pica and Pain

Topics: Abdomen; Child, Preschool; Humans; Pain; Pica

Topics: Adult; Female; Humans; Nausea; Pain; Pica; Soaps; Vomiting

Anorexia, nausea/emesis and peripheral sensorial neuropathy are frequent adverse effects associated with chemotherapy. Cannabinoids have been proposed to alleviate these effects, but their preventive properties in long-term experimental models have not been tested. This study was conducted to determine whether or not a cannabinoid agonist (WIN-55,212-2) can prevent anorexia, pica (an indirect marker of nausea in non-vomiting species, consisting of the ingestion of non-nutritive substances such as kaolin) and mechanical allodynia (a marker of peripheral neuropathy) induced by the antineoplastic drug cisplatin chronically administered. Isolated rats with free access to food and kaolin received either saline, cannabinoid vehicle, WIN-55,212-2 (1-2 mg kg(-1)), cisplatin (1-2 mg kg(-1)), or both drugs once per week for five consecutive weeks. Modifications in temperature, body weight gain, food and kaolin intake, and the threshold for mechanical allodynia were recorded. Additionally, the acute psychoactive effects of the cannabinoid (hypomotility, hypothermia, analgesia and catalepsia) were assayed by means of the cannabinoid tetrad. WIN 55,212-2 prevented the development of mechanical allodynia but not anorexia, pica and reduction in weight gain induced by chronic cisplatin. The effect of WIN 55,212-2 was evident even at a dose lacking activity in the cannabinoid tetrad. The preventive effect on cisplatin-induced mechanical allodynia exerted by the cannabinoid could be due to a neuroprotective role, as has been suggested for other conditions. The present results support the interest in the evaluation of cannabinoids for treatment of patients suffering or likely to suffer neuropathic pain.

Topics: Analgesics; Animals; Antidiarrheals; Antineoplastic Agents; Benzoxazines; Body Temperature; Body Weight; Cisplatin; Feeding Behavior; Kaolin; Male; Morpholines; Naphthalenes; Pain; Peripheral Nervous System Diseases; Pica; Rats; Rats, Wistar

Transdermal fentanyl is an opioid analgesic that is effective on chronic pain, and which appears to be advantageous due to several factors such as ease of administration, the relatively stable serum concentration and long dose intervals. Nevertheless, the danger of abuse and dependence exists among patients who are prescribed fentanyl patches. We present a case of transdermal fentanyl abuse, where the administration route of the drug was changed. Our patient, who had no history of substance abuse and who suffered from chronic nonmalignant pain, used the fentanyl transdermal patches as oral transmucosal medication, raising the dose by ten-fold. This abuse of the drug was only for analgesic purposes without seeking anxiolysis and/or euphoria. After treatment and progressive reduction of fentanyl, the patient remains in good condition, and is currently taking the initial dose of the drug transdermally, without having experienced any withdrawal symptoms.

Topics: Administration, Cutaneous; Administration, Oral; Adult; Chronic Disease; Depressive Disorder; Drug Administration Schedule; Drug Therapy, Combination; Dysthymic Disorder; Female; Fentanyl; Fluoxetine; Greece; Humans; Mouth Mucosa; Pain; Pica; Polychondritis, Relapsing; Self Administration; Substance-Related Disorders

The objective of this study was to examine the incidence and relationship of pica symptoms and dysfunctional eating patterns in children and adolescents with sickle cell disease (SCD). Children and caregivers (n = 146) completed questionnaires assessing eating difficulties and symptoms of pica. Information also was collected from medical records and analyzed for relationships with dysfunctional eating patterns. Incidence of problems and their association with disease parameters of SCD were examined. Dysfunctional eating patterns were found in those with no symptoms of pica and those with severe symptoms of pica. Caregiver-reported dysfunctional eating patterns were associated with caregiver- and child-reported frequency of painful episodes.

Topics: Adolescent; Age Factors; Anemia, Sickle Cell; Child; Child, Preschool; Feeding Behavior; Female; Humans; Incidence; Male; Pain; Pica; Severity of Illness Index; Socioeconomic Factors; Surveys and Questionnaires

This is the first report of three cases of adult geophagia in Saudi Arabia, two with a history of eating mud, and the third of eating pebbles. The presentation in these patients were of abdominal pains, with the radiographs showing very dense opacities within the intestine, especially the colon. These opacities were of varying sizes, and of varying densities, some of them polygonal in shape. These opacities changed in position with time differentiating them from other densities such as renal calculi with which they are may be confused. A review of the clinical and pathological changes of geophagia is given. The association of iron-deficiency anaemia, hepatomegaly, dwarfism and hypogonadism with a geophagia syndrome is noted and its pathogenesis explained. The role of socio-cultural and other predisposing factors in the aetiology of geophagia is discussed.

Topics: Abdomen; Adult; Aged; Female; Humans; Pain; Pica; Saudi Arabia; Soil