• About
  • Masthead
  • License Content
  • Advertise
  • Submit Press Release
  • RSS/Email List
  • Write for us
  • Contact us
2 Minute Medicine
No Result
View All Result

No products in the cart.

SUBSCRIBE
  • Specialties
    • Cardiology
    • Chronic Disease
    • Dermatology
    • Emergency
    • Endocrinology
    • Gastroenterology
    • Imaging and Intervention
    • Infectious Disease
    • Nephrology
    • Neurology
    • Obstetrics
    • Oncology
    • Ophthalmology
    • Pediatrics
    • Preclinical
    • Psychiatry
    • Public Health
    • Pulmonology
    • Rheumatology
    • Surgery
  • The Scan
  • Wellness
  • Classics™
    • 2MM+ Online Access
    • Paperback and Ebook
  • Rewinds
  • Visual
  • Partners
    • License Content
    • Submit Press Release
    • Advertise with Us
  • AccountLog-in/out
    • Subscribe
    • Sign-in
    • My account
2 Minute Medicine
  • Specialties
    • Cardiology
    • Chronic Disease
    • Dermatology
    • Emergency
    • Endocrinology
    • Gastroenterology
    • Imaging and Intervention
    • Infectious Disease
    • Nephrology
    • Neurology
    • Obstetrics
    • Oncology
    • Ophthalmology
    • Pediatrics
    • Preclinical
    • Psychiatry
    • Public Health
    • Pulmonology
    • Rheumatology
    • Surgery
  • The Scan
  • Wellness
  • Classics™
    • 2MM+ Online Access
    • Paperback and Ebook
  • Rewinds
  • Visual
  • Partners
    • License Content
    • Submit Press Release
    • Advertise with Us
  • AccountLog-in/out
    • Subscribe
    • Sign-in
    • My account
SUBSCRIBE
2 Minute Medicine
Subscribe
Home All Specialties Chronic Disease

Opioid analgesics not linked to clinical improvement in chronic low back pain

byJames EnglandandAnees Daud
May 25, 2016
in Chronic Disease
Reading Time: 2 mins read
0
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

1. In a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials, opioid analgesics for chronic low back pain were associated with small, but clinically insignificant improvements in the short- and intermediate-term. This was true even at the highest doses used.

2. While there was marginal improvement in pain (per pain scores), there was no significant decrease in the rates of disabilities from low back pain, and there were greater adverse events amongst those who used opioids.

Evidence Rating Level: 1 (Excellent)

Study Rundown: Chronic low back pain is a prevalent affliction and one of the most common causes of disability. Opioid analgesics are commonly prescribed for this, but concerns over the morbidity and mortality, and potential for abuse has prompted re-evaluation of this approach. The described study performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to evaluate the use of opioids in the management of chronic low-back pain.

The study, which consisted of twenty randomized controlled trials, found that, while opioid analgesics did improve pain scores in short- and intermediate-term follow up, these improvements were not clinically significant, even at the highest doses of opioids. Opioid use also was not associated with decreases in rates of disabilities from low back pain, and was associated with greater adverse events. While the study did utilize only randomized controlled trials, much of the evidence was downgraded in quality grade due to publication bias and the prevalence of industry funding.

Click to read the study, published today in JAMA Internal Medicine

Relevant Reading: Opioids Compared With Placebo or Other Treatments for Chronic Low Back Pain: An Update of the Cochrane Review

RELATED REPORTS

Reinfection with hepatitis C virus is highest immediately after treatment in patients on opioid agonist therapy

Upadacitinib is safe and effective for treatment of non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis

Graded sensorimotor retraining may improve chronic lower back pain compared to sham procedure: The RESOLVE randomized clinical trial

In-Depth [systematic review and meta-analysis]: This study evaluated 20 randomized controlled trials following systematic review regarding the efficacy of opioids in the management of chornic low back pain. Clinical benefit was based on pain scores from a scale of 0 to 100, with a 20-point reduction considered clinically significant.

