Table 3 Analgesic medicines provided in the ED
Non-specific LBP (n = 2,370) | Radicular LBP (n = 384) | Serious LBP (n = 147) | All (n = 2,901) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Single pain medicines – no. (%) | ||||
Paracetamol | 1,541 (65.0) | 224 (58.3) | 89 (60.5) | 1,854 (63.9) |
NSAIDs | 799 (33.7) | 128 (33.3) | 29 (19.7) | 956 (33.0) |
COX-2 selective inhibitors | 43 (1.8) | 15 (3.9) | 0 (0.0) | 58 (2.0) |
Non-selective | 771 (32.5) | 115 (30.0) | 29 (19.7) | 915 (31.5) |
Muscle relaxants | 15 (0.6) | 3 (0.8) | 0 (0.0) | 18 (0.6) |
Corticosteroids | 98 (4.1) | 14 (3.7) | 7 (4.8) | 119 (4.1) |
Opioid analgesics | 1,582 (66.8) | 278 (72.4) | 87 (59.2) | 1,947 (67.1) |
Weak opioids | 227 (9.6) | 41 (10.7) | 7 (4.8) | 275 (9.5) |
Strong opioids | 1,465 (61.8) | 253 (65.9) | 83 (56.5) | 1,801 (62.1) |
Anticonvulsants | 232 (9.8) | 72 (18.8) | 6 (4.1) | 310 (10.7) |
Antidepressants | 137 (5.8) | 19 (5.0) | 4 (2.7) | 160 (5.5) |
Antipsychotics | 173 (7.3) | 19 (5.0) | 8 (5.4) | 200 (6.9) |
Combined pain-relieving medicines – no. (%) | ||||
Opioids and paracetamol | 1,287 (54.3) | 211 (55.0) | 76 (51.7) | 1,574 (54.3) |
Opioids and NSAIDs | 552 (23.3) | 100 (26.0) | 24 (16.3) | 676 (23.3) |
Opioids and muscle relaxants | 11 (0.5) | 3 (0.8) | 0 (0.0) | 14 (0.5) |
Opioids and corticosteroids | 93 (3.9) | 14 (3.7) | 7 (4.8) | 114 (3.9) |
Opioids and anticonvulsants | 208 (8.8) | 66 (17.2) | 4 (2.7) | 278 (9.6) |
Opioids and antidepressants | 123 (5.2) | 18 (4.7) | 4 (2.7) | 145 (5.0) |
Opioids and antipsychotics | 156 (6.6) | 19 (5.0) | 7 (4.8) | 182 (6.3) |
Abbreviations: ATC: Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical Classification System; ED: Emergency Department; LBP: low back pain; NSAIDs: non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs | ||||