Pain management

Low vitamin D levels linked to headaches in men

Some evidence has linked headache prevalence to increasing latitude, indicating a possible role for vitamin D exposure. But there are limited data to support this hypothesis.…

Increased duration of OTC painkiller use increases risk of hearing loss

Researchers say their findings suggest that a “significant proportion” of hearing loss is owed to paracetamol or NSAID-related ototoxicity.…

Targeting the CGRP protein could lead to a preventative treatment for migraine

It’s been a long time coming, but a new class of drugs targeting the CGRP protein could be the first preventative treatment specifically developed for migraine to hit the market.…

Amitriptyline and topiramate no more effective than placebo in paediatric migraine

Researchers found no significant difference in headache response after comparing amitriptyline, topiramate and placebo in 361 children aged 8–17 years.…

Brain scans predict placebo responses in chronic pain patients

Researchers studying patients with chronic pain have shown they can predict those who will respond to placebo using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI).…

Paracetamol does not worsen lung function of children with asthma

When used during respiratory illness in children, paracetamol is not associated with a higher risk of asthma exacerbations than ibuprofen.…

Legalise cannabis for medical use, MPs say

An influential committee of MPs has called on the government to make cannabis legal for medical use.  The All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for Drug Policy Reform wants the drug reclassified from its Schedule 1 — which puts it in the same class as ecstasy and LSD — to Sched…

How a pharmacist made a career in pain and anaesthesia

Roger Knaggs is the first pharmacist to be appointed as a Fellow of the Faculty of Pain Medicine of the Royal College of Anaesthetists. He tells Julia Robinson about his journey into pharmacy and pain management.…

We need to reassess how we measure and treat pain as opioid addiction grows

Removing official pain measures will not alleviate the rising number of patients addicted to opioid drugs — a better way to determine pain is required.…

Paracetamol use in pregnancy linked to childhood behaviour problems

Prenatal exposure to paracetamol (acetaminophen) is associated with an increased risk of behavioural problems among children by the age of seven, according to a study.…