio program, or well loved magazine and certainly not from CNN, NBC, ABC, CBS, FOX, the AMA, FDA or WHO. Even The Health Network, Discovery Channel, Dr. Andrew Weil, Oprah and Dr. Phil probably don’t know about NCR yet. I hope they see this free video and do a tale on this outstanding treatment that has done so much for me.

I’m a huge hockey fan. I like playing and watching the game. I reckon it’s tragic how concussions end the careers of so many NHL players. One of my goals is to raise the awareness for NCR as the solution for those who suffer from concussion symptoms.

These days the game is so quick that wingers, centers and defensemen are getting smoked with huge hits. I’d like this message to get to high profile guys like Eric Lindros, Jeremy Roenick, Sydney Crosby, Joe Thornton, Eric Stall, and the players on my favorite team, the Vancouver Canucks (Dave Nonis, Steve Tambellini, Alain Vigneault…are you reading this?)

For instance, winger Jason King is a fantastic skater with an unfortunate history of concussions. I’d like if ESPN or CBC’s Ron McLean mentioned NCR or Don Cherry did in his next Rock ‘Em Sock ‘Em dvd.

Head injury from football and boxing injuries would benefit from NCR. The blows those guys take to the cranium is incredible. CTE (chronic tramatic encephalopathy) and MTBI (mild traumatic brain injury) were recently mentioned in Well loved Science as huge issues and the use of X-rays in diagnosis and a Concussion Summit in Chicago.

Other conditions for NCR: migraine headaches, arthritis, whiplash, ostitis media, bursitis, rheumatism, learning disabilities, poor concentration, Sciatica, acute sinusitis, Sleep Apnea, teeth grinding, Tinnitus, TMD

Duration : 0:7:10

Read the full tale

Posted in Back Pain CuresComments (25)

Tag Archive | "drug"

The Thin Line between Pain Management and Drug Addiction

Pfizer’s novel NGF pain drug is potential game changer

Will Injected Dilaudid Show Up In My Pain Management Drug Screen Differently Than Oxycodone Will?

The Neck & Back Pain Cure They Don’t Want You to Know About

Categories

Pages

Recent Posts

Advisory