Content about Pain

May 2, 2013

More than 80% of mothers regularly experience pain, survey finds

The vast majority of mothers experience pain throughout their bodies, according to a new survey.

STERLING, Ill. — The vast majority of mothers experience pain throughout their bodies, according to a new survey.

The survey, commissioned by electric massager maker Wahl Clipper Corp. and conducted by Harris Interactive, found that 84% of mothers experience pain. This includes 80% who experience lower back pain, 76% with shoulder and neck pain, 70% with upper back pain and 65% with joint pain. The survey included 2,000 men and women, including 300 mothers with children younger than 18, who were asked about their pain and how they cope with it.

April 9, 2013

Americans consider addiction a greater problem than chronic pain, poll shows

A majority of Americans say chronic pain ranks far below drug addiction as a major health problem, according to a new poll.

ALEXANDRIA, Va. — A majority of Americans say chronic pain ranks far below drug addiction as a major health problem, according to a new poll.

March 18, 2013

Galena buys rights to cancer-pain drug from Orexo

Galena Biopharma has purchased rights to a treatment for breakthrough cancer pain from a Swedish drug maker, Galena said Monday.

LAKE OSWEGO, Ore. — Galena Biopharma has purchased rights to a treatment for breakthrough cancer pain from a Swedish drug maker, Galena said Monday.

Galena, which specializes in cancer-related drugs, said it acquired Abstral (fentanyl) sublingual tablets for sale and distribution in the United States from Orexo AB. Breakthrough cancer pain, or BTcP, affects between 40% to 80% of cancer patients, with reported episodes of four per day and a median duration of 30 minutes, according to Galena.

March 8, 2013

Branded pain relief tablets battle for sales

With private label across analgesics up an estimated 11.3% to $1.7 billion, retailers are going to need to make some tough decisions as two internal analgesic powerhouses — McNeil's Tylenol and Novartis' Excedrin — make their way back onto market after respective recalls. Within internal analgesic tablets, sales of store brand equivalents were up 15% off of a 2011 base of around $1.2 billion. The branded competition also were benefactors — both Pfizer's Advil and Bayer's Aleve generated more than $50 million in incremental sales on top of 2011 sales.

March 8, 2013

Switching off the pain

Omron recently charged analgesic aisles with a new pain relief option.

LAKE FOREST, Ill. — Omron recently charged analgesic aisles with a new pain relief option. Omron's Electro-Therapy Pain Relief unit is the only approved transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation unit on the market and should be an adjunctive sale for chronic pain sufferers. The product could add a spark to nonmedicinal, external pain relief. Sales of heat and ice packs were relatively flat in 2012, with sales approaching $235 million.

March 4, 2013

FDA accepts application for NSAID painkiller

The Food and Drug Administration has accepted a regulatory application for a new painkiller from Iroko Pharmaceuticals, the drug maker said.

PHILADELPHIA — The Food and Drug Administration has accepted a regulatory application for a new painkiller from Iroko Pharmaceuticals, the drug maker said Monday.

Iroko is seeking approval for a lower-dose, submicron diclofenac, a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug for treating mild to moderate acute pain in adults.

February 28, 2013

Vireo Systems releases study finding NSAID side-effects more likely among seniors 75+

Homeopathic analgesic manufacturer Vireo Systems released a study finding that seniors over the age of 75 were six times more likely to suffer side effects associated with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.

MADISON, Tenn. — Homeopathic analgesic manufacturer Vireo Systems on Thursday released a study finding that seniors over the age of 75 were six times more likely to suffer side effects associated with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.

According to the study, nearly 33 million people, including 13.8 million seniors over the age of 65, regularly use NSAIDs for treating pain and inflammation. Gastrointestinal issues, renal problems and cardiac complications are the top-three most-cited side effects.

February 26, 2013

FDA approves drug for pain during sex due to menopause

The Food and Drug Administration has approved a drug for postmenopausal women who experience pain during sex.

SILVER SPRING, Md. — The Food and Drug Administration has approved a drug for postmenopausal women who experience pain during sex.

The agency announced the approval of Shionogi's Osphena (ospemifene) for women with moderate to severe dyspareunia, a symptom of vulvar and vaginal atrophy due to menopause associated with declining levels of estrogen hormones.

February 1, 2013

Study finds men on long-acting opioids have lower testosterone

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.

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.

