Such interventions would have the potential to reduce the prevalence of chronic pain in the population .
Although certain risk factors can identify individuals who are most likely to develop chronic pain , few interventions to prevent chronic pain have been identified .
To facilitate the identification of preventive interventions , an IMMPACT meeting was convened to discuss research design considerations for clinical trials investigating the prevention of chronic pain .
We present general design considerations for prevention trials in population s that are at relatively high risk for developing chronic pain .
A randomized, placebo-controlled trial of oxycodone and of gabapentin for acute pain in herpes zoster
ABSTRACT Although acute pain in patients with herpes zoster can be severe and has a substantial impact on health‐related quality of life , there have been no r and omized clinical trials of oral medications specifically for its ongoing treatment . A r and omized clinical trial was conducted in which 87 subjects ⩾50 years of age with herpes zoster within 6 calendar days of rash onset and with worst pain in the past 24 h ⩾ 3 on a 0–10 rating scale initiated 7 days of treatment with famciclovir in combination with 28 days of treatment with either controlled‐release ( CR ) oxycodone , gabapentin , or placebo . Subjects were evaluated for adverse effects of treatment , acute pain , and health‐related quality of life . The results showed that CR‐oxycodone and gabapentin were generally safe and were associated with adverse events that reflect well‐known effects of these medications . Discontinuing participation in the trial , primarily associated with constipation , occurred more frequently in subjects r and omized to CR‐oxycodone ( 27.6 % ) compared with placebo ( 6.9 % ) . Treatment with CR‐oxycodone reduced the mean worst pain over days 1–8 ( p = 0.01 ) and days 1–14 ( p = 0.02 ) relative to placebo but not throughout the entire 28‐day treatment period as pain resolved in most subjects . Gabapentin did not provide significantly greater pain relief  than placebo , although the data for the first week were consistent with a modest benefit . By demonstrating that CR‐oxycodone is safe , generally adequately tolerated , and appears to have efficacy for relieving acute pain , the results of this clinical trial provide a foundation for evidence ‐based treatment for acute pain in herpes zoster
Such interventions would have the potential to reduce the prevalence of chronic pain in the population .
Although certain risk factors can identify individuals who are most likely to develop chronic pain , few interventions to prevent chronic pain have been identified .
To facilitate the identification of preventive interventions , an IMMPACT meeting was convened to discuss research design considerations for clinical trials investigating the prevention of chronic pain .
We present general design considerations for prevention trials in population s that are at relatively high risk for developing chronic pain .