New Opioid Prescribing Guidelines Released in the US: What Impact Will They Have in the Care of Older Patients with Persistent Pain?

New Opioid Prescribing Guidelines Released in the US: What Impact Will They Have in the Care of Older Patients with Persistent Pain?
Curr Med Res Opin. 2016 Oct 27;:1-13
Authors: Guerriero F, Reid MC
Abstract
To address the dramatic opioid epidemic and related-deaths from overdoses in the US, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released a Guideline for Prescribing Opioids for Chronic Pain earlier this year. The guideline is designed to support clinicians caring for patients outside the context of active cancer treatment or palliative or end-of-life care. In this editorial, we review specific CDC recommendations that we believe could have positive or negative consequences when providing care to older adults with persistent pain. We also speculate about the implications of implementing the guidelines from a geriatric medicine perspective. Strategies that embrace a balance between opioid prescribing and pain treatment in older adults are encouraged because poorly treated pain in this age-group has deleterious consequences on disability and psychological well-being.
PMID: 27786538 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

Source: Current Medical Research and Opinion - October 28, 2016 Category: Research Tags: Curr Med Res Opin Source Type: research