January 25, 2013

Wellco Brands launches pain relief cream for under the nose of cold, allergy sufferers

Wellco Brands on Thursday launched Healerz for Noses, a pain relief cream to soothe the skin under the nose that becomes irritated during cold and allergy season.

BUFFALO, N.Y. — Wellco Brands on Thursday launched Healerz for Noses, a pain relief cream to soothe the skin under the nose that becomes irritated during cold and allergy season.

Healerz is formulated with lidocaine for pain relief, benzalkonium chloride antiseptic to help guard against infection and aloe for its soothing properties.

Each package contains six single-use packets.

January 7, 2013

Harvard Men's Health Watch recommends topical analgesics for acute joint pain

Topical pain relievers may be better suited for joint pain, according to a report published in the January 2013 issue of the Harvard Men's Health Watch.

BOSTON — Topical pain relievers may be better suited for joint pain, according to a report published in the January 2013 issue of the Harvard Men's Health Watch.

"Topical pain relievers can be very helpful for the more superficial joints like the knees, ankles, feet, elbows and hands," stated Rosalyn Nguyen, a clinical instructor in physical medicine and rehabilitation at Harvard Medical School. "In those areas, the medication can penetrate closer to the joint."

December 19, 2012

Nutra Pharma to introduce 'military-strength' painkiller

Nutra Pharma will introduce a stronger version of its OTC pain reliever, the company said Wednesday.

CORAL SPRINGS, Fla. — Nutra Pharma will introduce a stronger version of its OTC pain reliever, the company said Wednesday.

Nutra Pharma — which is developing treatments for such diseases as HIV, multiple sclerosis and adrenomyeloneuropathy — announced the planned introduction of Nyloxin Military Strength in order to combat opiate abuse and overuse of NSAIDs by military personnel.

November 28, 2012

Consumers are increasingly turning to OTCs to treat their conditions, including both acute, episodic conditions like the common cold and such chronic conditions as frequent pain and allergy. However, the extent to which OTCs are used varies by condition, according to an online survey of more than 900 AccentHealth viewers conducted in September. Headache sufferers reported using OTC medications most often (89%), while sufferers of certain digestive disorders use OTCs less often (53%).

To see more Patient Views, click here.

November 15, 2012

OTC use on rise as self-care trend grows

Over-the-counter medications continue to gain in popularity among consumers, who — whether as a matter of cost savings or convenience — are increasingly turning to OTCs to treat their conditions, including both acute, episodic conditions like the common cold and such chronic conditions as frequent pain and allergy.  

To see more Patient Views, click here.

October 9, 2012

Stimulating away the pain

There’s a new option for chronic pain sufferers that ought to spark some growth across external analgesics, including heat and ice packs: Omron’s recently approved ElectroTherapy Pain Relief unit.

LAKE FOREST, Ill. — There’s a new option for chronic pain sufferers that ought to spark some growth across external analgesics, including heat and ice packs: Omron’s recently approved ElectroTherapy Pain Relief unit. There are as many as 60 million chronic pain sufferers, according to the American Chronic Pain Association. And of those in search of pain relief solutions, 80% seek more than one type, according to research conducted on behalf of Thermionics. So Omron’s $69.99 transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation unit should be an adjunctive sale.

September 26, 2012

Depomed sues FDA over drug for shingles-related pain

A drug maker is suing the Food and Drug Administration to force the agency to give a special designation to one of its drugs.

MENLO PARK, Calif. — A drug maker is suing the Food and Drug Administration to force the agency to give a special designation to one of its drugs.

Depomed announced that it had filed suit against the FDA in federal district court for the District of Columbia seeking an order that would require the agency to grant the drug Gralise (gabapentin) orphan drug exclusivity for the management of post-herpetic neuralgia. The disease, also known as PHN, is a condition causing prolonged pain in people who have had shingles, a complication of chickenpox.

September 18, 2012

Omron launches nonprescription TENS device into mass retail

Omron Healthcare on Tuesday introduced a new electrotherapy solution for muscle and joint pain relief called the Omron ElectroTherapy Pain Relief unit.

LAKE FOREST, Ill. — Omron Healthcare on Tuesday introduced a new electrotherapy solution for muscle and joint pain relief called the Omron ElectroTherapy Pain Relief unit.

“There are as many as 100 million people in the U.S. with acute or chronic pain,” Omron senior product manager Maureen Perou said. “What’s different about this product is that it demystifies and simplifies a time-tested therapy. It’s like having a physical therapist by your side whenever you need it.”

