Podcast 790: Opioids vs OTC Pain Meds

<p><strong>Contributor: Aaron Lessen, MD</strong></p> <p><strong>Educational Pearls:</strong></p> <ul> <li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style= "font-weight: 400;">NSAIDs are a potential alternative to opioids for pain management and are associated with decreased rates of adverse effects</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style= "font-weight: 400;">A recent study evaluated the effectiveness of ibuprofen and oxycodone for pain management in pediatric patients with isolated, acute-limb fractures</span></li> <ul> <li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="2"><span style= "font-weight: 400;">Participants were discharged home with either ibuprofen or oxycodone and followed for six weeks</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="2"><span style= "font-weight: 400;"> </span><span style= "font-weight: 400;">There was no difference in pain scores between those taking ibuprofen and those taking oxycodone indicating that they had comparable analgesic effects</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="2"><span style= "font-weight: 400;">Those in the ibuprofen group experienced significantly less adverse events compared to those taking oxycodone</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="2"><span style= "font-weight: 400;">The participants in the ibuprofen group showed quicker return to their normal activities and improved quality of life</span></li> </ul> <li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style= "font-weight: 400;">In pediatric patients with fracture-related pain, ibuprofen is a safer alternative to oxycodone that is equally effective for pain control</span></li> </ul> <p><strong>References</strong></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Ali S, Manaloor R, Johnson DW, et al. An observational cohort study comparing ibuprofen and oxycodone in children with fractures.</span> <em><span style= "font-weight: 400;">PLoS One.</span></em> <span style= "font-weight: 400;">2021;16(9):e0257021.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Coon