Tapentadol the most used opioid in Australia, study finds
Tapentadol has overtaken oxycodone as the most prescribed opioid in Australia, according to research that shows its use increased fivefold between 2015 and 2022. The…
Tag: Pain
Spot Dx — Is the answer on the tip of the tongue?
Mary is a 58-year-old who presents with a two-year history of gradually worsening burning tongue pain. Test your clinical know-how by taking the quiz below.…
Hip fractures more common after gabapentinoid treatment: Aussie study
Older patients dispensed gabapentinoids have a nearly twofold increased risk of hip fracture, Monash University researchers have found. Their study of more than 28,000 Victorians…
Doctors warned by Health Minister to ‘brace themselves’ for accusations of misogyny following women’s pain inquiry
Doctors have been warned to “brace themselves” for the findings from an inquiry into women’s pain that is said to have unearthed stories of misogyny…
Spot Dx — Puzzling mouth pain gets worse
Heather is a 52-year-old executive with a six-month history of pain when eating, which has become much worse over the past two weeks. Test your…
PBAC wants ‘critical’ opioid shortage fixed, warning doctors’ care options are being compromised
Pain and palliative care doctors want Federal Government action to stop the “egregious” behaviour of pharmaceutical companies pulling drugs from the market with little warning.…
Risk of addiction higher in month after opioid initiation compared with long-term use, Aussie research suggests
Patients who have initiated opioids in the previous month are at a higher risk of an opioid use disorder diagnosis compared with patients who have…
Benefits of antidepressants ‘unclear’ for chronic pain in older patients: Aussie study
Antidepressants are widely prescribed to patients aged 65 and older for chronic pain but there is little evidence of benefits, Australian researchers say. Their meta-analysis…
Could drug side effects be good for patient outcomes? Ig Noble researchers think so
While modern medicine stresses that an ideal treatment should have no side effects, can discomfort from taking medication lead to better outcomes? That is the…
Opioid prescribing controls almost halved oxycodone use, study suggests
Oxycodone use fell 45% between 2019 and 2020, with no significant rebound since, Australian wastewater analysis suggests. Researchers have attributed the decline to policies including…
