What about ketamine as a pain drug? Could it be used to get someone off methadone who previously took Oxycontin and then got sent to a methadone clinic? Is ketamine more addictive than methadone as a pain drug? What are the risks vs. benefits of ketamine?
It's happened so many times that Dr. Raymond Pitetti has lost count: A child comes into the emergency room with, say, a broken leg, and doctors give him strong narcotic painkillers in the ER, but then send the child home with no pain medication at all.
Law enforcement officers arrested 22 people Friday in Orlando and Tampa, Florida, as part of an effort to shut down so-called pill mills distributing illegal prescription drugs.
For two years after a hip surgery that didn't work out as well as he'd hoped, pain shot down Jim Heckler's leg like electrical shocks. Several doctors, eager to help Heckler feel better, prescribed various narcotic painkillers.
New York authorities are searching for a gunman wanted in the killings of four people inside a Long Island pharmacy.
This past winter, I found myself following a drug dealer and his crew up the dark stairway of a triple-decker apartment building on the outskirts of Boston. Reaching a unit on the top floor, the young man pulled a gun from his waistband and set it on a coffee table next to a digital scale and a pile of drugs.
The internist and Celebrity Rehab host recounts his time with the late, troubled actor
The Obama administration is launching a new effort to combat prescription drug abuse.
Prescription drug overdose is now the fastest-growing drug problem in the country, surpassing the number of people who overdosed during both the crack cocaine epidemic of the 1980s and the black tar heroin epidemic of the 1970s combined, the Obama administration says.
You don't have to be a Buddhist monk to experience the health benefits of meditation. According to a new study, even a brief crash course in meditative techniques can sharply reduce a person's sensitivity to pain.
Science has finally confirmed what anyone who's ever been in love already knows: Heartbreak really does hurt.
"May the record state - still sober!" he Tweets
The power of positive thinking can reportedly work wonders for your career and social life. According to a new study, your attitude may also affect how well your pain medication works.
I had my first mammogram yesterday and my breasts are still really sore. I am fairly small-chested, and the tech said that usually makes it hurt more. What can I do for the pain now, and is there anything I can do to make it hurt less next time?
If you take aspirin, you've got a pain reliever, heart attack preventer and possible cancer preventer rolled into one tablet. You might think that whoever invented aspirin is a genius, but the truth is humans have been using its natural equivalent for thousands of years.
On Thanksgiving, many of us will eat way more than normal and then waddle away contented, with a turkey and sweet potato buzz.
The pharmaceutical company that makes the prescription pain medications Darvon and Darvocet has agreed to withdraw the drugs from the U.S. market at the request of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the FDA said Friday.
My husband had major surgery and while on pain meds in the hospital he started developing anger issues. They lowered his pain meds saying this was a side effect for some people. He is out of the hospital and no longer on any meds but he still seems to be unreasonable and angry much more than is typical for him. Is this normal? Is it due to the drugs? I feel like he has become someone other than the man I married.
Tylenol, Motrin, Benadryl may come back to drugstores near you, but industry watchers say consumers could permanently banish them from their own medicine cabinets.
Judge Robert Perry has raised questions about the prosecution's case - specifically over charges of conspiracy
The judge in the drug trial of Anna Nicole Smith's boyfriend-lawyer and two doctors raised questions Wednesday about the California law being used to prosecute them.
People with chronic pain who aren't getting enough relief from medications may be able to ease their pain by smoking small amounts of marijuana, a new study suggests.
Teenagers who take acetaminophen -- the active ingredient in Tylenol and many other over-the-counter remedies -- may be at increased risk of asthma and some allergic conditions, according to a new study of more than 320,000 children in 50 countries.
The sensation began in Melanie Thernstrom's neck the same day she went for a long swim. It flowed down through her right shoulder to her hand, as if she had a blistering sunburn underneath her skin.
