Chiropractic + Naturopathic Doctor

No difference between opioid, non-opioid analgesics for arm, leg pain: study

By Canadian Chiropractor staff   

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A new U.S. study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association found no significant difference between opioids and non-opioid analgesics for treating arm or leg pain.

The randomized controlled trial of 411 adults coming to the emergency department for arm or leg pain due to sprain, strain, or fracture, found there was no difference in pain reduction after two hours with ibuprofen-acetaminophen versus three comparison opioid-acetaminophen (paracetamol) combinations, the study said.

Mean pain scores decreased by 4.3 with ibuprofen and acetaminophen (paracetamol); 4.4 with oxycodone and acetaminophen; 3.5 with hydrocodone and acetaminophen; and 3.9 with codeine and acetaminophen, study authors said in the report.

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“The choice of analgesic to treat acute pain in the emergency department (ED) lacks a clear evidence base. The combination of ibuprofen and acetaminophen (paracetamol) may represent a viable nonopioid alternative,” the study said.

The United States is facing an opioid epidemic with almost 500,000 individuals dying from opioid overdoses since 2000. Despite the epidemic, opioid analgesics remain a first-line treatment for moderate to severe acute pain in the emergency department, the JAMA Network said in a news release.

During the study, 416 patients (ages 21 to 64 years) with moderate to severe acute extremity pain in two urban emergency departments were randomly assigned to receive:

• 400 mg ibuprofen and 1,000 mg acetaminophen
• 5 mg oxycodone and 325 mg acetaminophen
• 5 mg hydrocodone and 300 mg acetaminophen; or
• 30 mg codeine and 300 mg acetaminophen

After two hours, pain was less in all participants, without any important difference in effect between the four groups.

The results apply only to pain after two hours. About one in five patients required additional medication to control their pain.

“The findings suggest that ibuprofen-acetaminophen is a reasonable alternative to opioid management of acute extremity pain due to sprain, strain, or fracture, but further research to assess longer-term effect, adverse events and dosing is warranted,” the news release said.


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