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Beyond the Pain: A Systematic Narrative Review of the Latest Advancements in Fibromyalgia Treatment.Cureus Oct 2023Fibromyalgia is a complex chronic pain disorder that significantly impacts the quality of life of affected individuals. The etiology of fibromyalgia remains elusive,... (Review)
Review
Fibromyalgia is a complex chronic pain disorder that significantly impacts the quality of life of affected individuals. The etiology of fibromyalgia remains elusive, necessitating effective treatment options. This review aims to provide an overview of current treatment options for fibromyalgia and highlight recent updates in managing the condition. The methodology employed in this systematic review comprised the following key steps. We conducted a comprehensive search across various databases to identify pertinent studies published between 2000 and 2023. Inclusion criteria were defined to specifically target studies involving adult individuals diagnosed with fibromyalgia, with a focus on both pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions for managing the condition. The review encompassed a range of study types, including randomized controlled trials, observational studies, and systematic reviews. To ensure the quality of the selected studies, we employed appropriate assessment tools, and data extraction and synthesis adhered to established guidelines. This rigorous approach allowed for a robust analysis of the literature on fibromyalgia management. In the course of our review, it became evident that a spectrum of treatment approaches holds significant promise in the management of fibromyalgia. Specifically, pharmacological interventions, including selective serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors, anticonvulsants, cannabinoids, tropisetron, and sodium oxybate, have exhibited substantial potential in alleviating fibromyalgia symptoms. Concurrently, non-pharmacological strategies, such as cognitive-behavioral therapy, exercise regimens, and complementary and alternative therapies, have yielded positive outcomes in improving the condition's management. Recent developments in the field have introduced innovative pharmacological agents like milnacipran and pregabalin, in addition to non-pharmacological interventions like mindfulness-based stress reduction and aquatic exercise, expanding the array of options available to enhance fibromyalgia care and alleviating patient symptoms. Fibromyalgia necessitates a multidisciplinary approach to treatment, encompassing both pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions. Recent updates in fibromyalgia management offer additional options to alleviate symptoms and improve the quality of life for individuals with fibromyalgia. Healthcare professionals should remain informed about these advancements to provide evidence-based care, addressing the complex symptoms associated with fibromyalgia and enhancing patient outcomes.
PubMed: 38034135
DOI: 10.7759/cureus.48032 -
Cureus Jul 2023Chronic pain is a very common problem in patients with spinal cord injury (SCI) as it affects 80% of these patients, which negatively affects their quality of life.... (Review)
Review
Chronic pain is a very common problem in patients with spinal cord injury (SCI) as it affects 80% of these patients, which negatively affects their quality of life. Despite many advantages that exist in the management of any type of pain (neuropathic, nociceptive, mixed) in these patients, there is no cure, and the analgesic effect of some treatments is inadequate. This study aims to conduct an evidence-based systematic review regarding the various interventions used for the management of pain after SCI. The PubMed, Physiotherapy Evidence Database (PEDro), and Cochrane Library databases were searched from 1969 to 2023. The risk of bias was assessed using the PEDro scoring system. A total of 57 studies met the inclusion criteria and were included in this systematic review. Among the different interventions at present, 18 studies examined the role of oral medications, 11 studies examined the role of minimally invasive methods (injection and infusion), 16 studies investigated physiotherapy and alternative treatments, and 12 studies examined the role of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS), transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS), and cranial electrotherapy stimulation (CES) in the management of pain in patients after SCI. Gabapentin and pregabalin are very effective in managing chronic neuropathic pain after SCI, and pregabalin also seems to reduce anxiety and sleep disturbances in the patients. It is noteworthy that lamotrigine, valproate, and carbamazepine do not have an analgesic effect, but mirogabalin is a novel and promising drug. Antidepressants (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors and serotonin and noradrenaline reuptake inhibitors) did not reduce the pain of the patients, although some studies showed an efficacy of amitriptyline especially in depressed patients and tramadol should be considered short-term with caution. Also, tDCS and rTMS reduced pain. Moreover, botulinum toxin type A, lidocaine, ketamine, and intrathecal baclofen significantly reduced pain intensity, although the sample of the studies was small. Physiotherapy and alternative treatments seem to relieve pain, and transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation had the greatest reduction of pain intensity. In conclusion, several pharmaceutical and non-pharmaceutical methods exist, which can reduce pain in patients after SCI. The type of intervention can be considered by the physician depending on the patients' preference, age, medical history, type of pain, and associated symptoms. However, more studies with greater samples and with better methodological quality should be conducted.
