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

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.

2019 ◽  
Vol 25 (9) ◽  
pp. 453-457
Author(s):  
Brenda Peters-Watral

Along with a well-documented increase in opioid use disorder (OUD) and a rapidly escalating rate of fatal overdose in North America, inadequate management of chronic pain remains a pervasive problem. The increasing number of individuals living with OUD also experience multiple cancer risk factors, which are related to their substance use, while people with cancer diagnoses have similar risks of current or past addiction as the general population. Recent pain guidelines focus on chronic non-cancer pain and do not include recommendations for cancer pain management. Managing cancer pain at the end of life is more challenging in people with current or past substance use disorder (SUD), especially OUD. Addressing these challenges requires confronting stigmas and stereotypes, building knowledge among palliative care providers and assessing the risks and benefits of opioids for pain management on an individual basis in order to continue to provide the holistic care.


2019 ◽  
Vol 26 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
R. Asthana ◽  
S. Goodall ◽  
J. Lau ◽  
C. Zimmermann ◽  
P. L. Diaz ◽  
...  

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.


2021 ◽  
pp. 1-10
Author(s):  
Eric L. Garland ◽  
Spencer T. Fix ◽  
Justin P. Hudak ◽  
Edward M. Bernat ◽  
Yoshio Nakamura ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Neuropsychopharmacologic effects of long-term opioid therapy (LTOT) in the context of chronic pain may result in subjective anhedonia coupled with decreased attention to natural rewards. Yet, there are no known efficacious treatments for anhedonia and reward deficits associated with chronic opioid use. Mindfulness-Oriented Recovery Enhancement (MORE), a novel behavioral intervention combining training in mindfulness with savoring of natural rewards, may hold promise for treating anhedonia in LTOT. Methods Veterans receiving LTOT (N = 63) for chronic pain were randomized to 8 weeks of MORE or a supportive group (SG) psychotherapy control. Before and after the 8-week treatment groups, we assessed the effects of MORE on the late positive potential (LPP) of the electroencephalogram and skin conductance level (SCL) during viewing and up-regulating responses (i.e. savoring) to natural reward cues. We then examined whether these neurophysiological effects were associated with reductions in subjective anhedonia by 4-month follow-up. Results Patients treated with MORE demonstrated significantly increased LPP and SCL to natural reward cues and greater decreases in subjective anhedonia relative to those in the SG. The effect of MORE on reducing anhedonia was statistically mediated by increases in LPP response during savoring. Conclusions MORE enhances motivated attention to natural reward cues among chronic pain patients on LTOT, as evidenced by increased electrocortical and sympathetic nervous system responses. Given neurophysiological evidence of clinical target engagement, MORE may be an efficacious treatment for anhedonia among chronic opioid users, people with chronic pain, and those at risk for opioid use disorder.


2018 ◽  
Vol 25 (5) ◽  
pp. 386-391
Author(s):  
Robert Andrew Gardner ◽  
Kori L Brewer ◽  
Dennis B Langston

BackgroundEmergency department (ED) patients with chronic pain challenge providers to make quick and accurate assessments without an in-depth pain management consultation. Emergency physicians need reliable means to determine which patients may receive opioid therapy without exacerbating opioid use disorder (OUD).MethodsEighty-nine ED patients with a chief complaint of chronic pain were enrolled. Researchers administered questionnaires and reviewed medical and state prescription monitoring database information. Participants were classified as either OUD or non-OUD. Statistical analysis included a bivariate analysis comparing differences between groups and multivariate logistic regression evaluating ORs.ResultsThe 45 participants categorised as OUD had a higher proportion of documented or reported psychiatric diagnoses (p=0.049), preference of opioid treatment (p=0.005), current oxycodone prescription (p=0.043), borrowed pain medicine (p=0.004) and non-authorised dose increase (p<0.001). The state prescription monitoring database revealed the OUD group to have an increased number of opioid prescriptions (p=0.005) and pills (p=0.010). Participants who borrowed pain medicine and engaged in non-authorised dose increase were 5.2 (p=0.025, 95% CI 1.24 to 21.9) and 6.1 times (p=0.001, 95% CI 1.55 to 24.1) more likely to have OUD, respectively.LimitationsMajor limitations of our study include a small sample size, self-reported measures and convenience sample which may introduce selection bias.ConclusionPatients with chronic pain with OUD have distinguishable characteristics. Emergency physicians should consider such evidence-based variables prior to opioid therapy to ameliorate the opioid crisis and limit implicit bias.


