The Consequences of a Commonly Used Pain Reliever
Recent research has suggested that a frequently prescribed painkiller might be causing more damage than previously thought. This investigation indicates that the drug not only provides limited relief from chronic pain, but can also lead to significant health risks, including heart conditions.
Why This Painkiller is a Go-To Option
The painkiller in question is a two-fold opioid, often recommended by doctors to patients suffering from severe, ongoing pain. It is frequently suggested in many pain management guidelines. In recent years, the use of this drug has skyrocketed, making it one of the most common opioids used in the country. Many believe it is less likely to cause side effects and less addictive than other opioids, which could account for its popularity.
Addressing the Research Gap
Despite the drug's wide usage, previous reviews have not thoroughly evaluated its effectiveness and safety for diverse types of chronic pain. To fill this gap, researchers scrutinized numerous clinical trials that compared the effects of this painkiller to a placebo in chronic pain sufferers, including those experiencing cancer-induced pain.
Scope of the Trials
Researchers analyzed 19 different clinical trials involving a total of 6506 participants. Five studies centered on neuropathic pain, nine on osteoarthritis, four on chronic back pain, and one on fibromyalgia. The ages of the participants ranged from 47 to 69, with an average of 58 years old. Most studies utilized tablets, with only one using a topical cream. Treatment durations varied from 2 to 16 weeks, with follow-ups ranging from 3 to 15 weeks.
Minimal Relief, Heightened Risk
The compiled results demonstrated that while this painkiller does alleviate pain to some degree, the relief is minimal and does not meet the standards for effective treatment. Out of the eight trials that monitored serious side effects over a period of 7 to 16 weeks, it was found that the drug approximately doubled the risk of harm compared to a placebo. This rise was primarily due to an increase in cardiac events such as chest pain, coronary artery disease, and heart failure.
The use of this painkiller was also linked to a higher risk of certain types of cancer, but researchers caution that the short duration of the studies makes this finding uncertain.
Common Side Effects and Study Limitations
The drug was associated with an increased risk of milder side effects like nausea, dizziness, constipation, and sleepiness across all trials. The researchers acknowledged that many study outcomes were at a high risk of bias, suggesting that the benefits of this drug are likely overstated and its dangers understated.
The Impact of Opioid Use
Researchers highlight the broader implications of opioid use, noting that around 60 million people worldwide experience the addictive effects of these drugs. In 2019, drug use was responsible for approximately 600,000 deaths, with nearly 80% of these fatalities linked to opioids, and about 25% resulting from an opioid overdose.
In the United States, the number of deaths caused by an opioid-related overdose jumped from 49,860 in 2019 to 81,806 in 2022. Given these trends and the recent findings, the use of this painkiller, along with other opioids, should be reduced as much as possible.
The research team concluded that this drug may offer slight relief for chronic pain, but it also likely increases the risk of both serious and non-serious adverse events. The potential dangers associated with using this drug for pain management probably outweigh its limited benefits.