PubMed: 37644939
DOI: 10.7759/cureus.42657 -
JAMA Network Open Aug 2023Patients undergoing spine surgery often experience severe pain. The optimal dosage of pregabalin and gabapentin for pain control and safety in these patients has not... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
IMPORTANCE
Patients undergoing spine surgery often experience severe pain. The optimal dosage of pregabalin and gabapentin for pain control and safety in these patients has not been well established.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the associations of pain, opioid consumption, and adverse events with different dosages of pregabalin and gabapentin in patients undergoing spine surgery.
DATA SOURCES
PubMed/MEDLINE, Embase, Web of Science, Cochrane library, and Scopus databases were searched for articles until August 7, 2021.
STUDY SELECTION
Randomized clinical trials conducted among patients who received pregabalin or gabapentin while undergoing spine surgery were included.
DATA EXTRACTION AND SYNTHESIS
Two investigators independently performed data extraction following the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses) reporting guideline. The network meta-analysis was conducted from August 2022 to February 2023 using a random-effects model.
MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES
The primary outcome was pain intensity measured using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS), and secondary outcomes included opioid consumption and adverse events.
RESULTS
Twenty-seven randomized clinical trials with 1861 patients (median age, 45.99 years [range, 20.00-70.00 years]; 759 women [40.8%]) were included in the systematic review and network meta-analysis. Compared with placebo, the VAS pain score was lowest with gabapentin 900 mg per day, followed by gabapentin 1200 mg per day, gabapentin 600 mg per day, gabapentin 300 mg per day, pregabalin 300 mg per day, pregabalin 150 mg per day, and pregabalin 75 mg per day. Additionally, gabapentin 900 mg per day was found to be associated with the lowest opioid consumption among all dosages of gabapentin and pregabalin, with a mean difference of -22.07% (95% CI, -33.22% to -10.92%) for the surface under the cumulative ranking curve compared with placebo. There was no statistically significant difference in adverse events (nausea, vomiting, and dizziness) among all treatments. No substantial inconsistency between direct and indirect evidence was detected for all outcomes.
CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE
These findings suggest that gabapentin 900 mg per day before spine surgery is associated with the lowest VAS pain score among all dosages. In addition, no differences in adverse events were noted among all treatments.
Topics: Humans; Female; Middle Aged; Gabapentin; Pregabalin; Analgesics; Analgesics, Opioid; Network Meta-Analysis; Pain, Postoperative
PubMed: 37556139
DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2023.28121 -
Journal of Cutaneous Medicine and... Nov 2023Prurigo nodularis (PN) is a debilitating inflammatory skin disease characterized by red to violaceous pruritic lesions. The goal of therapy is to break the scratch-itch... (Review)
Review
IMPORTANCE
Prurigo nodularis (PN) is a debilitating inflammatory skin disease characterized by red to violaceous pruritic lesions. The goal of therapy is to break the scratch-itch cycle. Treatment varies and often requires a multimodal approach to target both immune and neural mediated aspects of disease.
OBJECTIVES
To review the efficacy of systemic treatment used to treat PN.
EVIDENCE REVIEW
A systematic search of keywords and Medical Subject Headings was performed in Ovid MEDLINE, Embase, Scopus, and ClinicalTrials.gov. The first 200 results of an abbreviated search in Google Scholar were also included. PRISMA guidelines were followed and the review was registered on PROSPERO (CRD42023412012). GRADE criteria were used to assess articles for quality of evidence.
FINDINGS
The search resulted in 1153 articles; 382 were duplicates, 643 were irrelevant, 19 were not retrieved, 21 were abstract only, and 88 are included in this review. There were 24 studies on dupilumab, 16 on thalidomide, 8 on cyclosporin, 7 on methotrexate, 3 each on lenalidomide and aprepitant, 2 each on alitretinoin, apremilast, baricitinib, gabapentin, intravenous (IV) immunoglobulins, pregabalin, tofacitinib, and 1 each on amitriptyline, azathioprine, butorphanol, isoquercitin, IV dexamethasone-cyclophosphamide/ oral cyclophosphamide, ketotifen, metronidazole, montelukast, nalbuphine, nemolizumab, serolopitant, tacrolimus, and herose derma zima capsule.
CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE
Dupilumab reduces pruritus and appearance of lesions and is associated with the fewest number of side effects. Thalidomide and pregabalin are also effective, but their long-term use is limited by muscle and nerve pain. Janus Kinase inhibitors may be beneficial, but large population studies are lacking.