Monday, August 9, was a noteworthy day in the NFL and it had nothing to do with labor negotiations, Hall of Fame speech omissions or will-he-or won't-he speculation. Well, actually it had something to do with Brett Favre, but not in the way one would first imagine.
AJ Hammer and panelists discuss the warrant out for Anna Nicole Smith's boyfriend, Howard K. Stern in 2009.
The use of powerful drugs to treat complaints of chronic pain, and fake names on prescriptions for celebrities are central issues in the trial of Anna Nicole Smith's last two doctors and her lawyer-boyfriend.
The use of powerful drugs to treat complaints of chronic pain, and the faking of names on prescriptions for celebrities are central issues in the trial of Anna Nicole Smith's last two doctors and her lawyer-boyfriend.
Knee and hip replacement operations can result in a lot of pain, but surgical techniques have improved significantly in the past 20 years.
Humans are hardwired to feel another person's pain. But they may feel less innate empathy if the other person's skin color doesn't match their own, a new study suggests.
Former child actor Corey Haim had prescriptions for as many as 553 dangerous drugs in the last year of his life, and it's the result of "doctor shopping," California's top law official said Tuesday.
Detective Steve Watts is locking up another accused pain pill addict. But he's seen this suspect before.
The daughter of a doctor allegedly killed by a pill-seeking drug addict pushes for reform to protect physicians.
Lynda, a 48-year-old mother of three who lives in upstate New York, got a diagnosis of fibromyalgia in 2000. While there are prescription medications for fibromyalgia, she's found one unconventional drug -- marijuana -- that really does the trick.
The Aerosmith singer, who serenaded shoppers, now has privileges to leave the rehab center grounds
At just past 2 p.m. on May 17, 2008, El Segundo, Calif., police officer Cory McEnroe arrived at the scene of an auto accident on the Pacific Coast Highway and found a Jeep Commander buried in the rear end of a Volkswagen Passat. When McEnroe approached the SUV and asked the driver to turn it off, the Jeep instead surged forward into the Passat again. McEnroe quickly deduced that the driver, later identified as USC assistant football coach Dave Watson, was dangerously impaired. The 31-year-old Watson "seemed very confused," McEnroe wrote in his report. "[His] speech was so slurred I had a difficult time understanding him."
A popular pain-relief treatment that uses electricity to stimulate nerves isn't likely to benefit the millions of Americans who live with chronic low back pain and shouldn't be recommended for that purpose, new guidelines say.
Athena Champneys, 37, has been in near-constant pain since 2003, when she was diagnosed with fibromyalgia, a chronic condition characterized by widespread pain and tenderness. Her husband hasn't always been 100 percent sympathetic, however.
"I am taking responsibility for the management of my pain and am eager to be back on stage," the Aerosmith frontman says
Aerosmith lead singer Steven Tyler has entered a rehab facility for pain management and an addiction to prescription painkillers resulting from 10 years of performance injuries, PEOPLE has learned.
Almost half of women who have breast cancer surgery still have pain or numbness two to three years later, according to a new study. Women younger than 40 who receive lumpectomies are at the greatest risk.
When Irvin Rosenfeld, 56, picks me up at the Fort Lauderdale airport, his SUV reeks of marijuana. The vice president for sales at a local brokerage firm, Rosenfeld has been smoking 10 to 12 marijuana cigarettes a day for 38 years, he says.
Prescribed opioids -- pain medication -- have become the fastest-growing addiction problem in the United States. They are second to marijuana as the most commonly used illicit substances.
A toxic chemical added to a popular pain reliever likely killed two dozen children in Bangladesh, health officials said Tuesday.
Nineteen former patients at a Denver, Colorado, hospital have tested positive for hepatitis C, federal prosecutors said Thursday as they announced new charges against a former hospital employee accused of exposing the patients to the virus.
Kenny Morrison soaked in life from his beachfront home. A top chef at a trendy L.A. restaurant, he served dinner to the Hollywood stars, including A-listers.
