scholarly journals Pharmacological Strategies for Decreasing Opioid Therapy and Management of Side Effects from Chronic Use

Children ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 5 (12) ◽  
pp. 163
Author(s):  
Genevieve D’Souza ◽  
Anava A Wren ◽  
Christina Almgren ◽  
Alexandra C. Ross ◽  
Amanda Marshall ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Pain Management ◽  
Side Effects ◽  
Stress Responses ◽  
Physiological Stress ◽  
Opioid Therapy ◽  
Outpatient Basis ◽  
Opioid Use ◽  
Pediatric Populations ◽  
Special Expertise ◽  
Pain Symptoms

As awareness increases about the side effects of opioids and risks of misuse, opioid use and appropriate weaning of opioid therapies have become topics of significant clinical relevance among pediatric populations. Critically ill hospitalized neonates, children, and adolescents routinely receive opioids for analgesia and sedation as part of their hospitalization, for both acute and chronic illnesses. Opioids are frequently administered to manage pain symptoms, reduce anxiety and agitation, and diminish physiological stress responses. Opioids are also regularly prescribed to youth with chronic pain. These medications may be prescribed during the initial phase of a diagnostic workup, during an emergency room visit; as an inpatient, or on an outpatient basis. Following treatment for underlying pain conditions, it can be challenging to appropriately wean and discontinue opioid therapies. Weaning opioid therapy requires special expertise and care to avoid symptoms of increased pain, withdrawal, and agitation. To address this challenge, there have been enhanced efforts to implement opioid-reduction during pharmacological therapies for pediatric pain management. Effective pain management therapies and their outcomes in pediatrics are outside the scope of this paper. The aims of this paper were to: 1) Review the current practice of opioid-reduction during pharmacological therapies; and 2) highlight concrete opioid weaning strategies and management of opioid withdrawal.

Opioid induced hyperalgesia: A focus on opioid use in chronic pain

2013 ◽  
Vol 2 (12) ◽  
pp. 395-397
Author(s):  
Julie L. Cunningham
Keyword(s):  
Chronic Pain ◽  
Side Effects ◽  
Treatment Option ◽  
Opioid Therapy ◽  
Opioid Use ◽  
Chronic Pain Patients ◽  
Opioid Induced Hyperalgesia ◽  
Pain Patients ◽  
Established Treatment

Opioids are a well-established treatment option for chronic pain. However, opioid therapy is associated with many side effects, including opioid induced hyperalgesia (OIH). This article reviews studies which have evaluated OIH in chronic pain patients on opioids.

scholarly journals Perspectives of pain specialists, patients, and family members on long-term opioid use for chronic non-cancer pain: a qualitative study

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Rattaphol Seangrung ◽  
Thongchai Tempeetikul ◽  
Supasit Pannarunothai ◽  
Supalak Sakdanuwatwong
Keyword(s):  
Pain Management ◽  
Pain Relief ◽  
Qualitative Study ◽  
Adverse Events ◽  
Cancer Pain ◽  
Family Members ◽  
Opioid Therapy ◽  
Functional Improvement ◽  
Opioid Use

Abstract Background Opioids are currently prescribed for chronic non-cancer pain (CNCP), and some patients use opioids continuously for long-term treatment. Stakeholders’ awareness about long-term opioid therapy is essential for improving the safety and effectiveness of pain treatment. The purpose of this study is to explore the perspectives of pain specialists, patients, and family caregivers about long-term opioid use in CNCP management. Methods This study was a qualitative study and adhered to the COREQ guidelines. Pain specialists (n = 12), patients (n = 14), and family members (n = 9) were recruited to the study by purposive sampling at the Pain Clinic of Ramathibodi Hospital. Semi-structured interviews were recorded, verbatim transcribed, conceptually coded, and analyzed using Atlas.ti 8.0. Results All groups of participants described opioids as non-first-line drugs for pain management. Opioids should be prescribed only for severe pain, when non-opioid pharmacotherapy and non-pharmacological therapies are not effective. Patients reported that the benefits of opioids were for pain relief, while physicians and most family members highlighted that opioid use should improve functional outcomes. Physicians and family members expressed concerns about opioid-related side effects, harm, and adverse events, while patients did not. Patients confirmed that they would continue using opioids for pain management under supervision. However, physicians stated that they would taper off or discontinue opioid therapy if patients’ pain relief or functional improvement was not achieved. Both patients and family members were willing to consider non-pharmacological therapies if potential benefits existed. Patient education, doctor–patient/family relationships, and opioid prescription policies were proposed to enhance CNCP management. Conclusion Long-term opioid therapy for CNCP may be beneficial in patients who have established realistic treatment goals (for both pain relief and functional improvement) with their physicians. Regular monitoring and evaluation of the risks and benefits, adverse events, and drug-related aberrant behaviors are necessary. Integrated multimodal multidisciplinary therapies and family member collaborations are also important for improving CNCP management.

