(Reuters Health)—State programs that require physicians to check drug registries before writing prescriptions appeared to slash the odds of doctor-shopping for opioid pain relievers, a new study found. “Our study shows that prescription-drug monitoring programs are a promising component of a multifaceted strategy to address the opioid epidemic,” Ryan Mutter, one of the study authors,…
Don’t Reach for Pills for Most Chronic Low Back Pain
(Reuters Health)—People should try non-drug treatment options like massage or stretching for most cases of chronic low back pain before choosing treatment with over-the-counter or prescription drugs, according to new guidelines from the American College of Physicians (ACP). If the pain began recently, the guidelines recommend superficial heat, massage, acupuncture or spinal manipulation. If patients…
U.S. Senators Question Kaleo’s $4,500 tag on Opioid Overdose Treatment
(Reuters)—U.S. Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.) on Thursday asked Kaleo Pharmaceuticals to justify the more than 550% surge in the price of its device to treat opioid overdoses, becoming the second senator to question Evzio’s $4,500 price tag. Evzio contains the overdose-reversing drug naloxone and can be used in emergencies by people without medical training. Privately…
Updated EULAR Recommendations for Early Arthritis; Plus FDA Approves New Abuse-Deterrent Morphine Sulfate
EULAR has updated its recommendations for the management of early arthritis, outlining aspects of diagnosis and drug treatments…
Music May Help Reduce Pain
(Reuters Health)—As a complement to traditional pain relief tools, such as medication, listening to music may lessen acute or chronic pain related to cancer and other conditions, according to a new review. “We have seen and observed this effect in multiple clinical settings, such as medical hospitals and hospice-care facilities,” says author Dr. Jin Hyung…
Cigna Ends Preauthorization Requirement to Treat Opioid Addiction
(Reuters)—Health insurer Cigna Corp. has discontinued its policy of requiring doctors to seek authorization before treating opioid addicts, as part of a fight against an epidemic of opioid abuse, New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman said on Friday. The policy change will apply nationally, says Schneiderman, who has been pushing for easier access to treatments…
FDA Update: New Boxed Warnings for Opioids & Benzodiazepines; Plus New Drug Safety Labeling Changes Database
Due to serious side effects from the combined use of opioids and benzodiazepines, the FDA has issued boxed warnings for both types of medication…
Celltrion Accelerates U.S. Launch of Infliximab-dyyb, a Remicade Biosimilar
After winning the initial patent infringement lawsuit filed by Janssen, Celltrion Inc. is now shipping Inflectra (infliximab-dyyb), a biosimilar of Remicade (infliximab), to the U.S…
U.S. Justice Department to Push Prosecutors on Opioids
WASHINGTON (Reuters)—The U.S. Justice Department will enlist federal prosecutors to help fight the nation’s opioid crisis by sharing information on overprescribing doctors and coordinating with public health officials to address addiction, USA Today reported on Friday. “You can’t just have an enforcement strategy alone,” Attorney General Loretta Lynch told the newspaper in an interview. She…
A Morphine Alternative with Less Overdose Risk?
(Reuters Health)—Scientists are testing an experimental drug that’s designed to have the painkilling power of morphine without some of the side effects that can lead to overdose deaths. Initial results in mice with the compound known for now as PZM21 suggest it might be less addictive than morphine and other opiate painkillers and avoid respiratory…