2018 AANS Annual Scientific Meeting-Non-opioid Pharmacotherapy for Pain

Video Transcription

Video Summary

In this video, Dr. Ben-Chayim from UCSD discusses non-opioid pharmacotherapy for pain. The talk begins by addressing the opioid crisis in the United States and the harmful side effects and risks associated with opioids. Several studies question the effectiveness of opioids in addressing pain and improving quality of life, particularly in chronic pain settings. Non-opioid pharmacotherapy options are then explored, including local anesthetics, NSAIDs, acetaminophen, and other medications such as alpha-2 adrenergic agonists, NMDA receptor antagonists, gabapentanoids, and glucocorticoids. The speaker emphasizes the importance of tailoring treatment plans based on the primary physiologic type and source of pain, and discusses specific medications and interventions for different types of pain, including nociceptive, neuropathic, and psychogenic pain. Non-pharmacological treatments like transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation, physical therapy, massage therapy, and relaxation techniques are also briefly mentioned. The talk concludes by highlighting the potential benefits of cannabis as an alternative to opioids and the need to explore diverse non-opioid options for pain management.

Asset Caption

Sharona Ben-Haim, MD

Keywords

non-opioid pharmacotherapy

pain management

opioid crisis

pharmacological treatments

non-pharmacological treatments