Low-dose opioid–analgesic combo effective in osteoarthritis: review
Researchers say it’s debatable if single-ingredient opioids are appropriate for managing these patients
A combination of low-dose opioids and simple analgesics may be preferable for osteoarthritis compared with single-ingredient opioids, an Australian study finds.
Not only is pain relief improved but patients are less likely to experience adverse events, researchers say after conducting a systematic review and meta-analysis of 36 randomised, placebo-controlled trials.
They found single-ingredient opioid medications, such as tramadol or oxycodone, could provide immediate, short- and medium-term relief for pain and disability in people with knee or hip osteoarthritis, but the effects were small and the evidence of low-to-moderate quality.
The studies included doses of 10-210 morphine milligram equivalents a day with therapy for up to 12 weeks.
