Need More Proof? Drugs Don’t Help Back Pain!

Evidence continues to mount that pharmaceutical painkillers that are used for back pain do more harm than good. . . .

Conventional medicine has had a tough time treating pain. And back pain is no exception. The most recommended drug for back pain, acetaminophen (Tylenol) has been proven not to work, while damaging your liver. Even the stronger drugs, like muscle relaxants and opiods don’t help.

Increasingly, doctors are turning to a class of drug known as gabapentinoids, including Pregabalin (Lyrica) and Gabapentin. These drugs are normally intended to treat nerve pain. The National Health Service in England has expressed concern about this off-label use, so researchers set out to put these drugs to the test for back pain.

They conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of 8 randomized controlled studies of these drugs and back pain. The studies were all conducted on adults, and they all gave the drug a fair chance by giving the drug for 3 months or more.

Compared to placebo, the drugs produced minimal improvement in pain. Compared to other painkillers, this class of drug was less effective (a sad result given that the other painkillers don’t work). Adding one of these drugs to other painkillers to see if there is an added benefit produced no added benefit.

This review of the research clearly demonstrates that gabapentinoids don’t work for back pain. Doing no good, though, doesn’t mean they do nothing: they do do harm. The gabapentinoids caused dizziness fatigue, difficulty thinking and visual distrurbances.

The researchers concluded that the existing evidence demonstrates no benefit and significant risk of adverse effects.

PLoS Med 2017;14(8):e1002369

For the latest research to keep your family healthy, get The Natural Path delivered to your inbox each month: Subscribe!

Linda Woolven is a Registered acupuncturist (and Master Herbalist). She is a member of the College of Traditional Chinese Medicine Practitioners and Acupuncturists of Ontario. For help with back pain, make an appointment to see Linda Woolven now.

The Natural Path is intended for educational purposes only and is in no way intended for self-diagnosis or self-treatment. For health problems, consult a qualified health practitioner for a comprehensive program.

>proven not to work, while damaging your liver. Even the stronger drugs, like muscle relaxants and opiods proven not to work, while damaging your liver. Even the stronger drugs, like muscle relaxants and opiods don’t help.

Increasingly, doctors are turning to a class of drug known as gabapentinoids, including Pregabalin (Lyrica) and Gabapentin. These drugs are normally intended to treat nerve pain. The National Health Service in England has expressed concern about this off-label use, so researchers set out to put these drugs to the test for back pain.

They conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of 8 randomized controlled studies of these drugs and back pain. The studies were all conducted on adults, and they all gave the drug a fair chance by giving the drug for 3 months or more.

Compared to placebo, the drugs produced minimal improvement in pain. Compared to other painkillers, this class of drug was less effective (a sad result given that the other painkillers don’t work). Adding one of these drugs to other painkillers to see if there is an added benefit produced no added benefit.

This review of the research clearly demonstrates that gabapentinoids don’t work for back pain. Doing no good, though, doesn’t mean they do nothing: they do do harm. The gabapentinoids caused dizziness fatigue, difficulty thinking and visual distrurbances.

The researchers concluded that the existing evidence demonstrates no benefit and significant risk of adverse effects.

PLoS Med 2017;14(8):e1002369

For the latest research to keep your family healthy, get The Natural Path delivered to your inbox each month: Subscribe!

Linda Woolven is a Registered acupuncturist (and Master Herbalist). She is a member of the College of Traditional Chinese Medicine Practitioners and Acupuncturists of Ontario. For help with back pain, make an appointment to see Linda Woolven now.

The Natural Path is intended for educational purposes only and is in no way intended for self-diagnosis or self-treatment. For health problems, consult a qualified health practitioner for a comprehensive program.

>don’t help.

Increasingly, doctors are turning to a class of drug known as gabapentinoids, including Pregabalin (Lyrica) and Gabapentin. These drugs are normally intended to treat nerve pain. The National Health Service in England has expressed concern about this off-label use, so researchers set out to put these drugs to the test for back pain.

They conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of 8 randomized controlled studies of these drugs and back pain. The studies were all conducted on adults, and they all gave the drug a fair chance by giving the drug for 3 months or more.

Compared to placebo, the drugs produced minimal improvement in pain. Compared to other painkillers, this class of drug was less effective (a sad result given that the other painkillers don’t work). Adding one of these drugs to other painkillers to see if there is an added benefit produced no added benefit.

This review of the research clearly demonstrates that gabapentinoids don’t work for back pain. Doing no good, though, doesn’t mean they do nothing: they do do harm. The gabapentinoids caused dizziness fatigue, difficulty thinking and visual distrurbances.

The researchers concluded that the existing evidence demonstrates no benefit and significant risk of adverse effects.

PLoS Med 2017;14(8):e1002369

For the latest research to keep your family healthy, get The Natural Path delivered to your inbox each month: Subscribe!

Linda Woolven is a Registered acupuncturist (and Master Herbalist). She is a member of the College of Traditional Chinese Medicine Practitioners and Acupuncturists of Ontario. For help with back pain, make an appointment to see Linda Woolven now.

The Natural Path is intended for educational purposes only and is in no way intended for self-diagnosis or self-treatment. For health problems, consult a qualified health practitioner for a comprehensive program.