Warm Turkey –
October 10, 2019 – Entirely discontinuing opioids for a chronic pain patient is not always appropriate, according to the guidelines: “Unless there are indications of a life-threatening issue, such as warning signs of impending overdose, HHS does not recommend abrupt opioid dose reduction or discontinuation.” Giroir says the agency’s move to issue these guidelines is a reflection of the current data.
“There is a very large body of data across the scientific and medical literature that would say that abrupt discontinuation or abrupt reduction in dosage can be harmful to patients,” says Giroir. Still, he says the evidence shows that “a majority of patients can have a reduction in opioids and improve pain control at the same time.”
A growing concern about prescribing rules
The new tapering guidance follows earlier efforts to signal that too much emphasis on reducing opioids for chronic pain patients may backfire.
