Table 3 Use of pain-related medications among study subjects*
Patients with painful neuropathies (N = 31,688) | Comparison group (N = 31,688) | P-Value | |
|---|---|---|---|
Number receiving | |||
Antiepileptic drugs | 3,838 (12.1) | 283 (0.9) | <0.01 |
Benzodiazepines | 4,127 (13.0) | 1,546 (4.9) | <0.01 |
Corticosteroids | 3,297 (10.4) | 1,563 (4.9) | <0.01 |
Nonsteroidal anti- inflammatory drugs | |||
Cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitors | 730 (2.3) | 209 (0.7) | <0.01 |
Other nonsteroidal anti- inflammatory drugs | 17,597 (55.5) | 6,946 (21.9) | <0.01 |
Any of above | 17,902 (56.5) | 7,059 (22.3) | <0.01 |
Muscle relaxants | 422 (1.3) | 70 (0.2) | <0.01 |
Sedatives/hypnotics | 1,548 (4.9) | 749 (2.4) | <0.01 |
Opioids | |||
Short-acting opioids | 15,587 (49.2) | 4,369 (13.8) | <0.01 |
Long-acting opioids | 719 (2.3) | 66 (0.2) | <0.01 |
Any of above | 15,674 (49.5) | 4,388 (13.8) | <0.01 |
Antidepressants | |||
Tricyclic antidepressants | 6,320 (19.9) | 477 (1.5) | <0.01 |
Monoamine oxidase inhibitors | 12 (0.0) | 7 (0.0) | 0.25 |
Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors | 3,397 (10.7) | 2,259 (7.1) | <0.01 |
Other antidepressants | 999 (3.2) | 523 (1.7) | <0.01 |
Any of above | 9,463 (29.9) | 3,038 (9.6) | <0.01 |
Antimigraine | |||
Triptans | 480 (1.5) | 268 (0.8) | <0.01 |
Other antimigraine | 231 (0.7) | 110 (0.3) | <0.01 |
Any of above | 647 (2.0) | 351 (1.1) | <0.01 |
Miscellaneous | |||
Injectable analgesics | 759 (2.4) | 410 (1.3) | <0.01 |
Topical analgesics | 4,258 (13.4) | 2,502 (7.9) | <0.01 |
Other | 107 (0.3) | 49 (0.2) | <0.01 |
Any of above | 4,941 (15.6) | 2,896 (9.1) | <0.01 |
Any of above | 26,265 (82.9) | 13,745 (43.4) | <0.01 |
Number receiving | <0.01 | ||
None of the above | 5,434 (17.1) | 17,952 (56.7) | |
1 of the above | 7,877 (24.9) | 8,047 (25.4) | |
2 of the above | 7,919 (25.0) | 3,677 (11.6) | |
3 of the above | 5,264 (16.6) | 1,368 (4.3) | |
≥ 4 of above | 5,194 (16.4) | 644 (2.0) | |
Any of above | 26,265 (82.9) | 13,745 (43.4) | <0.01 |