Author: Stephen Johnson / Source: Big Think
- The study examined more than 26,000 people experiencing chronic pain.
- Opioids were only marginally better than placebos at treating pain and improving physical functioning.
- It’s estimated that at least 2 million Americans have opioid use problems.
Opioids are only slightly more effective than placebos at treating pain, according to a new study.
The study tracked the more than 26,000 people, all of whom who were experiencing chronic, noncancer pain, as they took either real opioids or placebos. People who took opioids reported “statistically significant but small improvements in pain and physical functioning, and increased risk of vomiting compared with placebo.”
Given the slight benefits and major risks associated with opioids, the researchers found that other treatments, such as ice or physical therapy, might be better options for people suffering from chronic, noncancer pain.
“The effects of opioids on chronic pain are uncertain, whereas the harms found to be associated with prescription opioids include diversion, addiction, overdose, and death,” the researchers wrote in their report, published in the Journal of the American Medical Association. “Compared with placebo, opioids were associated with increased vomiting, drowsiness, constipation,…
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