Topics: Humans; Thalidomide; Prurigo; Pregabalin; Cyclosporine; Pruritus; Cyclophosphamide
PubMed: 37987710
DOI: 10.1177/12034754231211797 -
Frontiers in Pharmacology 2023Multimodal management of spinal stenosis is on the rise, and central sensitisation inhibitors are playing an essential role in the treatment of central sensitisation...
Multimodal management of spinal stenosis is on the rise, and central sensitisation inhibitors are playing an essential role in the treatment of central sensitisation processes. Pregabalin and gabapentin are antiepileptic drugs that decrease presynaptic excitability. The aim of this study was to investigate whether the use of pregabalin and gabapentin is effective in the symptomatic management of spinal stenosis, compared to other drugs, by using pain and disability rating scales. We also assessed the safety profile associated with these drugs. We conducted a bibliographic search in the Pubmed, Web of Science, and Cochrane Collaboration Library databases. The inclusion criteria were studies that compared pregabalin or gabapentin to a control group in patients with lumbar spinal stenosis. We included randomized clinical trialsand a comparative retrospective cohort study. The primary clinical endpoints were VAS/NRS and ODI, measured at two, four, 8 weeks, and 3 months, while adverse events and walking distance were also collected. We combined the data using Review Manager 5.4 software. Our meta-analysis included six studies with a total of 392 patients, with a mean age of 60.3 years. We observed no significant differences in VAS scores at two, four, and 8 weeks: MD: 0.23, 95% CI: 0.63 to 1.09; MD: -0.04, 95% CI: -0.64 to -0.57; and MD: -0.6, 95% CI: -1.22 to 0.02, respectively. However, at 3 months, we found significant differences in favor of pregabalin with respect to VAS: MD: -2.97, 95% CI: -3.43 to -2.51. We did not observe significant differences respect to the ODI: MD: -3.47, 95% CI: -7.15 to -0.21. Adverse events were significantly higher in the pregabalin/gabapentin group (OR 5.88, 95% CI: 1.28-27.05). Our meta-analysis suggests that abapentinoids may have a significant effect on VAS score at 3 months, but no significant differences were observed in ODI scores, and adverse events were higher in the gabapentinoids group.
PubMed: 38094885
DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2023.1249478 -
The Journal of Urology Nov 2023Ureteral stents are commonly used for the treatment of ureteral obstruction, most often urolithiasis. Their use may be associated with significant bothersome symptoms... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
PURPOSE
Ureteral stents are commonly used for the treatment of ureteral obstruction, most often urolithiasis. Their use may be associated with significant bothersome symptoms and discomfort. Prior studies have examined the effects of various medication regimens on ureteral stent symptoms. This study utilized Bayesian network meta-analysis to analyze all available evidence on the pharmacological management of ureteral stent-related symptoms.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
In December 2022 a systematic review was conducted following PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses) guidelines on randomized prospective studies on pharmacological management of ureteral stent-related symptoms reporting outcomes using the Ureteral Stent Symptom Questionnaire score on urinary symptoms and pain. The data were analyzed in Review Manager 5.3 and R Studio where a Bayesian network meta-analysis was performed. Treatments were ranked using surface under the cumulative ranking curve and mean difference vs placebo with 95% credible intervals.
RESULTS
A total of 26 studies were analyzed. These were used to build networks which were modeled to run 100,000 Markov Chain Montecarlo simulations each. Drug-class analysis revealed the most effective class for each domain: for urinary symptoms, sexual performance, general health, and work performance-combined α-blocker and anticholinergic and phosphodiesterase 5 inhibitors; for pain-combined anticholinergic and pregabalin. The following were the most effective drugs and dosages for specific symptoms: for urinary symptoms-combined silodosin 8 mg+solifenacin 10 mg; for pain-combined silodosin 8 mg+solifenacin 10 mg; for sexual performance-tadalafil 5 mg. Combined silodosin 8 mg+solifenacin 10 mg+tadalafil 5 mg has the best general health scores while solifenacin 10 mg had the best work experience scores.
CONCLUSIONS
This network meta-analysis demonstrated that the most effective drug therapy is different for each symptom domain. It is important to consider a patient's chief complaint and domains in order to ascertain the optimal medication regimen for each patient. Further iterations of this analysis can be strengthened by trials that directly compare more of these drugs instead of relying on indirect evidence.
