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Analgesics - Independent medicine & health information for consumers & professionals Analgesics — medicine information
Latest independent drug information about analgesics and treatments, written and reviewed by experts in Australia.
Analgesics are also known as painkillers or pain medicines.
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| Title | Description | Type | Audience  |
Date* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pain relievers explained | Even though non-prescription pain relievers are widely available, they are still medicines, and can have serious side effects. | Consumer publication - MedicinesTalk | Consumers | 2011-07-29 00:00:00 |
| MedicinesTalk No. 36 Summer 2010 | Safe medicine use during pregnancy, the use of pain relief and their side effects and instructions on how to accurately measure medicines for children. | Consumer publication - MedicinesTalk | Consumers | 2011-07-29 00:00:00 |
| Dextropropoxyphene-containing products withdrawn | From 1 March 2012, two of the four available dextropropoxyphene-containing products Capadex and Paradex will be unavailable in Australia. This follows an announcement from the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) in December 2011 | Web page | Health Professionals | 2012-03-01 00:00:00 |
| Latest edition of Australian Prescriber out now | The February 2012 edition of Australian Prescriber is out now | Media release | Others | 2012-02-01 19:00:00 |
| Clinical audit: Review of opioid prescribing in chronic pain | Clinical audit to assist GPs review their management of patients prescribed an opioid for chronic non-cancer pain (Sample pack) | Professional activity - Clinical audit | Health Professionals | 2010-06-30 00:00:00 |
| Optimising the use of OTC analgesics | Clinical audit used to assist pharmacists and pharmacy staff to review their recommendations of nonprescription analgesics against therapeutic guidelines and professional best practice standards. | Professional activity - Pharmacy Practice Review | Health Professionals | 2008-04-26 00:00:00 |
| Paracetamol with caffeine (Panadol Extra) available over the counter from pharmacies | Paracetamol with caffeine (Panadol Extra) available over the counter from pharmacies | Professional publication - NPS RADAR - Brief item | Health Professionals | 2010-08-01 00:00:00 |
| Erratum: Fentanyl patches (Durogesic) for chronic pain | Information about equi-analgesic doses of methadone have been removed from 'Table 1: Equipotency of opioid analgesics to oral morphine 30 mg', in the Dosing Issues section of this NPS RADAR review published in the August 2006 issue. | Professional publication - NPS RADAR - Brief item | Health Professionals | 2006-12-01 00:00:00 |
| Indicators of Quality Prescribing: 5 | Indicators of Quality Prescribing: Indicator 5 Prescribing Drugs of Addiction. This indicator asks practices if they have a policy on the prescription of opioids and benzodiazepines. | Professional tool - Indicators of quality prescribing | Health Professionals | 2006-02-01 00:00:00 |
| Case study 64:Opioid therapy in chronic pain | Winston is a 64-year-old artist who has come back to see you for worsening back pain. | Professional activity - Case study | Health Professionals | 2010-06-01 00:00:00 |
| Case study 44 Report: Selecting analgesics | Elderly patient requests 'something stronger' for worsening osteoarthritis of the knees. Has been taking paracetamol and meloxicam but knee pain has increased in last few months. | Professional activity - Case study report | Health Professionals | 2006-10-01 00:00:00 |
| Case study 44: Selecting analgesics | Elderly patient requests 'something stronger' for worsening osteoarthritis of the knees. Has been taking paracetamol and meloxicam but knee pain has increased in last few months. | Professional activity - Case study | Health Professionals | 2006-08-01 00:00:00 |
| Case study 64 report: Opioid therapy in chronic pain | This case study focussed on the management of chronic pain in Winston, a 64-year-old artist, presenting with increasing back pain. | Professional activity - Case study report | Health Professionals | 2010-09-16 00:00:00 |
| Wall poster: Acute postoperative pain prescribing | APOP prescribing poster which includes information about prescribing of analgesics and monitoring and management of adverse events. | Professional activity - Drug Use Evaluation (DUE) for hospitals | Health Professionals | 2007-04-01 00:00:00 |
