Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 12, 2026
02:26
Intracranial Pharmacotherapy and Pain Assays in Rodents
Published on: April 9, 2019
5.9K
Pharmacotherapy for chronic non-specific low back pain: current and future options
Bart W Koes1, Daan Backes1, Patrick J E Bindels1
1a Department of General Practice , Erasmus MC , Rotterdam , The Netherlands.
Expert Opinion on Pharmacotherapy
|March 27, 2018
Summary
Pharmacological treatments for chronic low back pain offer limited benefits and carry risks. Evidence shows small, short-lived improvements in pain and function, with significant side effects, especially from opioids.
Area of Science:
- Rheumatology and Pain Management
- Clinical Pharmacology
Background:
- Chronic low back pain represents a major global health burden, causing significant disability.
- A comprehensive evidence-based overview of pharmacological interventions for chronic low back pain is needed.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the efficacy and safety of current pharmacological treatments for chronic low back pain.
- To synthesize evidence from recent systematic reviews and meta-analyses on drug treatments.
Main Methods:
- Focused on recent Cochrane systematic reviews and meta-analyses of randomized clinical trials.
- Included drugs such as paracetamol (acetaminophen), NSAIDs, muscle relaxants, antidepressants, anticonvulsants, and opioids.
Main Results:
- Pharmacological treatments provide small to moderate, short-term improvements in pain and function compared to placebo.
- All drug classes carry risks of side effects, with serious concerns associated with prolonged strong opioid use.
- The overall efficacy of these treatments is considered limited.
Conclusions:
- Current pharmacological options for chronic low back pain have modest and transient effects.
- The risk-benefit profile necessitates careful consideration, particularly with opioid analgesics.
- Future research should focus on identifying patient subgroups responsive to specific treatments for personalized care.
Related Concept Videos
01:26Psychosis: Goals of Pharmacotherapy
545
Antipsychotic drugs are a crucial treatment method for acute and chronic psychoses, bipolar illness, and behavioral disorders. The selection of these drugs depends on several factors, including the state of the disease, clinical judgment, possible drug interactions, and the patient's sensitivity to adverse effects. In immediate scenarios, such as delirium and dementia, short-term treatment with low doses of high-potency typical or atypical agents can effectively manage symptom exacerbation.
545
01:15Diabetes: Management and Pharmacotherapy
1.1K
The therapy for diabetes aims to alleviate hyperglycemia-related symptoms, prevent acute metabolic decompensation, and reduce chronic end-organ complications. Glycemic control is evaluated through short-term (self-monitoring, continuous glucose monitoring) and long-term (A1c, fructosamine) metrics, enabling near real-time tracking of blood glucose levels and reflecting glycemic control over specific time frames.
Insulin remains the cornerstone of treatment for most patients with type 1 and many...
Insulin remains the cornerstone of treatment for most patients with type 1 and many...
1.1K
01:20Pain
1.4K
Pain serves as a critical warning signal that alerts the body to potential or actual harm. When mechanical pressure on the skin is intense, such as from a sharp pinch, the sensation transitions from touch to pain. Similarly, extreme temperatures, like a hot pot handle, convert the sensation of heat into pain. Pain can also result from overstimulation of other senses, such as blinding light, loud noise, or the intense heat from habañero peppers. This ability to sense pain is essential for...
1.4K
01:10Electrical Current
7.2K
Electrical current is defined as the rate at which charge flows. When there is a large current present, such as that used to run a refrigerator, a large amount of charge moves through the wire in a small amount of time. If the current is small, such as that used to operate a handheld calculator, a small amount of charge moves through the circuit over a long period of time. The SI unit for current is the ampere (A), named for the French physicist André-Marie Ampère (1775–1836).
7.2K
01:21Current Density
5.2K
The total amount of current flowing through one unit value of a cross-sectional area is referred to as current density. If the current flow is uniform, the amount of current flowing through a conductor is the same at all points along the conductor, even if the conductor area varies. The current density consists of the local magnitude and direction of the charge flow, which varies from point to point. Current density is measured in amperes per meter square, and direction is defined as the net...
5.2K
01:25Eddy Currents
2.7K
Since eddy currents occur only in conductors, magnets can separate metals from other materials. For example, in a recycling center, trash is dumped in batches down a ramp, beneath which lies a powerful magnet. Conductors in the trash are slowed by eddy currents, while nonmetals in the trash move on, separating from the metals. This works for all metals, not just ferromagnetic ones.
Other major applications of eddy currents appear in metal detectors and the braking systems of trains and roller...
Other major applications of eddy currents appear in metal detectors and the braking systems of trains and roller...
2.7K