Topics: Humans; Solifenacin Succinate; Tadalafil; Network Meta-Analysis; Prospective Studies; Bayes Theorem; Quality of Life; Ureter; Pain; Cholinergic Antagonists; Stents
PubMed: 37428119
DOI: 10.1097/JU.0000000000003616 -
International Journal of Molecular... Aug 2023The pharmacological treatment of postherpetic neuralgia (PHN) is unsatisfactory, and there is a clinical need for new approaches. Several drugs under advanced clinical...
The pharmacological treatment of postherpetic neuralgia (PHN) is unsatisfactory, and there is a clinical need for new approaches. Several drugs under advanced clinical development are addressed in this review. A systematic literature search was conducted in three electronic databases (Medline, Web of Science, Scopus) and in the ClinicalTrials.gov register from 1 January 2016 to 1 June 2023 to identify Phase II, III and IV clinical trials evaluating drugs for the treatment of PHN. A total of 18 clinical trials were selected evaluating 15 molecules with pharmacological actions on nine different molecular targets: Angiotensin Type 2 Receptor (AT2R) antagonism (olodanrigan), Voltage-Gated Calcium Channel (VGCC) α2δ subunit inhibition (crisugabalin, mirogabalin and pregabalin), Voltage-Gated Sodium Channel (VGSC) blockade (funapide and lidocaine), Cyclooxygenase-1 (COX-1) inhibition (TRK-700), Adaptor-Associated Kinase 1 (AAK1) inhibition (LX9211), Lanthionine Synthetase C-Like Protein (LANCL) activation (LAT8881), N-Methyl-D-Aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonism (esketamine), mu opioid receptor agonism (tramadol, oxycodone and hydromorphone) and Nerve Growth Factor (NGF) inhibition (fulranumab). In brief, there are several drugs in advanced clinical development for treating PHN with some of them reporting promising results. AT2R antagonism, AAK1 inhibition, LANCL activation and NGF inhibition are considered first-in-class analgesics. Hopefully, these trials will result in a better clinical management of PHN.
Topics: Humans; Drugs, Investigational; Nerve Growth Factor; Neuralgia, Postherpetic; Pregabalin; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
PubMed: 37629168
DOI: 10.3390/ijms241612987 -
Cureus Jan 2024Post-dural puncture headache (PDPH) is occasionally an inevitable side effect of neuraxial anesthesia, which can happen after spinal anesthesia or if an accidental dural... (Review)
Review
Post-dural puncture headache (PDPH) is occasionally an inevitable side effect of neuraxial anesthesia, which can happen after spinal anesthesia or if an accidental dural puncture (ADP) happens during epidural anesthesia. The treatment and prevention options for PDPH differ widely from one institution to another. The management of PDPH is heterogeneous in many institutions because of the absence of clear guidelines and protocols for the management of PDPH. This study aimed to summarize all articles published during the past decade that discussed the treatment or prevention of PDPH. From 2013 to 2023, 345 publications were filtered for all treatment and prevention approaches used for PDPH patients. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) 2020 guidelines were followed for conducting this systematic review, and 38 articles were included for analysis and review. Existing data come from small randomized clinical trials and retrospective or prospective cohort studies. This review supports the effect of oral pregabalin and intravenous aminophylline in both treatment and prevention. Intravenous mannitol, intravenous hydrocortisone, triple prophylactic regimen, and neostigmine plus atropine combination showed effective and beneficial outcomes. On the other hand, neither neuraxial morphine nor epidural dexamethasone showed promising results. Consequently, the use of neuraxial morphine or epidural dexamethasone for the prevention of PDPH remains questionable. Regarding the posture of the patient and its consequences on the incidence of the headache, lateral decubitus is better than a sitting position, and a prone position is better than a supine position. Smaller non-cutting needles play a role in avoiding PDPH. Minimally invasive nerve blocks, including sphenopalatine ganglion or greater occipital nerves, are satisfyingly effective. Epidural blood patches remain the more invasive but the gold standard and ultimate solution in patients resisting medical therapy. This study highlights the need for larger research to define the best approach to prevent and treat PDPH.
PubMed: 38361721
DOI: 10.7759/cureus.52330 -
European Spine Journal : Official... Sep 2023The aim of the present systematic review was to investigate the effectiveness of pharmacological and non-pharmacological therapy on pain intensity and disability in... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
Effectiveness of pharmacological and non-pharmacological therapy on pain intensity and disability in older people with chronic nonspecific low back pain: a systematic review with meta-analysis.
