EMBARGOED FOR RELEASE UNTIL 4 PM ET, September 29, 2014
AAN: Risks of Opioids Outweigh Benefits for Headache, Low Back Pain, Other Conditions
MINNEAPOLIS -
According to from the (AAN), the risk of death, overdose, addiction or serious side effects with prescription opioids outweigh the benefits in chronic, non-cancer conditions such as headache, fibromyalgia and chronic low back pain. The position paper is published in the September 30, 2014, print issue of the medical journal of the 好色先生. Opioids, or narcotics, are pain medications including morphine, codeine, oxycodone, methadone, fentanyl, hydrocodone or a combination of the drugs with acetaminophen. 鈥淢ore than 100,000 people have died from prescription opioid use since policies changed in the late 1990s to allow much more liberal long-term use,鈥 said , MD, MPH, research professor in the in the University of Washington School of Public Health in Seattle and a Fellow with the AAN. 鈥淭here have been more deaths from prescription opioids in the most vulnerable young to middle-aged groups than from firearms and car accidents. Doctors, states, institutions and patients need to work together to stop this epidemic.鈥 Studies have shown that 50 percent of patients taking opioids for at least three months are still on opioids five years later. A review of the available studies showed that while opioids may provide significant short-term pain relief, there is no substantial evidence for maintaining pain relief or improved function over long periods of time without serious risk of overdose, dependence or addiction. The AAN recommends that doctors consult with a pain management specialist if dosage exceeds 80 to 120 (morphine-equivalent dose) milligrams per day, especially if pain and function have not substantially improved in their patients. The statement also provides the following suggestions for doctors to prescribe opioids more safely and effectively:
- Create an opioid treatment agreement
- Screen for current or past drug abuse
- Screen for depression
- Use random urine drug screenings
- Do not prescribe medications such as sedative-hypnotics or benzodiazepines with opioids
- Assess pain and function for tolerance and effectiveness
- Track daily morphine equivalent dose using an online dosing calculator
- Seek help if the morphine-equivalent dose reaches 80 to 120 milligrams and pain and function have not substantially improved
- Use the state Prescription Drug Monitoring Program to monitor all prescription drugs the patient may be taking