The Scottish Medicines Consortium did not recommend Buprenorphine transdermal patchs for severe pain: ADVICE: following a third re-submission Buprenorphine transdermal patches (Butrans) are not recommended for use within NHS Scotland for the treatment of severe opioid responsive pain conditions, which are not adequately responding to non-opioid analgesics. In the patient population considered in this submission,…
Category Archives: Pain drug therapy
Medwatch alert. Topical anesthetics: risk of cardiologic and neurologic side effects
FDA issued a safety warning about the hazards of topical anesthetics [Posted 01/16/2009] FDA issued a public health advisory to remind patients, healthcare professionals, and caregivers about potentially serious hazards of using skin numbing products, also known as topical anesthetics, for relieving pain from mammography and other medical tests and conditions. FDA is concerned about…
Methylnaltrexone (Relistor) for opioid induced constipation: SMC review
The Scottish Medicines Consortium issued on 8th December, 2008 an advice on the recently approved opioid antagonist methylnaltrexone ADVICE: following a full submissionMethylnaltrexone (Relistor) is accepted for restricted use within NHS Scotland for treatment of opioid-induced constipation in advanced illness patients who are receiving palliative care when response to usual laxative therapy has not been…
Local anesthetic infusion with postoperative pain pumps and articular chondrolysis
New information from the Canadian Adverse Reaction Newsletter: Local anesthetic infusion with postoperative pain pumps and articular chondrolysis Postoperative pain pumps are infusion devices designed to continuously deliver controlled amounts of medication.[1,2] They can be used to infuse local anesthetic solutions directly into operative sites, for pain management following surgical procedures. The device consists of…
Risk of midazolam overdose: NHS alert
This is a rapid response report from the National Patient Safety Agency (A branch of NHS) about the risk of midazolam (Dormicum, Hypnovel, Midacum and Versed) overdose Reducing risk of overdose with midazolam injection in adults Issue Some adult patients are being overdosed with midazolam injection when used for conscious sedation. The presentation of high strength…
Review of nepafenac (Nevanac) ophtalmic suspension
Review form Health Canada of nepafenac (Nevanac) , a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) for the management of pain and inflammation associated with cataract surgery On April 17, 2008, Health Canada issued a Notice of Compliance to Alcon Canada Inc. for the drug product, NevanacTM (nepafenac) Ophthalmic Suspension. NevanacTM contains the medicinal ingredient nepafenac which is…
Morphine effects mnemonic
Morphine effects mnemonic MORPHINES : Miosis Orthostatic hypotension Respiratory depression Pain supression Histamine release/ Hormonal alterations Increased ICT Nausea Euphoria Sedation Thanks to MedExcel
Pharmacodynamics. Cross tolerance definition
The following pharmacological definition has been taken from the Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics Department Glossary at Boston University School of Medicine. Cross-Tolerance: Tolerance to a drug that generalizes to drugs that are chemically related of that produce similar affects. For example, a patient who is tolerant to heroin will also exhibit cross-tolerance to morphine. The…
Pharmacology mnemonic. Inhalational anaesthetics
Inhalational anesthetics SHINE: Sevoflurane Halothane Isoflurane Nitrous oxide Enflurane Thanks to MedExcel
NSAIDS risks and benefits podcast
This week Therapeutics initative podcast deals with NSAIDS: NSAIDS: Considering the Risks and Benefits (Therapeutics Initiative Podcast – December 10th) In our 33rd episode we follow-up our discussion of osteoarthritis by examining the risks and benefits of oral anti-inflammatories including Cox-2 inhibitors. We review the effects on pain relief and the theory of anti-inflammation. We…
Drugs acting on the autonomic nervous system: animation showing their mechanism of action
The following is a list of drugs related to the animation: Adrenoceptor-Activating & Other Sympathomimetic Drugs Dobutamine, Ephedrine, Epinephrine, Hydroxyamphetamine, Isoproterenol, Methylphenidate, Naphazoline, Norepinephrine. Adrenoceptor Antagonist Drugs Acebutolol, Atenolol, Betaxolol, Bisoprolol, Carteolol, Carvedilo,l Carvedilol, Esmolol, Labetalol, Metoprolol, Nadolol, Pindolol, Propranolol, Sotalol, Timolol. Cholinoceptor-Activating (Acetylcholine receptor stimulants) Acetylcholine, Bethanechol, Carbachol, Cevimeline, Pilocarpine. Cholinoceptor-Blocking Drugs (Cholinoceptor antagonists)…
Antipsychotics for acute and chronic pain: a systematic review
Summary Analgesic effects of antipsychotics in acute and chronic painful states Antipsychotics are used in different chronic pain states (e.g. chronic headache, fibromyalgia and diabetic neuropathia). With atypical antipsychotics a new class of antipsychotics is available, with lesser extrapyramidal side effects and additional benefits. The review authors assessed the analgesic efficacy and adverse effects of…
Questions and answers from the EMEA about the withdrawal of Ionysis
Transcription from the EMEA website of the questions and answers document on the recommendation to suspend the marketing authorisation of Ionsys What is Ionsys? Ionsys is a system that delivers the active substance fentanyl hydrochloride into the body through the skin. Fentanyl is an opioid analgesic (a strong painkiller that is related to morphine). Ionsys should only be…
Ionsys (fentanyl hydrochloride): EMEA recommends the suspension of its marketing authorisation
Press release about the suspension of Ionsys (fentanyl hydrochloride) marketing authorisation The European Medicines Agency (EMEA) has recommended the suspension of the marketing authorisation of Ionsys (fentanyl hydrochloride), from Janssen-Cilag International NV, because of a defect with the delivery system of the medicine that could lead to patients being overdosed. Ionsys is a system for the transdermal…