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE
The aim of the present systematic review was to investigate the effectiveness of pharmacological and non-pharmacological therapy on pain intensity and disability in older people with chronic nonspecific low back pain.
METHODS
Searches were conducted in the MEDLINE, COCHRANE LIBRARY, EMBASE, AMED, PSYCINFO, and PEDRO databases up to 2022. Risk of bias was appraised using the Cochrane Risk of Bias 2.0 tool. Estimated mean differences and respective 95% confidence intervals were presented for each paired comparison and the strength of the current evidence was assessed using the GRADE approach.
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
Thirty-one original trials involving 2120 participants were included. All outcomes were self-rated. Pain intensity was measured using the Visual Analogue Scale or Numerical Rating Scale. Disability was evaluated using the Roland Morris Disability Questionnaire, Oswestry Disability Index or Hannover Functional Ability Questionnaire. Short-term: Moderate quality of evidence that mindfulness reduces disability compared to patient education (mean difference [MD] = - 1.38 [95% CI - 2.02 to - 0.73]); low-quality evidence that mixed exercise (MD = - 50.33 [95% CI - 57.11 to - 43.56]) reduces pain compared to no intervention, waiting list, placebo or sham; low quality of evidence that there is no effect for opioid compared to placebo (MD = - 8.26 [95% CI - 19.29 to 2.77]) with regards to reducing pain and opioid/acetaminophen reduces disability more compared to pregabalin (MD = 2.36 [95% CI] 1.86-2.86]).
CONCLUSIONS
The findings showed low or very low quality of evidence for non-pharmacological interventions with a large effect in short- and long-term follow-up. The two studies that provided moderate quality of evidence had a small clinical effect. Only two studies were found that investigated pharmacological therapies-both with low quality of evidence. However, the studies were methodologically weak and had small sample sizes. Given the adverse effects of low back pain and the scarce information on the effectiveness of pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatments for older people, future randomized trials should be encouraged.
Topics: Humans; Aged; Low Back Pain; Pain Measurement; Analgesics, Opioid; Exercise; Exercise Therapy; Chronic Pain
PubMed: 37464184
DOI: 10.1007/s00586-023-07857-4 -
Cureus Nov 2023Dacryocystorhinostomy (DCR) is an effective surgical procedure for addressing lacrimal drainage problems. However, it can be a painful operation that involves incisions... (Review)
Review
Dacryocystorhinostomy (DCR) is an effective surgical procedure for addressing lacrimal drainage problems. However, it can be a painful operation that involves incisions both inside and outside the eye, often leading to a high incidence of postoperative nausea and vomiting. Preemptive analgesics can be employed to alleviate this unrelieved pain. Nonetheless, many of the drugs used can induce a wide range of adverse effects. Therefore, the aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis is to assess the current evidence regarding the efficacy of pregabalin in managing postoperative pain following DCR surgery. We conducted a thorough search of five electronic databases, namely, PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, Cochrane, and Google Scholar, to identify relevant randomized controlled trials (RCTs) published before September 2023. The quality of the included studies was assessed using the Cochrane Risk of Bias tool for RCTs. The outcomes we evaluated included postoperative pain, surgery duration, time to first analgesia, total pethidine consumption, and postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV). Continues data reported as mean difference (MD), and dichotomous data reported as risk ratio (RR), with 95% confidence interval (CI). A pooled meta-analysis of three RCTs, including 240 patients in both the pregabalin and placebo groups, was conducted. The results revealed that the pooled MD in pain scores was significantly lower in patients treated with pregabalin compared to those receiving a placebo ((MD = -1.35 (95% CI: -1.83 to -0.87, p < 0.00001)). Additionally, the pooled MD of pethidine consumption was significantly lower in patients treated with pregabalin compared to those receiving a placebo (MD = -54.13 (95% CI: -103.77 to -4.50, p = 0.03)). However, there was no statistical significance between both groups in terms of time to first analgesia and duration of surgery (p > 0.05). On the other hand, the pooled RR of PONV was significantly lower in patients treated with pregabalin compared to those receiving a placebo (RR = 0.37 (95% CI: 0.24-0.57, p < 0.001)). This meta-analysis demonstrates that pregabalin is an effective and well-tolerated intervention for reducing postoperative pain and PONV following DCR surgery, without significantly affecting surgery duration or time to first analgesia. These findings support the use of pregabalin in improving patient comfort and outcomes in this surgical context.
PubMed: 38024096
DOI: 10.7759/cureus.48720