Dental dopers
updated: Tue Jul 21 2009 14:05:00
CNN's Thelma Gutierrez reports on addicts who are turning to dentists for prescription drugs like coedine and vicodin.
The special effects exploded too early while Michael Jackson filmed a Pepsi commercial in 1984 and his hair caught on fire, causing burns to his scalp.
A commercial shoot accident may have led Michael Jackson to become addicted to painkillers. CNN's Ted Rowlands reports.
A previously unreleased video of Michael Jackson's hair catching fire while filming a Pepsi commercial in 1984 was posted online by Us magazine Wednesday.
Never-before-seen video of when Michael Jackson's hair caught fire during the taping of a Pepsi ad.
People who abuse prescription drugs often do so believing the pills are safe because they are prescribed by doctors and approved by the Food and Drug Administration, addiction experts tell CNN.
Dr. Arnold Klein also says he is not being investigated for giving the late singer drugs
The Food and Drug Administration is requiring makers of painkillers containing propoxyphene, the ingredient in widely used Darvon and Darvocet, to add a warning box to the label highlighting the potential for overdose.
It has been eight years since I have had my son through Caesarean section. During the last few days, I have been experiencing discomfort below my backbone right at the place where I got a shot for the Caesarean section. Is this a reason for concern, as I have not been able to sleep on my back for the last few days?
Paula Abdul is ready for another fresh start, now that she's kicked her addiction to painkillers, the "American Idol" judge told a magazine.
In a magazine interview, Paula Abdul admits an addiction to painkillers. Carol Costello reports.
Over-the-counter painkillers and fever reducers will now carry new labels warning consumers of the potential risks of liver damage and internal bleeding associated with the drugs, according to a final ruling Tuesday by the Food and Drug Administration.
Interrogation tactics such as waterboarding, sleep deprivation and slapping did not violate laws against torture when there was no intent to cause severe pain, according to a Bush-era memo on the tactics released Thursday.
About 80 percent of us will suffer from a tension headache at some point. CNN's Judy Fortin reports on what you can do.
The stress of being unemployed and looking for a new job gives Lucille Jaesson a tension headache almost every day.
Up to 15 percent of the U.S. population have chronic pain, and as many as five percent have pain so persistent that they need heavy-hitting painkillers, known as opioids, just to get through the day.
Placebos, or "sugar pills," have been used in medicine since ancient times. Today, most placebos are given in clinical trial studies for new drugs. A study in the January 2008 issue of the Journal of General Internal Medicine found that 45 percent of Chicago, Illinois, internists report they have used a placebo for patients at some time during their clinical practice. Only 4 percent of those admitted they were giving a placebo.
Elizabeth Cohen looks at a study that found doctors often prescribe a placebo instead of medication.
When Dr. Danielle Ofri first read the headlines, she was horrified: Doctors were prescribing placebos to their patients instead of real medicine. How awful, she thought. How deceptive.
Good chronic pain treatment can be hard to find. A chronic pain patient has every right to believe that his or her doctor will listen sympathetically and prescribe the appropriate treatment, but that is not always the reality.
Dr. Jodi Greenwald, a pediatrician in Roswell, Georgia, has a secret weapon for helping children cope with pain. It's not a drug. It's not a medical device. It's a pinwheel. Yes, a pinwheel.
CNN's Elizabeth Cohen reports on how to keep your child out of pain at the hospital or doctor's office.
A new study details the daily aches and pains of thousands of Americans. Millions are suffering, and it's costing the country billions
Gayle Parseghian's life changed while she and her husband were moving furniture into their new ski cabin in November of 2006. She strained her back.
A new program helps people manage and work though chronic pain. CNN's Elizabeth Cohen explains.
