Study finds smaller, cause-specific opioid prescriptions post-ER visits can manage pain and reduce misuse risk through tailored treatment.
- Smaller, cause-specific opioid prescriptions after emergency department visits for acute pain can provide adequate pain management and reduce the risk of misuse of unused opioid pills
- About two thirds of opioid tablets remained unused at 2 weeks post discharge in a study in Canada, with the amount varying according to the cause of acute pain
- Researchers suggest adapting opioid prescription practices to patients’ analgesic needs for specific acute pain conditions while minimizing the number of unused opioid tablets that can be diverted or misused
- Participants in the study filled initial opioid prescriptions during the 2-week follow-up period, with opioid consumption varying significantly by type of pain condition
- To further reduce misuse, researchers recommend adding an expiration date for use, prescribing smaller quantities initially, and considering individual patient responses to opioids and pain experiences in acute prescribing guidelines.
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Emergency Medicine, Pain Management, Addiction Medicine