Treatment navigation to reduce emergency room (ER) visits in cancer patients.

2020 ◽  
Vol 38 (29_suppl) ◽  
pp. 199-199
Author(s):  
Henrique Zanoni Fernandes ◽  
Carlos Frederico Pinto ◽  
Fernanda Navarro Loiola ◽  
Stela Maris Coelho ◽  
Michele Felix ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Side Effects ◽  
Best Practice ◽  
Treatment Plan ◽  
Visual Signals ◽  
Pilot Phase ◽  
Opioid Use ◽  
Care Needs ◽  
Patient Centered ◽  
Pain Symptoms ◽  
The Impact

199 Background: The practice of conventional oncology has undoubtedly changed in the last 15 years, becoming more efficient, but also more complex and expensive. This complex care needs significant coordination. In the last 2 years in half of the continuing development of our care coordination working in the "Navigation Treatment" domain, the impact on reducing ER visits was, in media, 75%. Methods: In 2015 IOV developed a patient-centered Navigation System based on Kanban (board and visual signals-KNS) for managing the treatment plan of our patients that was successful. In 2016 with support of an educational grant from QTP-ASCO, we extended this system to manage pain to others cancers and treatment-related symptoms, education, resource referral or Coordination of multi-disciplinary care. This study addresses only decreased ER visits between Dec 15 and May 20 by all patients monitored by Nurses navigators. We measured the proportional reduction of ER visits related to pain to the total ER visits in three successive periods: development of the NKS (dec15-jul16), pilot phase (aug16-oct17), and as an adopted best practice (oct17-until today). The KNS comprises a set of standardized procedures and successive checks for patients in treatment based on three procedures: (a) standardized treatments prescriptions to pain and symptoms controls; (b) standardized follow up in 24 and 48 hours, 1, 2 and 4 weeks; and (c) manage side effects of opioids or other emerging problem (constipation, confusion, mucositis, diarrhea, fever, etc.). Any patient initiating opioid use is included in the KNS until opioid is discontinued. Once pain is adequately controlled, the frequency of checks become wider up to once a month if no toxicity is identified. Any new condition (will restart the 24-48 hours loop. The KNS is managed by oncology nurses using phone or video calls, messaging, and appointments; Mon-Sun from 6 AM to 8 PM. Results: The KNS managed a median of 204 (table*) patients per month during the last 32 months (Oct 17 to May 20). Patients with pain, symptoms, or side effects that were effectively managed by the team avoided an unwanted visit to the ER, in media by 75%. Pain represents 20% of ER visits generally; in pilot phase 15% of ER visits, and actually 4% of ER visits, an 80% reduction in pain-related ER visits. ER visits represent patients with uncontrolled pain and not effectively managed by the KNS. Conclusions: The development of a system to deliver more effective care patients resulted in a 75% reduction of ER visits and adequate pain control in our practice.

scholarly journals Prevalence of Opioid Dispensings and Concurrent Gastrointestinal Medications in Quebec

2008 ◽  
Vol 13 (5) ◽  
pp. 395-400 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rachel E Williams ◽  
Nevzeta Bosnic ◽  
Carolyn T Sweeney ◽  
Ashlee W Duncan ◽  
Kristen B Levine ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Side Effects ◽  
Retrospective Cohort ◽  
Severe Pain ◽  
Bowel Dysfunction ◽  
Opioid Therapy ◽  
Opioid Use ◽  
Insurance Plan ◽  
Patient Demographics ◽  
Cohort Design ◽  
Concurrent Use

