Health

Oxycodone relieves shingles pain

NEWS IN BRIEF — Posted April 13, 2009

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An opioid analgesic can alleviate the pain caused by reactivation of the varicella zoster virus, according to a study in the April Pain.

"For some patients, even the light touch of a Q-tip to their skin is excruciating," said Robert Dworkin, PhD, lead author and professor of anesthesiology, neurology, oncology and psychiatry at the University of Rochester Medical Center in New York.

Researchers randomized 87 shingles patients older than 50 to receive the antiviral famciclovir for a week, combined with either 28 days of controlled-release oxycodone, gabapentin or placebo. Both medications had similar safety profiles, although constipation was the most common reason for discontinuing the opioid.

Those on oxycodone experienced less pain than those taking the placebo for the first two weeks of treatment. No differences were noted between these two groups in the latter half of the treatment period. Gabapentin provided some benefit during the first week, but overall did not block pain better than placebo.

Note: This item originally appeared at http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2009/04/13/hlbf0413.htm.

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