2014 ◽  
Vol 5;17 (5;9) ◽  
pp. 401-414
Author(s):  
Chi-Wai Cheung

Background: Long-term opioid use for chronic non-cancer pain has increased substantially in recent years despite the paucity of strong supporting scientific data and concerns regarding adverse effects and potential misuse. Study Design: Review and summary of practice guidelines available on PubMed and Cochrane databases as well as on the Internet on chronic opioid therapy from June 2004 to June 2013. Objective: To review expert-developed practice guidelines on chronic opioid therapy, published in different countries over the past decade in order to reveal similar principles of therapy and to provide useful information and references for future development of opioid guidelines to identify adequately supported practice points and areas in need of further scientific evidence. Method: Seven guidelines were identified as pertaining specifically to the long-term use of opioids for general chronic non-cancer pain from an initial search of the PubMed/Medline and Cochrane databases using combinations of the search terms “opioid,” “chronic opioid therapy,” “chronic pain,” “chronic non-cancer pain,” “chronic non-malignant pain,” “guidelines,” “practice guidelines,” and “clinical practice guidelines,” filtered to include only articles on humans published in the English language over the past 10 years. Results: All guidelines espouse an individual approach to management, beginning with a comprehensive patient evaluation, with particular focus on eliciting factors that may indicate potential drug misuse and abuse, and a trial of therapy to determine the course of treatment. Goals of treatment should be adequately discussed with and consented to by the patient. Opioids are generally not recommended as first-line therapy but, when used, clinicians should closely monitor patients for loss of response, adverse effects or aberrant behavior, and revise the treatment plan accordingly. Urine drug testing (UDT) may be used as a tool to monitor for aberrant behavior or drug misuse; opioid rotation may be considered when loss of response or adverse effects are a concern, at a starting dose lower than the calculated equianalgesic dose. Limitations: Information on some African nations, countries in the Middle-East, and Pacific Islands is not available and therefore was not included in this review. Conclusion: There is a growing body of scientific evidence to support opioid use in chronic pain. Future work should focus on continuing to generate good-quality evidence on the longterm benefits of opioid therapy, as well as scientific data to guide drug choice and dosing for specific conditions, populations, and situations. Key words: Chronic pain, opioid, non-cancer pain, guidelines, opioid rotation, pain management, opioid therapy


2018 ◽  
Vol 3 (7) ◽  

Background: Psychiatric comorbidty is an important risk factor when predicting risk of opioid use disorder in chronic non-cancer pain. We present a case with gender dysphoria, in wich psychiatric comorbidity was not taken into account for de prescription of pharmacological treatment for pain. Case presentation: We report the case of a 51-year-old man with gender dysphoria, personality disorder, chronic pain disorder and opioid use disorder. For the last 9 years he has taken continuousy transdermal fentanyl prescribed by chronic non-cancer pain. Despite of presenting a pluripathology that discouraged the use of opioids in this patient, throughout his evolution, he has gone to different non-psychiatrists and has shown himself with a querulous, confictive and demanding attitude, so that he managed to keep on raising his dose of prescribed opioids. Conclusions: This case shows the importance of knowing the risk factors of consumption due to the use of opioids patients with chronic non-cancer pain, the importance of psychiatric comorbidity associated with prognosis and the neeed to know exactly how opioids are managed by some prescribers, as well as to carry out an interdisciplinary therapeutic plan to avoid risks.


2019 ◽  
Vol 24 (1) ◽  
pp. 72-75
Author(s):  
Kelly L. Matson ◽  
Peter N. Johnson ◽  
Van Tran ◽  
Evan R. Horton ◽  
Jennifer Sterner-Allison ◽  
...  

Limited guidance on opioid use exists in the pediatric population, causing medication safety concerns for pain management in children and adolescents. Opioid misuse and use disorder continue to greatly affect adolescents and young adults in the United States, furthering the apprehension of their use. Pediatric Pharmacy Advocacy Group (PPAG) recommends pharmacists contribute their knowledge to pain management in children, including the discussion of appropriate use of non-opioid alternatives for pain and when to recommend coprescribing of naloxone. PPAG also supports the review of electronic prescription drug–monitoring programs prior to opioid prescribing and dispensing by both prescribers and pharmacists. Education by pharmacists of children and their families regarding proper administration, storage, and disposal, as well as the awareness of opioid misuse and use disorder among adolescents and young adults, is key to prevention. If opioid use disorder is diagnosed, PPAG encourages improved access among adolescents to evidence-based medications including methadone, buprenorphine, and naltrexone. Furthermore, pharmacists should assist in screening and referral to evidence-based treatment.


2011 ◽  
Vol 30 (3) ◽  
pp. 185-194 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joseph A. Boscarino ◽  
Margaret R. Rukstalis ◽  
Stuart N. Hoffman ◽  
John J. Han ◽  
Porat M. Erlich ◽  
...  

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