BACKGROUND: Opioids are frequently prescribed for moderate to severe pain. A side effect of opioid usage is the inhibition of gastrointestinal (GI) motility, known as opioid-induced bowel dysfunction (OBD). OBD is typically treated prophylactically with laxatives and/or acid suppressants.AIM: The present study describes the prevalence of outpatient opioid dispensing, opioid patient demographics, and concomitant dispensing of opioids and GI medications in the Quebec Public Prescription Drug Insurance Plan in 2005.METHODS: Using a retrospective cohort design, opioid dispensings were identified using claims and reimbursement data. Laxative and acid suppressant dispensings were also identified. Concurrent use was defined as having at least one ‘GI medication-exposed day’ overlapping an ‘opioid-exposed day’.RESULTS: More than 11% of the drug plan population was dispensed an opioid in 2005, and dispensings increased with age. Approximately two-thirds of patients who received an opioid were given codeine. Approximately one-third of opioid patients were concomitantly dispensed a GI medication, yet only 2% were dispensed a laxative.CONCLUSIONS: Although the GI side effects of opioids are well known, these side effects appear to increase with age and duration of opioid use. Opioid-related side effects, particularly OBD, should be effectively managed so as not to lead to the cessation of opioid therapy.

Multimodal Analgesia for Perioperative Management of Patients presenting for Spinal Surgery

2019 ◽  
Vol 25 (19) ◽  
pp. 2123-2132 ◽  
Author(s):  
Deepak Agarwal ◽  
Praveen Chahar ◽  
Mark Chmiela ◽  
Afrin Sagir ◽  
Arnold Kim ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Pain Management ◽  
Side Effects ◽  
Spinal Surgery ◽  
Multimodal Analgesia ◽  
Opioid Use ◽  
Opioid Sparing ◽  
Perioperative Pain Management ◽  
Effective Analgesia ◽  
Common Target

Multimodal, non-opioid based analgesia has become the cornerstone of ERAS protocols for effective analgesia after spinal surgery. Opioid side effects, dependence and legislation restricting long term opioid use has led to a resurgence in interest in opioid sparing techniques. The increasing array of multimodal opioid sparing analgesics available for spinal surgery targeting novel receptors, transmitters, and altering epigenetics can help provide an optimal perioperative experience with less opioid side effects and long-term dependence. Epigenetic mechanisms of pain may enhance or suppress gene expression, without altering the genome itself. Such mechanisms are complex, dynamic and responsive to environment. Alterations that occur can affect the pathophysiology of pain management at a DNA level, modifying perceived pain relief. In this review, we provide a brief overview of epigenetics of pain, systemic local anesthetics and neuraxial techniques that continue to remain useful for spinal surgery, neuropathic agents, as well as other common and less common target receptors for a truly multimodal approach to perioperative pain management.

scholarly journals Framing of the opioid problem in cancer pain management in Canada

2019 ◽  
Vol 26 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
R. Asthana ◽  
S. Goodall ◽  
J. Lau ◽  
C. Zimmermann ◽  
P. L. Diaz ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Chronic Pain ◽  
Pain Management ◽  
Cancer Pain ◽  
Opioid Therapy ◽  
Position Paper ◽  
Chronic Pain Management ◽  
Opioid Use ◽  
Cancer Pain Management ◽  
Canadian Guideline ◽  
Patients With Cancer

Two guidelines about opioid use in chronic pain management were published in 2017: the Canadian Guideline for Opioids for Chronic Non-Cancer Pain and the European Pain Federation position paper on appropriate opioid use in chronic pain management. Though the target populations for the guidelines are the same, their recommendations differ depending on their purpose. The intent of the Canadian guideline is to reduce the incidence of serious adverse effects. Its goal was therefore to set limits on the use of opioids. In contrast, the European Pain Federation position paper is meant to promote safe and appropriate opioid use for chronic pain.     The content of the two guidelines could have unintentional consequences on other populations that receive opioid therapy for symptom management, such as patients with cancer. In this article, we present expert opinion about those chronic pain management guidelines and their impact on patients with cancer diagnoses, especially those with histories of substance use disorder and psychiatric conditions. Though some principles of chronic pain management can be extrapolated, we recommend that guidelines for cancer pain management should be developed using empirical data primarily from patients with cancer who are receiving opioid therapy.

scholarly journals Prevalence of Side Effects of Prolonged Low or Moderate Dose Opioid Therapy with Concomitant Benzodiazepine and/or Antidepressant Therapy in Chronic Non-Cancer Pain

