Pain Management Roundup: Prescribing in Newborns, Cannabis Utilization, and More

Prescribing Newborns Opioids, Methadone Varies Significantly Across Children’s Hospitals

Individual suffering from knee pain / Dragana Gordic - stock.adobe.com

From 2016 to 2022, researchers found a significant number of opioid and methadone prescriptions across 47 individual children’s hospitals. Although opioid prescriptions were more significant than methadone, researchers came to the suggestion that a standardized approach to treating high-risk newborns is necessary for overall health outcomes.

Slideshow: Exploring Cannabis Utilization in the Oncology Landscape

In the US, medical cannabis is legal in over 36 states and the District of Columbia, with 18 states allowing recreational use. This expanding legal landscape coincides with a significant trend: a growing interest by the public in cannabis, particularly among patients with cancer. Four abstracts presented at the American Society of Clinical Oncology 2024 annual meeting explored the utilization of cannabis in the oncology landscape, delving into pain management, potential medication interactions, and symptom mitigation.

Multiple Vitamin Deficiencies Associated with Worse Migraine Outcomes

Patients with migraine who have multiple vitamin deficiencies may experience worse headache outcomes compared to patients who only have 1 vitamin deficiency, according to research presented at the American Headache Society 66th Annual Scientific Meeting. Around 16% of all adults in the United States suffer from migraine or severe headache, although women are affected more than men.

Redefining Pharmacy Education for LGBTQ Pain Management

Pain management is a cornerstone of pharmacy school curriculum. Through coursework, students gain valuable knowledge in pain mechanisms, pain assessment, and types of pain. Their training equips them with the skills to become pain medication experts, guiding patients on proper dosages, adverse effects, and interactions of drugs. But what happens when the unique pain considerations of entire communities are left out of this teaching?

FDA Warns Consumers About Unapproved, Misbranded OTC Analgesic Products

The FDA has issued warning letters to 6 companies that are marketing unapproved, misbranded OTC analgesic products. These products are marketed for topical use to relieve pain before, during, or after certain cosmetic procedures including microdermabrasion, laser hair removal, tattooing, and piercing. The agency is warning consumers to avoid using these products on the basis that some of the product labels contain ingredients at concentrations higher than allowed for OTC topical analgesic products.

Telehealth-Based OUD Treatment May Lead to Better Health, Obstetric Outcomes Among Pregnant Patients

Opioids have emerged as a primary treatment for pain management during pregnancy, with some research suggesting that up to 21% of pregnant patients use the drugs at some point in their gestation period. But, while opioids can be helpful in managing pregnancy-related pain, their use has been linked to poor health outcomes. These risks, such as higher chances of preterm birth, are even greater for pregnant women who develop opioid use disorder (OUD). Telehealth-based OUD treatment among pregnant patients may lead to better health and obstetrics outcomes, according to findings published in JAMA Network Open.

Interventional Techniques Can Help Manage Pain in Patients With Cancer

Pain is one of the most common symptoms in patients with cancer, with research finding nearly 44.5% of patients with cancer reporting pain. If not relieved sufficiently, it can have a significant impact on the quality of life of patients with cancer. Interventional pain techniques can provide patients with cancer additional options to help manage their pain, according to data published in the journal Annals of Palliative Medicine. The modalities can also help reduce opioid consumption and negative side effects associated with their use.

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