Learnings From Study on Chronic Pain and Anxiety in Medicare Enrollees
A study published in Pain examined chronic pain and anxiety in people enrolled in Medicare. The researchers found that using a single medication or drug combinations excluding opioids and benzodiazepines was most effective in reducing anxiety and pain. Additionally, they found that polypharmacy involving CNS-active drugs was less effective and linked to worse outcomes. This study highlights the importance of regular medication review to safely manage pain and anxiety for this population.