2009 ◽  
Vol 1;12 (1;1) ◽  
pp. 259-267
Author(s):  
Laxmaiah Manchikanti
Keyword(s):  
Side Effects ◽  
Cancer Pain ◽  
Opioid Therapy ◽  
High Dose ◽  
Opioid Use ◽  
Moderate Dose ◽  
Group 4 ◽  
Group 3 ◽  
Group 2 ◽  
Group 1

Background: Opioid use in the management of chronic pain is widespread in chronic pain settings. Opioid prescriptions for non-cancer pain and overall opioid sales have been soaring with the increasing nonmedical use of opioids in the United States. Prolonged use of high dose opioids has been associated with adverse consequences including tolerance, abuse, addiction, hyperalgesia, hormonal effects, and immunosuppression. Studies of high dose therapy have shown pain relief with a 30% decrease in the intensity of pain and that only 44% of the patients continue the treatment between 7 and 24 months. However, there is no data available on the prevalence of side effects associated with low or moderate dose opioid use in chronic non-cancer pain when administered in conjunction with interventional techniques. Objective: To evaluate the prevalence of side effects, of low or moderate dose opioid therapy with or without benzodiazepines, antidepressants, and their combinations. Methods: The evaluation was conducted by interviewing 1,000 patients on stable doses of opioids, with or without benzodiazepines, antidepressants, and their combinations. Patients were categorized into 4 groups with Group 1 receiving opioids only (n = 143), Group 2 receiving opioids and benzodiazepines (n = 159), Group 3 receiving opioids and antidepressants (n = 113), and Group 4 received opioids, benzodiazepines, and antidepressants (n = 118). Results: Inclusion criteria was met in 533 patients receiving opioid therapy for longer than 6 months. The incidence of side effects in Group 1 was 18%, in Group 2 was 8%, in Group 3 was 17%, and in Group 4 was 14%. The most frequent complications were in patients receiving methadone (52%) followed by oxycodone (41%) and morphine (36%). Patients receiving hydrocodone had the least incidences of side effects with 7.5%. There were no significant differences noted based on the duration of therapy, age of the patient, and gender. Severe side effects accounted for only 14 of 137 instances. Limitations: Limitations of this study include the inability to incorporate multiple other drugs due to complicated nature with multiple groups and data collection and analysis. The other limitation is that the proportion of patients receiving methadone, oxycodone, morphine, and propoxyphene was low compared to hydrocodone with 77% of the patients. Conclusion: Moderate or low dose opioid therapy in conjunction with or without benzodiazepines, antidepressants, or in combinations are associated with minor side effects. Key words: Opioids, benzodiazepines, antidepressants, chronic non-cancer pain, abuse, side effects

scholarly journals Chronic pain management and the development of opioid use disorder

2018 ◽  
Vol 87 (1) ◽  
pp. 55-57
Author(s):  
Lily Robinson ◽  
Richard Yu ◽  
Salonee Patel
Keyword(s):  
Chronic Pain ◽  
Pain Management ◽  
Cancer Pain ◽  
Medical Management ◽  
Opioid Therapy ◽  
Opioid Use Disorder ◽  
Medical Attention ◽  
Prescription Opioid ◽  
Evidence Based ◽  
Opioid Use

Chronic pain is a common condition that impacts quality of life and often precipitates the need for medical attention. Despite evidence that long-term opioid use provides limited relief, prescription opioid therapy remains a cornerstone in the medical management of chronic non-cancer pain. Presently, 13% of Canadians are prescribed opioids for pain management, and physicians play a crucial role in preventing the development of opioid use disorders. However, Canadian physicians lack knowledge of and comfort with evidence-based principles of opioid stewardship. In this article, we aim to highlight ongoing Canadian efforts to address physician discomfort and improve clinical practice. We focus on 2017 Canadian guidelines that provide clinicians with evidence-based recommendations for opioid use in chronic non-cancer pain management. In addition, we call attention to provincial efforts to implement physician accountability measures. In reviewing the existing literature, we uncovered inadequacies in pain management curricula within the Canadian undergraduate and continuing medical education (CME) systems. We consulted the educational practices of the European Pain Federation and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to make recommendations for improvement to current Canadian pain curricula. Based on our findings, we recommend that (1) Canadian medical institutions expand upon current core pain curricula, (2) pain management education be made compulsory, (3) academic detailing be emphasized as a means of CME, and (4) multidisciplinary non-medical management of chronic pain be featured more extensively.

Opioid safety among high-risk cancer survivors.

