Content about Nociception

OAKLAND, Calif. — Men taking long-acting medications for chronic pain are almost five times more likely to have low testosterone levels, according to a new study by Kaiser Permanente.

The study, which the healthcare system called the first to show a significant difference in risk between short-acting and long-acting opioids, appeared in The Clinical Journal of Pain.

WASHINGTON — A Food and Drug Administration panel will meet Monday to discuss a class of drugs designed to treat chronic painful conditions that currently are under development and the safety issues possibly related to the drugs.

AKRON, Ohio — Performance Health this summer expanded its Perform product family with the introduction of Perform Pain Relieving Singles. The single-use format provides the benefits of cold therapy in an innovative, no-touch, no-mess package that’s small enough to fit in a pocket.

WASHINGTON — The American Pharmacists Association is marking Pain Awareness Month by encouraging patients to talk with their pharmacists about pain and pain medications they're taking.

According to a recent report by the Institute of Medicine, more than 116 million Americans suffer from chronic pain, which costs the country up to $635 billion per year.

RARITAN, N.J. — The Food and Drug Administration has approved a drug made by Johnson & Johnson for treating chronic pain, a J&J subsidiary said Friday.

The FDA approved Janssen Pharmaceuticals' Nucynta ER (tapentadol) tablets, an extended-release drug for moderate to severe chronic pain in adults for whom a continuous, around-the-clock opioid analgesic is needed for an extended period of time.

NEWTON SQUARE, Pa. — Boiron is making headway introducing a whole new natural external pain reliever into the mass outlet, having earlier this year won distribution through Walgreens and Duane Reade of its arnica gel Arnicare. And Arnicare already is the natural channel’s fastest-growing homeopathic topical pain relief brand, experiencing growth of 67.5% against sales of $5.9 million for the 52 weeks ended April 17, according to Nielsen. 


INDIANAPOLIS The Food and Drug Administration has approved a new usage for a drug used to treat depression and pain.

Eli Lilly said Thursday that the FDA had approved Cymbalta (duloxetine hydrochloride) for treating chronic musculoskeletal pain. This is the fifth indication for which the agency has approved Cymbalta, after major depressive disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, diabetic peripheral neuropathic pain and fibromyalgia, Lilly said.

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. —Thermionics’ ThermiPaq products, which now sport an eye-catching yellow “Control Your Pain!” panel as part of a new graphics package, has been a significant driver of growth within the heat/ice packs segment of late.

For the 52 weeks ended Aug. 8, Thermipaq sales were up 27.2%, reaching $6.1 million across food, drug and mass (minus Walmart) outlets, according to SymphonyIRI Group data. That growth is outpacing the category as a whole, which currently is trending up 6.1%.