Pharmacologic Management Of SCD Pain Case Study

In addition, consideration should be given to corticosteroids, especially in the elderly population. This would be given at 40mg qd, with a taper of 5mg qd. Postherpatic neuralgia can be treated with medications such a gabapentin, lidocaine 5% patch, or topically with capsaicin

The use of opioid-based prescription medications to treat non-terminal chronic pain can cause side effects from short term use, and is overly common and ineffective. Firstly, opioid usage can induce negative short-term effects. According to William A. Darity, Jr., short-term opioid usage causes negative effects such as “euphoria, drowsiness, and impaired motor and cognitive functioning” (“Drugs”). The short term effects of the opioids may cause the patient to isolate him or herself socially due to being self-conscious about his or her friends and peers seeing the individual in their current condition. Due to his or her fragile emotional state, however, if the patient isolates him or herself during a time in which he or she should have increased

According to surveys, up to 80% of patients reported moderate to severe post-surgical pain, which can sometimes be left undertreated (Sinatra et al., 2005). Postoperative pain is generally managed with opioids, which carry numerous side effects. Side effects can be bothersome and possibly cause a delay in the postoperative healing process (Beard, Leslie, & Nemeth, 2011). IV acetaminophen can possibly decrease opioid consumption, minimize side effects, increase patient satisfaction, and decrease costs (Wininger et al., 2010). The purpose of this paper is to dive further into the research to present data on the effectiveness of IV acetaminophen in decreasing opioid usage and whether it produces an additive effect causing more effective pain management in the postop patient.

The availability of prescription painkillers has increased substantially, painkillers are drugs that deal with the nervous system, it blocks pain and the patient will feel a “high”. The most common prescribed drugs

The aim of the pharmacology is pain management. The medications given are able to reduce the frequency and severity of the attacks seen with the disease. One of the medication is corticosteroids which is able to cut an attack time short. Corticosteroids, such as Prednisone, are a class of drug based of a component of the hypothalamic- pituitary-adrenal axis that control immune responses and reduce inflammation. The mechanism of action of the class is reducing the body’s autoimmune response and inhibits it from attacking its own tissues as it does in MS. The decrease in time and inflammation can result in decrease damage to the brain and spinal cord leading to a reduce progression of the disease. The steroids should only be used for a short period of time because long-term side effects. Some side effects include insomnia, headache, and suppression of immune system. The steroids sometime has to be given in combination therapy with antibiotics such as Sulfamethoxazole to fight possible infections. The chance of infections increases with the suppression of the immune system. Other drugs take care of symptoms such as muscle spasms, incontinence, and

Opioids are drugs taken for relieving pain. This drug has its effect on the human body through the reduction of the intensity of neuro-pain signals which are relayed to the brain (Opioids, 2009). Classic examples are the painkillers that include morphine, methadone, and hydrocodone among others. Pain is a physical suffering caused by illness or injury and may vary from steady to constant and throbbing to pulsating. It is not reasonable for anyone of us to except no pain except for those who suffer from anhydrases. This is an unusual genetic disorder that makes one unable to feel pain. Opioids play a significant role in the health system but they can be hazardous if used for pleasure or in a case of addiction. It is therefore important that

Opioids are pain relievers that bind to opioid receptors on nerve cells throughout the body. They produce feelings of euphoria, tranquility and sedation. However, opioids are “considered the most harmful of all illicit drugs” (Amato et al., 2005, p.321).

Pain medication. An individual may be prescribed medication to suppress or manage their pain. Dependent on how much pain the individual is in they will be prescribed an Analgesics class drug. If the individual is in mild to moderate pain they may be prescribed Non-opioids such as paracetamol and NSAIDS such as ibuprofen. If, however the individual is in moderate to severe pain they may be prescribed an opioid drug such as codeine or a stronger opioids such morphine.

