Opioids for the management of chronic non-malignant pain

Strategies for success

Know the facts about opioids

• Use the lowest effective dose. Use caution and reassess before increasing dosage to ≥50 morphine milligram equivalent (MME) per day. Avoid increasing dosage to ≥90 MME/day.
• Dose escalation has not been proven to be effective for chronic non-malignant pain.
• The risk of overdose or death increases with dosage.
• Opioid dependence can develop in as little as days or weeks with daily use.
• Patients developing opioid dependence may have difficulty tapering dosages.
• Other risks associated with opioid use include tolerance, increased pain sensitivity, respiratory depression, unintentional overdose, and chronic constipation.
• The risk of respiratory depression increases when opioids are combined with benzodiazepines and other non-opioid medications with sedative side effects.
• Polypharmacy occurs frequently with elderly and critically ill populations causing an increased risk for adverse drug events.
• Approximately one half of deaths resulting from prescription pain medication involve the use of at least one other drug.

Management of patients on opioids

• Check the Prescription Drug Monitoring (PDMP) every time prescribing a Schedule II or Schedule III opioid and the first time a benzodiazepine is prescribed.
• Document in the patient record that the PDMP was checked.
• Consider multimodal therapies such as superficial cold/heat therapy, spinal manipulation, physical therapy, psychotherapy, acupuncture, massage, etc.
• Get informed consent with a discussion of the benefits and risks of opioid management in patient record.
• Get signed pain contract and baseline urine drug screen.
• Evaluate patient at least once every six months by a physician licensed by the Arkansas State Medical Board.
• Conduct random urine drug screens and pill counts.
• Consider co-prescribing Naloxone when clinically appropriate.
• Periodically review the scheduled drug treatment with the patient and any new information about the etiology of the pain and appropriateness of continuing medications.
• Keep accurate records of medical history, physical examination, evaluations and consultations, treatment plan objective, informed consents, agreements, and medications prescribed.
• Advise where and how to safely dispose of all unused, unwanted or expired medications.

Improve office systems

• Using an Electronic Medical Record (EMR) for prescribing may assist in the management of potential drug interactions.
• Patients receiving chronic opioid therapy benefit from a medical home in which the primary care provider directs care and coordinates consults with other care providers as needed.

What you should teach your patients about opioids

• Inform your doctor about all medications currently taking and do not begin any medications without first consulting your doctor.
• Do not take more than the prescribed amount.
• Report side effects to your doctor.
• Do not share opioid/pain medication with others.
• Keep opioid/pain medications locked away to keep others safe.
• Avoid driving and activities that require alertness since drowsiness and dizziness can occur.
• Avoid drinking alcohol while taking pain medication.
• Do not throw away or flush unused opioid/pain medications. Take unused medication to drop-off locations sponsored by local police departments.
• Check to see if your local pharmacy has a drop-off box.
• Participate in Drug Take Back Day and encourage your friends and family to participate as well.

Web resources

Provider resources

ADMG (Agency Director’s Medical Group)

Agency Medical Director’s Group Interagency Guidelines 

Arkansas Department of Health

Arkansas Prescription Monitoring Program

Arkansas Medical Practice Acts and Regulations

Arkansas Medical Practice Act

Arkansas Take Back Program

Arkansas Opioid Response Dashboard

Don’t Run Call 911

Search collection sites

Centers for Disease Control

• CDC Guideline for Prescribing Opioids for Chronic Pain
• CDC Guideline Resources
• Opioid Overdose: State Information
• Health Professionals Resources: Opioids

FDA

New Safety Measures Announced for Extended-release and Long-acting Opioids

NIH – National Institute on Drug Abuse

Sample pain agreement

University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences

UAMS AR-IMPACT https://arimpact.uams.edu/

U.S. Department of Justice

DEA—Office of Diversion Control

Opioid Prescribing for Chronic Nonmalignant Pain Physician resources:

• Check PDMP every time prescribing a Schedule II or Schedule III opioid and the first time a benzodiazepine is prescribed. arkansas.pmpaware.net/login
• Get informed consent with discussion of benefits and risks of opioid therapy noted in patient record. www.ihs.gov/sites/painmanagement/themes/responsive2017/display_objects/documents/SampleConsentControlSub.pdf
• Get signed pain contract and baseline urine drug screen.
  https://www.drugabuse.gov/sites/default/files/files/SamplePatientAgreementForms.pdf
• Use the lowest effective dose. Use caution and reassess before increasing dosage to ≥50 morphine milligram equivalent (MME) per day. Avoid increasing dosage to ≥90 MME/day. www.agencymeddirectors.wa.gov/Calculator/DoseCalculator.htm
• Review treatment plan with assessment of appropriateness. www.agencymeddirectors.wa.gov/AssessmentTools.asp
• Advise where and how to safely dispose of all unused, unwanted or expired medications www.artakeback.org/
• Arkansas Medical Society https://www.arkmed.org/resources/prescription-drug-education/
• Arkansas Emergency Department Opioid Prescribing Guidelines
  https://arkhospitals.org/Misc.%20Files/Arkansas%20Emergency%20Department%20Opioid%20Prescribing%20Guidelines.pdf

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Page last revised: March 24, 2021