Pain Management

Deaths from drug overdoses have become the leading cause of death for Americans under age 50, which can largely be attributed to prescription opioids. Due to the role of prescription opioids, understanding prescribing patterns and identifying inappropriate prescribing are crucial for changing the course of the epidemic.

According to a recent study, people with migraines may have altered connections between the somatosensory cortex and the frontal lobe compared with people who do not experience migraines.

Every week, The American Journal of Managed Care® recaps the top managed care news of the week, and you can now listen to it on our podcast, Managed Care Cast.

A group of researchers systematically reviewed previously published literature about psychological treatment in primary headache and its effectiveness. The results were published in The Journal of Headache and Pain.

An FDA program to prevent the inappropriate use of immediate-release fentanyl did not meet its goals of preventing off-label use or to patients who were not already using opioids, a JAMA study reported Tuesday.

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatories (NSAIDs) have passed opioids as the most common drug group prescribed to injured workers in California, while payment data show that both dermatological medications and anticonvulsants now rank ahead of opioids in terms of total reimbursements, according to a report examining trends between 2009 and 2018.

In 2010, OxyContin was reformulated and an abuse-deterrent version was introduced, leading to an increase in heroin use and subsequent rise in hepatitis C infection rates.

Chronic pain accounted for 62.2% of all patient-reported qualifying conditions under which US patients sought medical marijuana, according to a new paper in Health Affairs.

Research and regulatory gaps in the use of marijuana will only grow unless the scientific community and policy leaders fill the void, according to a commentary series in Annals of Internal Medicine on marijuana’s rising availability.

Michigan’s plan to require Medicaid beneficiaries to show workforce engagement was approved by the Trump administration, while attorneys continue to challenge Arkansas’ own Medicaid work requirements; a new report from the Government Accountability Office has highlighted serious deficiencies with how the FDA administers the Orphan Drug Act; the FDA has granted tentative approval to a weekly and monthly treatment for moderate-to-severe opioid use disorder (OUD), but cannot grant final approval until another treatment’s exclusivity period ends.

Primary care clinics are beginning to integrate more patient-reported outcomes into practice, especially with implementation of the Patient-Reported Outcome Measurement Information System. However, little is known about whether patients perceive reporting these outcome measures as useful.

Low back pain is a common cause of disability globally and represents a significant economic burden for patients. According to a recent study, digital versions of pain assessments, such as mobile applications, may be as effective and reliable as paper methods that are currently used to assess pain.

The CDC reported the number of drug overdose deaths per year increased 54% from 2011 to 2016, with the synthetic drug fentanyl involved in most overdoses in 2016, although actual numbers of all overdose deaths may be underreported. The report also showed how multiple drugs are typically involved in overdose deaths.

Patients who visit the emergency department for pain are often asked to categorize their pain level using a visual scale of numbered faces. However, a recent study suggests the efficacy of a more empirical approach, through the use of an electroencephalography (EEG)-based test, that would be beneficial for both patients and physicians.

The increase in healthcare utilization and expenditures associated with the transition to chronic opioid therapy places increased burden on payers and patients.

Chronic pain affects many patients worldwide and often leads to opioid prescribing, thereby increasing the risk of opioid misuse. A position statement by the Association of Academic Physicians, published by the American Journal of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, reflects experts’ call for a new, comprehensive national strategy to include a functional approach to the diagnosis and treatment of pain.