Tramadol Extended Release Now Available in the United States

Once-daily tramadol HCI extended-release tablets (Ultram ER), manufactured by Ortho-McNeil, Inc., are now available by prescription in the United States. Ultram ER is for moderate to moderately severe chronic pain in adults who require around the clock treatment of their pain for an extended period of time. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved Ultram ER in September 2005. It is available in once-daily dosages of 100 mg, 200 mg, and 300 mg tablets.

Tramadol has been used in the treatment of moderate to moderately severe pain since its introduction in the United States in 1995. Ultram ER uses a special technology to produce a once-daily extended release tablet that provides pain control over a 24-hour period. ULTRAM ER Extended-Release Tablets are intended for oral use only and should be swallowed whole. The tablets should not be chewed, crushed, or split.

 For more information about Ultram ER, ask your doctor or visit www.ultram-er.com.

FDA Approves RestorePrime Neurostimulation System

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently approved Medtronic's RestorePrime Neurostimulation System for the treatment of chronic pain. It is a new treatment option for people with neurostimulators who have low to moderate energy requirements. A non-rechargeable neurostimulator, RestorePrime offers up to 32 programming options and a 16-electrode stimulation coverage area. The product is available in a limited number of markets now, and will be available in all markets in May.

For more information, ask your doctor or visit www.medtronic.com.

Study Shows Acupuncture Can Reduce Number of Migraine Days

 Researchers from the University of Duisburg-Essen in Germany published a study in the April 2006 issue of The Lancet Neurology that shows people using acupuncture reduced the number of days they experienced migraine. In fact real and fake acupuncture proved as effective as standard drug therapy using beta blockers and calcium channel blockers in reducing the number of migraine attacks.

The randomized controlled trial studied 960 patients with two to six serious migraine attacks each month. Patients were assigned to receive 10 sessions of traditional Chinese acupuncture using traditional energy points, 10 sessions of sham acupuncture that did not use traditional Chinese needling points, or drug therapy.

After 26 weeks, patients in the traditional Chinese acupuncture group had a mean reduction in migraine of 2.3 days; patients in the sham acupuncture group had a mean reduction in migraine of 1.5 days; patients in the drug therapy group had a mean reduction in migraine of 2.1 days.

The researchers conclude that acupuncture — real or sham — is as effective as drug therapy in reducing the number of migraine attacks a person experiences per month.

 Source: The Lancet Neurology, April 2006

Study Shows Acupuncture May Be Effective for Lower Back Pain

A recent study published in the February 27, 2006, issue of the Archives of Internal Medicine shows that acupuncture works for some with chronic lower back pain. German researchers studied a total of 298 patients with chronic low back pain who were randomly placed in an acupuncture group, a minimal acupuncture group (meaning superficial use of needles at non-traditional points), or a waiting list control group.

Patients in both acupuncture groups had 12 acupuncture sessions over an eight week period. Patients then reported pain levels at eight weeks, 26 weeks and 52 weeks. The researchers report that acupuncture was more effective in improving pain than no acupuncture treatment, but there was no significant difference in pain relief between the traditional acupuncture group and minimal acupuncture groups. After eight weeks of treatment, pain intensity decreased by 28.7% in the acupuncture group, 23.6% in the minimal acupuncture group, and 6.9% in the control group. Pain was still lower at 26 and 52 weeks, but there were no significant differences between the traditional and minimal acupuncture groups.

Source: Archives of Internal Medicine, February 27, 2006.