RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Prescribing opioids in primary care: Safely starting, monitoring, and stopping
JF Cleveland Clinic Journal of Medicine
JO Cleve Clin J Med
FD Cleveland Clinic
SP 207
OP 215
DO 10.3949/ccjm.83a.15034
VO 83
IS 3
A1 Daniel G. Tobin
A1 Rebecca Andrews
A1 William C. Becker
YR 2016
UL http://www.ccjm.org/content/83/3/207.abstract
AB Chronic noncancer pain is common and often managed in the outpatient setting with chronic opioid therapy, even though the efficacy of this approach is uncertain and adverse effects are common. Some patients report meaningful benefit from opioids, but prescription drug abuse has reached epidemic proportions, and many suffer harm from opioid misuse, abuse, and diversion. Primary care providers and their care teams often struggle to balance these risks and benefits with little outside support. The authors review common challenges when starting, monitoring, and discontinuing opioids, and offer strategies for risk-reduction and patient communication.