| Acute postoperative pain information summary | Contains evidence-based information on the five key messages of APOP. It provides a structure for interactions with hospital staff regarding these messages. | Professional activity - Drug Use Evaluation (DUE) for hospitals | Health Professionals | 2007-02-01 00:00:00 |
| Wall poster: Acute postoperative pain assessment | APOP assessment poster which includes information about standardised monitoring of pain, pain assessment tools and sedation scoring. | Professional activity - Drug Use Evaluation (DUE) for hospitals | Health Professionals | 2007-04-01 00:00:00 |
| Acute postoperative pain bookmark | The APOP bookmark is a resource for both nursing and medical staff. It includes pain scales, a checklist reminder for pain assessment and a pain management plan discharge checklist. | Professional activity - Drug Use Evaluation (DUE) for hospitals | Health Professionals | 2007-02-01 00:00:00 |
| 2006-2007 Acute postoperative pain (APOP) project overview | Description of the acute postoperative pain (APOP) 2006-2007 project including background, aims and methodology. | Professional activity - Drug Use Evaluation (DUE) for hospitals | Health Professionals | 2011-01-01 00:00:00 |
| Drug use evaluation (DUE) of opioid therapy for chronic non-cancer pain in aged care facilities | Sample pages of drug use evaluation (DUE) of opioid therapy for chronic non-cancer pain in aged care facilities | Professional activity - Drug Use Evaluation (DUE) for aged care facilities | Health Professionals | 2010-08-12 00:00:00 |
| Chronic pain - A planned approach to prescribing opioids | Outlines strategies for using opioids (e.g. morphine, codeine, etc) in chronic non-cancer pain. The long-term benefits and harms of opioids are not well understood. | Professional publication - NPS News | Health Professionals | 2010-06-01 00:00:00 |
| Neuropathic pain - Drug therapy | Focuses on different approaches to drug therapy for neuropathic pain conditions often seen in primary care: diabetic neuropathy, postherpetic neuralgia and trigeminal neuralgia. | Professional publication - NPS News | Health Professionals | 2008-10-01 00:00:00 |
| Pain and analgesic options | Update on use of analgesics in chronic musculoskeletal pain, including patient selection for NSAIDs, opioids, pethidine, and tramadol. Includes case study. | Professional publication - NPS News | Health Professionals | 2006-08-01 00:00:00 |
| Analgesics and acute musculoskeletal pain | How to reduce the risk of harm resulting from analgesics treating acute musculoskeletal pain; COX-2 selective NSAIDs, paracetamol and opioid analgesics | Professional publication - NPS News | Health Professionals | 2003-06-01 00:00:00 |
| NPS Prescribing Practice Review 22: Analgesics in musculoskeletal pain | Information on using pain assessment to guide analgesic choice and monitor effectiveness in musculoskeletal pain. Sample feedback prescribing data is also provided. | Professional publication - Prescribing Practice Review | Health Professionals | 2003-07-07 00:00:00 |
| Opioids in chronic non-cancer pain | Information on planning approaches when prescribing opioids for chronic non-cancer pain. Need to determine appropriate level non-invasive investigation | Professional publication - Prescribing Practice Review | Health Professionals | 2010-06-16 00:00:00 |
| Analgesics and persistent pain | Information on the use of paracetamol, NSAIDs, tramadol or opioids for persistent pain. Sample feedback prescribing data and PBS co-payment status of analgesics also provided. | Professional publication - Prescribing Practice Review | Health Professionals | 2006-09-01 00:00:00 |
| Articles on pain management drugs from NPS RADAR | Get independent, accurate, evidence-based info on pain management drugs. Written for doctors, pharmacists & other health professionals. | Topic overview | Health Professionals | 2009-10-28 00:00:00 |
| Articles on palliative care drugs from NPS RADAR | Get independent, accurate, evidence-based info on palliative care drugs. Written for doctors, pharmacists & other health professionals. | Topic overview | Health Professionals | 2009-10-28 00:00:00 |
| Articles on analgesics from NPS RADAR | Get independent, evidence-based info on analgesics for pain. Written for doctors, pharmacists and other health professionals. | Topic overview | Health Professionals | 2009-10-28 00:00:00 |
| NPS Prescribing Practice Review 22: Analgesics in musculoskeletal pain | Information on using pain assessment to guide analgesic choice and monitor effectiveness in musculoskeletal pain. Sample feedback prescribing data is also provided. | Professional publication - Prescribing Practice Review | Health Professionals | 2003-07-07 00:00:00 |