The Supreme Court's opinion may clear the way for most executions, but the death penalty debate remain confused
Over the holidays I decided to have some minor surgery that I'd been putting off for a while. I intended to keep the whole thing private (you'll read why in a minute) and I planned to be back at work just in time for the Iowa caucuses. Well, as the saying goes: "We plan, God laughs;" and I guarantee He's still laughing over what happened to me next.
Several new studies show that a simple backrub offers significant pain relief for patients after major surgery
Managing chronic pain can be a real struggle for some patients as CNN's Judy Fortin reports.
Timothy Connick was in agony for six years. In bed at night, it felt as if a pair of scissors was sticking out of his foot. "I turn over, and it's just like they're getting jammed in more."
Retail sales of five leading painkillers nearly doubled over the last eight years, reflecting a surge in use by patients nationwide who are living in a world of pain, according to a new Associated Press analysis of federal drug prescription data.
You've got achy shoulders from carrying the kids, the groceries, or your incredibly heavy handbag. You look for the right pill to pop, but what should you take? Aspirin? Ibuprofen? Or, you're about to get your period. You know you'll get killer cramps or that nasty headache any minute now, but nothing you take seems to help once the pain hits.
Drugmaker Purdue Pharma said Tuesday it would pay $19.5 million to 27 U.S. states for marketing its pain reliever OxyContin for off-label use and for failing to properly disclose the drug's potential for abuse and addiction.
About 21 million adults have osteoarthritis -- the wear-and-tear condition that causes achy joints and may eventually lead to can't-get-up-from-the-sofa pain.
The market for painkillers for the shooting pain associated with cancer, diabetes and shingles is expected to soar over the next decade, driven by a largely untapped patient pool of millions of Americans.
John Chiota was ready to try just about anything. After a 2001 car accident, Chiota, a 63-year-old Connecticut lawyer and probate judge, had lower back pain so bad that he often had to hear cases w...
The truth hurts. What's the No. 1 cause of disability in the U.S.? It's not heart disease (despite the 1.2 million heart attacks that will show up in the E.R. this year). Nor is it addiction (despi...
MS sufferer Toni Caban was making good progress with a physiotherapy program to regain the use of her lower body until she fell and injured her spine. In April this year, she had a cervical and a thoracic spinal cord stimulator implanted via surgery, which she says have given her back her life. This is her story:
The Food and Drug Administration issued a public health advisory Thursday, recommending doctors limit the use of Pfizer Inc.'s Celebrex and Bextra to patients who can't take other pain medicines.
Progress and setbacks marked the year in health, with several vaccines and drugs showing promise while officials pulled other products from the market.
Drug manufacturer Pfizer said Friday that its Bextra drug, seen as an alternative to Merck's Vioxx arthritis medication, may raise heart attack risk in high-risk bypass surgery patients.
Imagine a computer program so clever, it senses the level of pain a patient is in and measures the exact amount of pain relief and sedative drugs they need.
Recently, a U.S. government lawyer argued before a panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit -- including the eminent jurists Richard Posner and Frank Easterbrook -- about what the definition of "torture" should be.
We're chilled, of course, by the merest thought of death. We'd rather not talk of it; we'd prefer not to plan for it. And yet, that national culture of denial leads us into extraordinary physical, ...
I couldn't figure out what I was hearing. It was a sort of cooing sound, almost like a mourning dove. I was trying to reach my mother's hospital room at the Clinica Santa Maria in Santiago, Chile, ...
If you scoff at alternative medicine, you may want to think again. In October, the usually staid National Institutes of Health issued research grants of $30,000 each to test the effectiveness of 30...
THE WINSOME schoolgirl at right below, Jennifer Darling, 17, of Mansfield, Massachusetts, suffers from one of the most terrifying and mysterious conditions challenging modern medicine. It goes by t...
Money Magazine: CORRECTIONS updated: Fri Sep 01 1989 00:01:00
-- Your Health (July) listed the National Chronic Pain Outreach Center as a source for information on pain clinics. The organization's correct name is the National Chronic Pain Outreach Association...
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