Thirteen trials evaluated short-term effects of opioids on chronic low back pain with moderate-quality evidence of pain score improvements of -10.1 (95%CI -12.8 to -7.8), though 31.4% to 61.9% of patients withdrew from studies due to side effects or lack of response. From 6 trials there was high quality evidence of intermediate term benefit, -8.1 (95%CI -10.2 to -6.0). There was no statistically significant improvement in disability scores at short or intermediate term follow-up. In evaluation of dose response, there was 12.0 point improvement in pain scores per 1 log unit increase in morphine equivalent (p = 0.046). This corresponded to an estimated benefit of 6.7 points at 40 mg morphine equivalents per day and 16.1 points at 240 mg/day. However, even at the highest dose evaluated there was still no predicted clinically significant benefit.

Image: PD

©2016 2 Minute Medicine, Inc. All rights reserved. No works may be reproduced without expressed written consent from 2 Minute Medicine, Inc. Inquire about licensing here. No article should be construed as medical advice and is not intended as such by the authors or by 2 Minute Medicine, Inc.

Tags: back painopioids
Previous Post

Confounding influences phototherapy’s association with increased childhood cancer risk

Next Post

European screening colonoscopy detection rates appropriate, but with overall low participation

RelatedReports

Patients with low back pain or pain at multiple sites at highest risk for chronic opioid use
Chronic Disease

Reinfection with hepatitis C virus is highest immediately after treatment in patients on opioid agonist therapy

August 25, 2022
Chronic Disease

Upadacitinib is safe and effective for treatment of non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis

August 16, 2022
Patient Basics: Back Pain
Chronic Disease

Graded sensorimotor retraining may improve chronic lower back pain compared to sham procedure: The RESOLVE randomized clinical trial

August 12, 2022
#VisualAbstract: Sensorimotor retraining improves pain intensity in patients with chronic lower back pain
StudyGraphics

#VisualAbstract: Sensorimotor retraining improves pain intensity in patients with chronic lower back pain

August 12, 2022
Next Post
Development of a risk index for colorectal cancer screening

European screening colonoscopy detection rates appropriate, but with overall low participation

UTI associated with increased risk of preeclampsia

2 Minute Medicine Rewind May 23, 2016

Solitary kidney not associated with contrast-induced nephropathy

High sodium consumption associated with cardiovascular disease in patients with chronic kidney disease

License Our Award-Winning Physician-Written Medical News and Visual Abstracts

2 Minute Medicine is the leading authoritative medical news licensing service, and the only with reports written by practicing doctors.

LICENSE CONTENT

2MM+ Premium Access

No ads & unlimited access to all current reports, over 9000 searchable archived reports, visual abstracts, Weekly Rewinds, and the online edition of The Classics Series™ textbook.

Subscription Options
2 Minute Medicine

2 Minute Medicine® is an award winning, physician-run, expert medical media company. Our content is curated, written and edited by practicing health professionals who have clinical and scientific expertise in their field of reporting. Our editorial management team is comprised of highly-trained MD physicians. Join numerous brands, companies, and hospitals who trust our licensed content.

Recent Reports

  • Dual antiplatelet therapy discontinued 9 months after percutaneous coronary intervention associated with improved morbidity and mortality
  • Concordance of diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder made by pediatricians vs multidisciplinary specialist teams
  • Cystatin C-based equation without race or sex improves accuracy of GFR estimation
License Content
Terms of Use | Disclaimer
Cookie Policy
Privacy Statement (EU)
Disclaimer

© 2021 2 Minute Medicine, Inc. - Physician-written medical news.

  • Specialties
    • Cardiology
    • Chronic Disease
    • Dermatology
    • Emergency
    • Endocrinology
    • Gastroenterology
    • Imaging and Intervention
    • Infectious Disease
    • Nephrology
    • Neurology
    • Obstetrics
    • Oncology
    • Ophthalmology
    • Pediatrics
    • Preclinical
    • Psychiatry
    • Public Health
    • Pulmonology
    • Rheumatology
    • Surgery
  • The Scan
  • Wellness
  • Classics™
    • 2MM+ Online Access
    • Paperback and Ebook
  • Rewinds
  • Visual
  • Partners
    • License Content
    • Submit Press Release
    • Advertise with Us
  • Account
    • Subscribe
    • Sign-in
    • My account

© 2021 2 Minute Medicine, Inc. - Physician-written medical news.

Want more physician-written
medical news?

Join over 10 million yearly readers and numerous companies. For healthcare professionals
and the public.

Subscribe for free today!

Subscription options