Guidelines on Opioids in Noncancer Pain Issued

Guidelines on the use of opioids in treating chronic noncancer pain have been issued by the American Pain Society and the American Academy of Pain Medicine.

15 feb 2009--Among the 25 recommendations, appearing in the Journal of Pain:

• Before starting chronic opioid therapy (COT), physicians should perform a history and physical exam and should assess the patient's risk for substance abuse.
  
• Physicians should monitor patients on COT to document their level of functioning and any adverse events.
  
• Patients with a history of drug abuse should receive COT only if their clinician can monitor them frequently.
  
• Patients on COT should be able to identify a physician "who accepts primary responsibility for their overall medical care."
  

On Monday, the FDA announced plans to tighten restrictions on opioid use. Asked to comment, Dr. Roger Chou, first author on the above guidelines, said that both efforts were "part of the same movement to relieve pain and suffering while minimizing the risks of the medications involved."

LINK(S):

Guidelines in the Journal of Pain (Free)