Opioids Aware: A resource for patients and healthcare professionals to support prescribing of opioid medicines for pain

Summary

Good practice in prescribing opioid medicines for pain should reflect fundamental principles in prescribing generally. The decision to prescribe is underpinned by applying best professional practice; understanding the condition, the patient and their context and understanding the clinical use of the drug. Initiating, tapering or stopping opioid medicines should be managed in agreement with the patient and all members of their healthcare team.

Content

This resource, developed by UK healthcare professionals and policymakers, provides the information to support a safe and effective prescribing decision.

Key Messages

1.    Opioids are very good analgesics for acute pain and for pain at the end of life but there is little evidence that they are helpful for long term pain.

2.    A small proportion of people may obtain good pain relief with opioids in the long-term if the dose can be kept low and especially if their use is intermittent (however it is difficult to identify these people at the point of opioid initiation).

3.    The risk of harm increases substantially at doses above an oral morphine equivalent of 120mg/day, but there is no increased benefit: tapering or stopping high dose opioids needs careful planning and collaboration.

4.    If a patient has pain that remains severe despite opioid treatment it means they are not working and should be stopped, even if no other treatment is available.

5.    Chronic pain is very complex and if patients have refractory and disabling symptoms, particularly if they are on high opioid doses, a very detailed assessment of the many emotional influences on their pain experience is essential.