Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
'Astounding' Study Finds Opioids Work No Better At Managing Chronic Pain Than Over-The-Counter Drugs
The Associated Press: Prescription Opioids Fail Rigorous New Test For Chronic Pain
A yearlong study offers rigorous new evidence against using prescription opioids for chronic pain. In patients with stubborn back aches or hip or knee arthritis, opioids worked no better than over-the-counter drugs or other nonopioids at reducing problems with walking or sleeping. And they provided slightly less pain relief. (Tanner, 3/6)
Los Angeles Times: For All Their Risks, Opioids Had No Pain-Relieving Advantage In A Yearlong Clinical Trial
By some measures, the people using non-opioid drugs such as Tylenol, ibuprofen and lidocaine experienced more pain relief than people using medications like morphine, Vicodin and oxycodone — though the differences weren't large enough to be considered statistically significant. Patients in both groups saw similar improvements in their quality of life. The findings cast doubt on the medical community's "standard approach" of using opioids to manage chronic musculoskeletal pain, the researchers found. (Kaplan, 3/6)
Bloomberg: Opioids No Better Than Common Painkillers As Overdoses Soar
“The fact that opioids did worse is really pretty astounding,” said Roger Chou, an internist at Oregon Health & Science University and the co-author of Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s guidelines on opioid use for chronic pain, who was not involved in the recent study. “It calls into question our beliefs about the benefits of opioids.” (Langreth, 3/6)
Kaiser Health News: Jury’s In: Opioids Are Not Better Than Other Medicines For Chronic Pain
A few years ago, Renea Molden’s doctors told her they wanted to take her off her opioid pills. It did not sound like good idea to her. “I was mad, I’ll be honest. I was mad. I was frustrated,” said Molden, 40, of Kansas City, Mo. She struggles with fibromyalgia, bulging discs and degenerative disc disease. Her doctors were concerned about her potentially taking hydrocodone for the rest of her life, but to her, the three pills she took each day seemed to be the only way she could make it through work, go shopping or even fix dinner. (Smith, 3/6)