| Opioids in chronic pain | Accurate, balanced, evidence-based information, resources and educational activities on analgesics for pain. Information for health professionals. | Topic overview | Health Professionals | 2010-05-12 00:00:00 |
| August edition of Australian Prescriber out now | The latest edition of Australian Prescriber is out now and looks at topical issues | Media release | Others | 2010-08-02 19:00:00 |
| Question mark over combination pain relief products | Codeine is a weak opioid used in many combination pain relief products, but its role in managing acute pain is questioned in this month’s edition of Australian Prescriber. | Media release | Others | 2010-08-02 19:00:00 |
| New NPS program to address opioid use in chronic pain | Chronic pain affects one-in-five Australians and costs the economy $34 billion per year. Opioids are an option for some patients with chronic pain but there has been a significant increase in the supply of prescription opioids over the last two decades. | Media release | Others | 2010-06-01 19:00:00 |
| New resources to help address pain management issues | A new pain management diary has been developed by Arthritis NSW and the National Prescribing Service (NPS) to help healthcare providers work with patients to determine optimum pain management plans. | Media release | Others | 2009-12-03 19:00:00 |
| New pain management diary for Australians with arthritis | More than 3.85 million Australians experience pain caused by arthritis and many are not achieving adequate pain relief with their current medicine regimen. Research conducted by Arthritis NSW earlier this year revealed many people are over-using general analgesics to relieve break-through pain, which can result in further health complications. | Media release | Others | 2009-12-03 00:00:00 |
| Optimising hospital management of acute postoperative pain: a national quality improvement initiative. Abstract NMS 2008 | The Acute Postoperative Pain (APOP) project aimed to promote assessment of pain, safe and effective analgesic prescribing and communication of pain management. Wai A, Maxwell D, Kaye K, McIntosh K, Robertson M, Tompson A, Peterson G, Reeves A, Pulver L, Tett S, Mackson J. National Medicines Symposium, 14-16 May 2008, Canberra, Australia. | Event - Conference abstract | Health Professionals,Research & Evaluation community | 2008-05-16 00:00:00 |
| Tramadol for pain | Information for consumers about tramadol, a painkiller prescribed by your doctor. | Consumer publication - Medicine Update | Consumers | 2008-12-01 00:00:00 |
| Medicines for headache and migraine | Learn about the differences between headaches and migraine, ways of treating both conditions, and problems with codeine in combination painkillers. | Consumer publication - MedicinesTalk | Consumers | 2005-09-01 00:00:00 |
| Medicines and young children | Learn about the differences in giving medicines to children, and the need for careful selection of prescribed, over-the-counter and complementary medicines. | Consumer publication - MedicinesTalk | Consumers | 2005-12-01 00:00:00 |
| Taking the pain out of choosing a painkiller | Learn about the three main over-the-counter analgesics (paracetamol, aspirin, and ibuprofen), their potential side effects, and how to select the best one. | Consumer publication - MedicinesTalk | Consumers | 2004-06-01 00:00:00 |
| Overuse of medicines can increase headaches | The majority of daily recurring headaches may be caused by commonly used painkillers. | Media release | Others | 2005-12-13 00:00:00 |
| Use of analgesics pharmacy audit- starts September, enrol now | NPS has developed a pharmacy practice audit 'Use of analgesics', which closes 17 November 2006. | Media release | Others | 2006-07-07 00:00:00 |
| Nurses to help improve pain management in aged care facilities | Pain is common among aged care residents and is often under-treated. To help address this problem, National Prescribing Service Limited (NPS) has developed a no-cost quality improvement tool to assist nurses determine the appropriateness of analgesic use by residents. | Media release | Others | 2008-11-17 00:00:00 |
| Best practice drug use in aged care | Pain is common among aged care residents and is often under-treated. To help address this problem, National Prescribing Service Limited (NPS) has developed a no-cost quality improvement tool to assist pharmacists determine the appropriateness of analgesic use by residents. | Media release | Others | 2008-11-17 14:30:00 |
| Paracetamol remains first choice for pain | Research confirms that paracetamol has few side effects and is the most effective medicine for the relief of mild-to-moderate pain (for consumer press). | Media release | Others | 2006-08-15 00:00:00 |