September 14, 2012

FDA highlights rare instance of burns associated with use of external analgesics

The Food and Drug Administration on Thursday alerted the public that certain external analgesics have been associated with burns.

SILVER SPRING, Md. — The Food and Drug Administration on Thursday alerted the public that certain external analgesics have been associated with burns. Most of the reported cases involved products containing higher concentrations of menthol and methyl salicylate (greater than 3% menthol or 10% methyl salicylate). Few of the cases involved capsaicin, the FDA reported.

September 4, 2012

Bayer HealthCare brings OTC migraine relief to analgesic shelves

Bayer HealthCare's Consumer Care Division on Tuesday introduced Bayer Migraine Formula, an over-the-counter medication designed to relieve migraine pain and accompanying symptoms like nausea, phonophobia (sound sensitivity) and photophobia (light sensitivity) through a formulation of aspirin, acetaminophen and caffeine.

MORRISTOWN, N.J. — Bayer HealthCare's Consumer Care Division on Tuesday introduced Bayer Migraine Formula, an over-the-counter medication designed to relieve migraine pain and accompanying symptoms like nausea, phonophobia (sound sensitivity) and photophobia (light sensitivity) through a formulation of aspirin, acetaminophen and caffeine.

August 29, 2012

Nucynta ER approved as neuropathic pain treatment for DPN patients

The Food and Drug Administration has approved a supplemental new drug application for an opioid analgesic to treat diabetes-related pain.

RARITAN, N.J. — The Food and Drug Administration has approved a supplemental new drug application for an opioid analgesic to treat diabetes-related pain.

August 23, 2012

AcelRx starts third phase-3 trial of drug for post-operative pain

A drug maker that specializes in pain medications started the third late-stage trial of a drug for treating pain in patients who have undergone certain surgeries.

REDWOOD CITY, Calif. — A drug maker that specializes in pain medications started the third late-stage trial of a drug for treating pain in patients who have undergone certain surgeries.

August 17, 2012

Stone cold pain relief

Johnson & Johnson Consumer earlier this summer put the freeze on pain with the launch of its Bengay Zero Degrees line extension, an external analgesic rub that makes its home alongside the frozen peas in the freezer.

NEW BRUNSWICK, N.J. — Johnson & Johnson Consumer earlier this summer put the freeze on pain with the launch of its Bengay Zero Degrees line extension, an external analgesic rub that makes its home alongside the frozen peas in the freezer. According to the company, it’s the first and only topical pain reliever that can be stored in the freezer. Sales of the Bengay brand were up 6.4% to $8.9 million for the 12 weeks ended July 8 across food, drug and mass (excluding Walmart), according to SymphonyIRI Group data.

August 15, 2012

Codeine increases risk of death in some children, FDA warns

Children who take a class of opioid pain relievers after certain surgeries may be at risk of death, the Food and Drug Administration warned Wednesday.

SILVER SPRING, Md. — Children who take a class of opioid pain relievers after certain surgeries may be at risk of death, the Food and Drug Administration warned Wednesday.

The FDA issued the warning after receiving reports of three children who died and one who experienced a life-threatening case of respiratory depression after taking codeine following tonsil- and adenoid-removal surgery.

August 8, 2012

FDA approves morphine sulfate oral solution

The Food and Drug Administration has approved an oral painkiller made by Perrigo, the drug maker said Wednesday.

ALLEGAN, Mich. — The Food and Drug Administration has approved an oral painkiller made by Perrigo, the drug maker said Wednesday.

Perrigo announced the approval of morphine sulfate oral solution in the 100-mL/5% strength. The drug is a Schedule II controlled substance and is used to treat moderate to severe acute and chronic pain. Sales of the drug are about $26 million per year, according to Wolters Kluwer Health. Perrigo said it would ship the drug immediately.

July 23, 2012

Nature's Health Connection names Robyn Benincasa as Australian Dream spokeswoman

Nature’s Health Connection on Monday named New York Times best-selling author Robyn Benincasa as the spokeswoman for its topical pain reliever Australian Dream.

DETROIT — Nature’s Health Connection on Monday named New York Times best-selling author Robyn Benincasa as the spokeswoman for its topical pain reliever Australian Dream.

Nature's Health Connection will be launching a new advertising campaign behind Australian Dream to include television, an advertorial and online marketing. The premise of the ads is that “if it works for [Robyn], imagine what it can do for you,” illustrating the effectiveness of Australian Dream.