Intravenous (IV) ibuprofen
market in a transformation stage with changes in medical culture and
implementation of new strategies for pain relief.
A non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID), ibuprofen, is
used to reduce and management of post-operative and acute pain. The intravenous
route of administration for ibuprofen is the most effective of all the other
routes. Furthermore, it also helps in reducing fever, inflammation, and trauma.
Approval of IV ibuprofen for pediatric use by FDA marked as a significant event
for growth in the global market. Rising incidences of cancer, headache, pain, back
pain, arthritis, and others are also responsible for growth of the market. The
side effects of opioid analgesics, such as allergic reactions, respiratory
depression, gastrointestinal events, and sedation are causing an increase in
demand of IV ibuprofen.
The Current Scenario:
A survey conducted by STAT-Harvard states that one out of
three Americans blame doctors for opioid epidemic overdose in United States.
Dr. Sushrut Jangi believes that doctors are not in position to defend
themselves when death toll due to overdose rose to 1,173 in 2014 and 1,104 in first
nine months of 2015 in Massachusetts. He added that medical community needs to
endeavor to get rid of the habit of overprescribing opioids. The origin of
epidemics was not due to bad-intentioned doctors as they are rare. Over past
two decades, well-intentioned doctors have caught in a web of variety of
interests from educational campaigns and pharmaceutical industry. For instance,
the introduction of powerful narcotic Oxycontin in mid 90s influenced doctors through
educational campaigns by asserting that doctors were undermining pain.
How opioids prescriptions ascended:
Numerous reports suggest that opioids could be useful for
treatment of pain without causing addiction. The documentation of pain levels,
from 1 to 10, became the topmost priority as per new pain management quality
standards that were implemented in 2001. As patient satisfaction surveys
increased from that time, hospitals encouraged prescribers to treat pain of
patients appropriately to maximize reimbursement. At the same time, US Food and
Drug Administration (FDA) was unable to confine increasing use prescriptions by
leveraging the existing law. Consequently, opioids prescriptions ascended since
1990s and death toll rose with overdose. Most of the times, patients who died due
to opioid addiction, acquired these medicines from either prescription of
doctors or recommendations from friends & family.
Why Doctors have no other option:
Doctors have fueled the use of opioid epidemic with their
diligent efforts to relieve pain. As a result, these drugs have piled up in
American homes. Dr. Jangi emphasized that there has to be a drastic change in
medical culture to change this scenario. Opioids have become a priority for
relieving pain and treatment for problems, such as kidney stones, gallstone attacks,
an ankle sprain, and others. Sometimes, doctors have no option than prescribing
dozens of painkillers at the time of discharge as it relieves unbearable pain
and acute sufferings after surgeries.
What should be done:
He stated that the tradition of few uncertain decades is
responsible for current practice for over prescription. Evidence suggests that
temporary bursts on first exposure can cause chronic addiction. According to a
study, one third of patients who used opioids after spine surgery continue its
use for the next one year. They fail to understand that there are numeral risks
and side effects associated and less benefits in treating pain. Hospital should
take preventive measures and devise new strategies to reduce opioids
prescriptions.
A report published on the Intravenous (IV) ibuprofen market states that the market would
reach $14.2 million by 2022 and expected to register a CAGR of 20% from 2016 to
2022. Analysts studying the industry have revealed an exhaustive analysis of
current market status, SWOT analysis of key manufacturers, detailed
segmentation, and competitive intelligence.