| When it comes to pain relief for children, check the dose | Paracetamol and ibuprofen are equally effective for relieving pain in children, but paracetamol may have fewer side effects so is generally the preferred treatment | Media release | Others | 2008-06-10 00:00:00 |
| Mixing alcohol and medicines | Learn about some of the effects of mixing alcohol with a range of medicines including antidepressant drugs, painkillers, allergy pills and cold and flu medicines. | Consumer publication - MedicinesTalk | Consumers | 2007-03-01 00:00:00 |
| Why scans and x-rays won’t help your low back pain | Acute low back pain affects four in five Australians at some point in their life and is the second most common reason why people see their doctor for pain relief. | Media release | Others | 2011-03-03 19:00:00 |
| What’s in your pain relief medicine? | New research from NPS MedicineWise has revealed some confusion regarding the active ingredients contained in many common over-the-counter pain relief medicines. | Media release | Others | 2011-02-28 19:00:00 |
| Pain management frequently asked questions | Pain management frequently asked questions | Campaign | Consumers | 2011-02-25 00:00:00 |
| Managing pain during pregnancy and breast-feeding | Pregnant women should not suffer pain unnecessarily as there are treatment options available to them. Leaving pain untreated can actually do more harm than good, according to Debra Kennedy, Director of MotherSafe, writing in the latest edition of Australian Prescriber | Media release | Others | 2011-02-01 19:00:00 |
| Video: Monitoring pain and rating pain severity | A patient talks about how he monitors pain & rates his pain severity. | Multimedia - Video | Consumers | 2011-01-28 00:00:00 |
| Managing Acute Low Back Pain: For men and women aged 30-50 years | By the end of the session you should be able to: Identify appropriate ways to manage acute low back pain; Find the active ingredient and dosing instructions on a medicines packaging; Explain and understand why an x-ray or other scan is usually not necessary | Consumer resource - Poster | Consumers,Health Professionals | 2011-02-25 00:00:00 |
| Managing Acute Low Back Pain: For men and women aged 30-50 years | By the end of the session you should be able to: Identify appropriate ways to manage acute low back pain; Find the active ingredient and dosing instructions on a medicines packaging; Explain and understand why an x-ray or other scan is usually not necessary | Consumer resource - Poster | Consumers,Health Professionals | 2011-02-25 00:00:00 |
| Managing Acute Low Back Pain: For men and women aged 30-50 years | By the end of the session you should be able to: Identify appropriate ways to manage acute low back pain; Find the active ingredient and dosing instructions on a medicines packaging; Explain and understand why an x-ray or other scan is usually not necessary | Consumer resource - Poster | Consumers,Health Professionals | 2011-02-25 00:00:00 |
| Symptomatic management for acute low back pain | This resource is designed to help health professionals provide advice to their patients on the symptomatic management of acute low back pain | Professional tool - Patient leaflet | Health Professionals | 2011-02-25 00:00:00 |
| Medicines for low back pain | Control the pain with pain relievers | Remember more is not better, always follow the recommended dose | Web page | Consumers | 2011-02-25 00:00:00 |
| Managing acute low back pain | Effective ways to help back pain | Medicines for low back pain | Scans are unlikely to help | Web page | Consumers | 2010-11-10 00:00:00 |
| Ignoring the facts for a story: what is being done to address opioid use | Health professionals are reminded of the NPS resources available to them to support prescribing opioids and help patients manage chronic pain, following a provocative Four Corners program last night. | Media release | Others | 2010-09-28 00:00:00 |
| Relaxed attitude towards medicines leading to greater health problems | Australians’ blasé attitude towards medicines is leading to further health problems for many people and is placing avoidable pressure on our health system. | Media release | Others | 2010-09-06 19:00:00 |
| Quality use of over-the-counter codeine | NPS's position on OTC codeine in light of the May 2010 schedule changes | NPS position statement | Consumers,Health Professionals,Others | 2009-12-03 00:00:00 |
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Date published: 2010-12-17 00:00:00
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