2020 ◽  
Vol 38 (15_suppl) ◽  
pp. e19169-e19169
Author(s):  
Talya Salz ◽  
Akriti A. Mishra ◽  
Renee L. Gennarelli ◽  
Allison Lipitz-Snyderman ◽  
Denise Boudreau ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Pain Management ◽  
Cancer Survivors ◽  
Management Strategies ◽  
Opioid Therapy ◽  
Opioid Use ◽  
Prescribing Practices ◽  
Management Procedure ◽  
After Cancer ◽  
High Risk Cancer ◽  
First 90 Days

e19169 Background: To mitigate risks of opioid-related harms, ASCO’s pain management guidelines for cancer survivors recommend that opioids be used in conjunction with other pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic approaches. The guidelines also recommend caution when prescribing opioids and benzodiazepines concurrently. We evaluated these 2 metrics of safe prescribing as applied to chronic opioid therapy (COT) among older survivors of head and neck cancer (HNC) and lung cancer (LC), two growing populations with high pain burden and prevalent risk factors for opioid-related harms (e.g., opioid use during treatment, history of substance use, distress). Methods: Using SEER-Medicare, we identified opioid-naïve adults diagnosed 2008-2015 with HNC or LC. We restricted analyses to survivors with ≥1 COT episode (≥90 days) occurring ≥1 year after cancer diagnosis and ≤120 days prior to hospice entry or cancer-related death (survivorship period). We report 2 opioid safety metrics during the survivorship period: 1) the proportion of survivors with non-opioid pain management (≥1 dispensing for a non-opioid, non-benzodiazepine pain medication or ≥1 claim for pain management procedure) concurrent with the first 90 days of the first COT episode and 2) the proportion of survivors with 0 dispensings for benzodiazepines within the first 90 days of the first COT episode. Results: Among opioid-naïve HNC (N = 5,500) and LC (N = 21,090) patients, 306 HNC (5.6%) and 927 LC survivors (4.4%) received COT during follow-up. Median duration of first survivorship COT episode was 5.2 and 4.9 months for HNC and LC, respectively. 64% of HNC survivors received non-opioid pain management concurrent with their first COT episode; 55% received an analgesic and 24% underwent a procedure. 75% of LC survivors received non-opioid pain management concurrent with their first COT episode; 67% received an analgesic and 35% underwent a procedure. 79% of HNC and 81% of LC survivors did not receive benzodiazepines during the first COT episode. Conclusions: Among older survivors of LC and HNC, less than 6% receive COT. However, of those, one-half of HNC survivors and more than a third of LC survivors receive guideline-discordant care by using COT without other pain management strategies or while using benzodiazepines. To minimize opioid-related harms, efforts should focus on improving safe COT prescribing practices for survivors. [Table: see text]

The role of transdermal compounding in opioid safety

2018 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
pp. 17
Author(s):  
Caitlin V. Bucher, PharmD ◽  
A.J. Day, PharmD ◽  
Maria Carvalho, PhD
Keyword(s):  
Pain Management ◽  
Healthcare Providers ◽  
Opioid Analgesics ◽  
Opioid Therapy ◽  
Patient Specific ◽  
Therapeutic Effects ◽  
Opioid Use ◽  
Prescribing Practices ◽  
Management Options ◽  
Combination Drug

Since the number of prescriptions for opioid medications have continued to rise, there have been questions about the safety of using opioids in pain management. Traditionally, opioid analgesics were reserved for a few select conditions, such as terminal illness and surgery, but currently opioids have been readily prescribed for multiple conditions. The objective of this manuscript is to clarify the current state of opioid use and to discuss alternative transdermal analgesic therapies in pain management. Transdermal compounded medications are patient-specific and customizable to include different types of drugs, in various dosage strengths, that are to be delivered simultaneously in one application. Due to the different origins and types of pain, treatments may be most beneficial with multiple classes of drugs with various mechanisms of action. In addition, combination drug therapy may include nontraditional pain management options, and has the ability to maximize therapeutic effects of medications through additive or synergistic properties, without increasing the dosage strengths of the drugs. Many of the challenges faced when using oral opioid therapy may be overcome by using transdermal drug delivery since this route of administration reduces adverse effects, increases patient compliance, and limits exposure to potentially abusive drugs. Although prescribing practices surrounding opioids remains to be a controversial topic, the use of compounded pain medications may help healthcare providers effectively treat their patients while avoiding the use of addictive drugs.

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