Experts Explain Why We Need to Stop Treating Back Pain With Opioids

Tue, 25 Jul 2023 04:54:09 +1000

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

Andrew Pam
<https://www.sciencealert.com/experts-explain-why-we-need-to-stop-treating-back-pain-with-opioids>

"Opioids are the one of the most prescribed pain-relief for people with low
back and neck pain. In Australia, around 40 percent of people with low back and
neck pain who present to their GP and 70 percent of people with low back pain
who visit a hospital emergency department are prescribed opioids such as
oxycodone.

But our new study, published today in the Lancet medical journal, found
opioids do not relieve "acute" low back or neck pain (lasting up to 12 weeks)
and can result in worse pain.

Prescribing opioids for low back and neck pain can also cause harms ranging
from common side effects – such as nausea, constipation and dizziness – to
misuse, dependency, poisoning, and death.

Our findings show opioids should not be recommended for acute low back pain or
neck pain. A change in prescribing for low back pain and neck pain is urgently
needed in Australia and globally to reduce opioid-related harms."

Via Rixty Dixet.

Cheers,
       *** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net               Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/                 Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/            Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/               Manager, Serious Cybernetics

Comment via email

Home E-Mail Sponsors Index Search About Us