Acupuncture better than paracetamol for chronic pain - NICE
Tuesday August 4th 2020
Acupuncture may be a better option than paracetamol for patients with chronic primary pain, according to controversial new guidelines published last night.
Common painkillers are ineffective and should not be used for this problem, but antidepressants should be considered, according to the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence.
The guidance calls for good communication and says the patient should be at the centre of their care.
NICE warns that chronic pain may affect up to half the population – while nearly half of those known to have the problem have a diagnosis of depression.
Paul Chrisp, from NICE, said: “When many treatments are ineffective or not well tolerated, it is important to get an understanding of how pain is affecting a person’s life and those around them because knowing what is important to the person is the first step in developing an effective care plan.
“Importantly the draft guideline also acknowledges the need for further research across the range of possible treatment options, reflecting both the lack of evidence in this area and the need to provide further choice for people with the condition.”
Psychiatrist Nick Kosky, from Dorset Healthcare, said: “Understandably, people with chronic pain expect a clear diagnosis and effective treatment. But its complexity and the fact GPs and specialists alike find chronic pain very challenging to manage, means this is often not possible.
“This mismatch between patient expectations and treatment outcomes can affect the relationship between healthcare professionals and patients, a possible consequence of which is the prescribing of ineffective but harmful drugs. “
The Royal College of GPs said the guidance would only work if practices had access to alternatives that were proven to be effective.
Chair Professor Martin Marshall said: “Most patients in pain do not want to take medication long-term, and GPs do not want this either, but sometimes medication has been the only thing that brings relief. As such these new guidelines, which focus on alternative therapies, have the potential to be beneficial for patients - but they will need to be guaranteed appropriate access to them.
“We should also be mindful not to disregard some medications completely as a lack of evidence may be due to a lack of high-quality research, particularly for older drugs, such as paracetamol.”
Tags: Alternative Therapy | NHS | Pain Relief | Pharmaceuticals | UK News
Printer
friendly page