Although she finds it mildly beneficial, she complained of intense gastric pain while taking ibuprofen. Heather is wary of supplementing with any form of acetaminophen as she felt “loopy,” at one instance which she did not attribute to any other underlying cause (i.e. fever, medication). Heather also has an aversion to opiates, as she does not tolerate the euphoria and confusion while being on them. The option of bupivicaine +/- corticosteroid was presented to treat her SI join pain and to produce a NSAID sparing effect. However, she is afraid of needles therefore this option was not pursued. Rather a trial of Tramadol immediate release, at a dose of 25-50 mg PO at bedtime was provided to Heather. Her SI joint pain was reduced by 30% (9/10 to 6/10) within 30 minutes of starting Tramadol, without any noticeable side effects. There was no effect on her chronic daily headache pain. She started taking tramadol immediate release around the clock, and wore off after 4 hours. Therefore a prescription for Zytram XL (Tramadol CR) was provided to decrease her baseline pain and address end of dose pain. In addition to she was provided an additional repeat of immediate release tramadol for breakthrough pain. Lastly she discontinued use of ibuprofen as her pain relief from Tramadol was

Opioids are prescribed to treat moderate- to-severe pain following surgeries, individuals with chronic pain, cancer patients, or for dental pain. These drugs alter the perception and response to pain by binding to opiate receptors on the white blood cells surface or neurotransmitters in the central nervous system (CNS) (F. A. Davis Company, 2009, p. 97). Opioids suppress the CNS and produce a feeling of well-being or euphoria. Opioids

Low-dose ketamine is sometimes used in the treatment of complex regional pain syndrome. A 2013 systematic review found only low-quality evidence to support the use of ketamine for CRPS.

As a widely used analgesic and antipyretic agent, acetaminophen (APAP) overdose induced hepatotoxicity is one of the most common causes of acute liver failure in the USA and in most Western European countries [1]. Although a number of studies have forced on the influences of N-acetyl-p-benzoquinone imine (NAPQI), a highly reactive metabolite of APAP that depletes hepatic glutathione, and increases in oxidative stress during APAP toxicity [2], other mechanisms such as immune response also raise the susceptibility in the early stages of APAP-induced liver injury [3]. Accumulating evidence demonstrates a critical role of inflammatory cytokine released in early liver damage after APAP intoxication [4, 5]. Kupffer cells (KCs), the liver resident macrophages, are major sources of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and inflammatory

Pain medications are drugs that are utilized to relieve the uneasiness associated with injury, disease, or surgery. There are different types of medications used to relieve pain because of the complexity of the pain process. These various kinds of medications for relieving pain work through varying psychological mechanisms. Generally, pain medications are classified into two major categories i.e. prescription and non-prescription drugs. Prescription drugs are extensive medications against pain and include more powerful drugs than the over-the-counter medications. These drugs are virtually used for any kind of pain situation though they are usually reserved for severe pain i.e. acute or chronic pain. In contrast, non-prescription drugs consists various mild anti-inflammatory medications that are mainly used for short-term pain and minor strains. Therefore, non-prescription drugs are used for common pains and aches and lower fever (Morelli & Vogin, n.d.). Some of the most common types of drugs used to relieve pain include nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, opioids, muscle relaxants, corticosteroids, antidepressants, anti-anxiety drugs, acetaminophen, and anticonvulsant drugs.

All of the drugs listed are used to suppress pain, especially that of chronic pain. The “experiences of people with chronic pain who are receiving opioids for the treatment of pain” (Western Journal of Medicine) has been thoroughly documented by many in the health profession.

The low back pain condition is becoming more frequent in industrialized countries. The treatment of this condition is effective using peripherally acting NSAIDs justly in a short-term relief or in acute low back pain.1 At the same time, the use of antidepressants or other drugs such as tramadol have shown efficacy, where tramadol is centrally acting analgesic by inhibiting serotonin and noradrenaline reuptake, and activating nonselective m-opioid receptors via its active metabolite. 1 Moreover, acetaminophen is considered a first-line treatment for chronic pain and commonly used among several years, which effectiveness is due to its analgesic and antipyretic properties. 1 However, acetaminophen may present some hepatotoxic effects when misused.1 Therefore, the concomitant use of both therapies would bring efficacy with a multiple analgesic mechanism of action, since this therapy also shown a synergistic effect in animal models. 1