Advances with analgesics and NSAIDs for the treatment of spinal disorders.
One of the major developments with regard to chronic non-malignant pain in these last few years has been a better understanding of the mechanisms that act to maintain pain, while inferences about the pathophysiology have facilitated therapeutic decision-making. This chapter reviews the strength of evidence for the therapeutic effect of pharmacological symptomatic approaches using non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agents, opioids and co-analgesics in acute and chronic back pain with an emphasis on the results of randomized controlled trials as well as on the need for long-term comparative trials of drug efficacy, toxicity and compliance.
Desmeules
J A
JA
Division of Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology and Multidisciplinary Pain Centre, Geneva University Hospital, Switzerland. Jules.Desmeules@hcuge.ch
Cedraschi
C
C
Piguet
V
V
Allaz
A F
AF
Dayer
Pierre
P
D000208:Acute Disease; D000700:Analgesics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001416:Back Pain / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology*; D002908:Chronic Disease; D006801:Humans; D013122:Spinal Diseases / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy*
D000700:Analgesics; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal