Higher Morphine Equivalent Dose Research Articles

How much narcotics are really needed after bariatric surgery: results of a prospective study.

To mitigate the opioid crisis, physicians are reevaluating opioid prescribing patterns. To evaluate outcomes of maximal opioid reduction on top of an existing Enhanced Recovery after Surgery (ERAS) pathway in our The Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Accreditation and Quality Improvement Program-accredited bariatric surgery program. Academic tertiary care hospital, United States. Patients undergoing primary bariatric operation were studied from July 2017 to April 2019, (standard ERAS cohort), and compared to patients from April 2019 to February 2021 (standard ERAS with Sparing Opioid Use Postoperatively protocol) (SOUP cohort). The primary endpoint was reduction of perioperative opioid use. Of 367 patients, 212 (57.8%) and 155 (42.2%) were in the ERAS and SOUP cohorts, respectively. Roux-en-Y gastric bypass was 48.6% (n = 103) versus 54.2% (n = 84) and sleeve gastrectomy was 51.4% (n = 109) versus 45.8% (n = 71) for ERAS versus SOUP, respectively (P = .29). The SOUP cohort of patients required a low median inpatient morphine equivalent dose of 4 mg [0-6.2]. The ERAS cohort was discharged on a higher morphine equivalent dose than the SOUP cohort at 186.7 mg ± 92.9 versus 37.6 ± 32.3 (P < .05), and median consumption of the standard 5 mg oxycodone tablet was 1.5 tablets [0-4]. The SOUP cohort patients rated their pain satisfaction score on a scale of 1 to 10 at 9.1 points (standard deviation ± 1.8). The SOUP cohort had a shorter length of stay (P < .05), with comparable readmission rates. An opioid-sparing protocol can be implemented after bariatric surgery with high overall satisfaction with pain control.

Accuracy of self-reported opioid use in orthopaedic trauma patients.

Opioids have long been a mainstay of treatment for pain in patients with orthopaedic injuries, but little is known about the accuracy of self-reported narcotic usage in orthopaedic trauma. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the accuracy of self-reported opioid usage in orthopaedic trauma patients. A retrospective review of all new patients presenting to the orthopaedic trauma clinic of a level 1 trauma centre with a chief complaint of recent orthopaedic-related injury over a 2-year time frame was conducted. Participants were administered a survey inquiring about narcotic usage within the prior 3months. Responses were cross-referenced against a query of a statewide prescription drug monitoring program system. The study comprised 241 participants; 206 (85.5%) were accurate reporters, while 35 (14.5%) were inaccurate reporters. Significantly increased accuracy was associated with hospital admission prior to clinic visit (β = - 1.33; χ2 = 10.68, P < 0.01; OR: 0.07, 95% CI 0.01-0.62). Decreased accuracy was associated with higher pre-visit total morphine equivalent dose (MED) (β = 0.002; χ2 = 11.30, P < 0.01), with accurate reporters having significantly lower pre-index visit MED levels compared to underreporters (89.2 ± 208.7mg vs. 249.6 ± 509.3mg; P = 0.04). An Emergency Department (ED) visit prior to the index visit significantly predicted underreporting (β = 0.424; χ2 = 4.28, P = 0.04; OR: 2.34, 95% CI 1.01-5.38). This study suggests that most new patients presenting to an orthopaedic trauma clinic with acute injury will accurately report their narcotic usage within the preceding 3months. Prior hospital admissions increased the likelihood of accurate reporting while higher MEDs or an ED visit prior to the initial visit increased the likelihood of underreporting.

Practical Strategies Using Medical Cannabis to Reduce Harms Associated With Long Term Opioid Use in Chronic Pain.

Background: Chronic non-cancer pain (CNCP) is estimated to affect 20% of the adult population. Current United States and Canadian Chronic non-cancer pain guidelines recommend careful reassessment of the risk-benefit ratio for doses greater than 90 mg morphine equivalent dose (MED), due to low evidence for improved pain efficacy at higher morphine equivalent dose and a significant increase in morbidity and mortality. There are a number of human studies demonstrating cannabis opioid synergy. This preliminary evidence suggests a potential role of cannabis as an adjunctive therapy with or without opioids to optimize pain control. Methods: In 2017, the Canadian Opioid Guidelines Clinical Tool was created to encourage judicious opioid prescribing for CNCP patients and to reevaluate those who have been chronically using high MED. Mirroring this approach, we draw on our clinical experiences and available evidence to create a clinical tool to serve as a foundational clinical guideline for the initiation of medical cannabis in the management of CNCP patients using chronic opioid therapy. Findings: Following principles of harm reduction and risk minimization, we suggest cannabis be introduced in appropriately selected CNCP patients, using a stepwise approach, with the intent of pain management optimization. We use a structured approach to focus on low dose cannabis (namely, THC) initiation, slow titration, dose optimization and frequent monitoring. Conclusion: When low dose THC is introduced as an adjunctive therapy, we observe better pain control clinically with lower doses of opioids, improved pain related outcomes and reduced opioid related harm.

PDG42 REAL-WORLD EVIDENCE OF OPIOID AND NON-OPIOID USE IN PATIENTS WITH CHRONIC NON-CANCER PAIN: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW

The increasing prevalence of prescription opioid use among patients with chronic non-cancer pain (CNCP) has become a major public health concern. Existing protocol-driven studies have limitations in assessing the effectiveness of therapies and there is a need to identify real-world studies from diverse population of patients on their use and effectiveness of opioids and non-opioids in CNCP. A systematic review using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines was conducted from 1997 to 2017 in PubMed, PsycINFO and EMBASE databases. Observational studies including retrospective cohort, case-control, cross-sectional and longitudinal studies involving patients with CNCP and above 18 years of age were included in the review. A total of 369 articles were identified of which 23 studies met the inclusion/exclusion criteria. All but two studies (n = 21, 91.3%) were conducted in the United States. Majority of the studies utilized administrative claims data (n = 15, 65.21%) followed by electronic medical record (n = 3, 13.04 %) and survey (n = 2, 8.7%). Few studies (n = 8, 34.8%) evaluated the use of opioids in patients with CNCP with a history of substance use or mental health disorder, or with other conditions like epilepsy and HIV/AIDS. Opioid drug overdose risk was higher in patients with depression and those receiving high morphine equivalent dose or long-acting opioids. Major limitations of the studies included uncertainty over actual consumption of prescribed medicines, inability to assess degree of impairment of painful conditions and mood disorders; and inability to distinguish between prevalent and incident opioid users. Opioids were prescribed with various concomitant drugs including benzodiazepines, anticonvulsants, antidepressants in several studies. There is a need to further explore patient factors such as pain severity and psychiatric diagnosis that predict the use of opioids and non-opioids in CNCP.

Dose and Duration of Opioid Use in Propensity Score–Matched, Privately Insured Opioid Users With and Without Spinal Cord Injury

ObjectivesTo (1) compare the opioid utilization patterns in opioid users with spinal cord injury (SCI) to a propensity score–matched general population of opioid users without SCI; and (2) identify characteristics of persons with SCI associated with long-term and/or high-dose use of opioids. DesignQuasi-experimental analysis of archival data. SettingData used for the analysis were derived from Thompson Reuters MarketScan Commercial Claims and Encounters Databases for the years 2012 to 2013. ParticipantsParticipants (N=2908; aged 18–64y) included opioid users with SCI (n=1454) and propensity score–matched opioid users without SCI (n=1454). The cohorts were matched using demographics including comorbidities, hospital admissions, age, sex, and geographic region. InterventionsNot applicable. Main Outcome MeasuresMedical and pharmacy claims from 2012 to 2013 MarketScan data were analyzed to characterize whether persons were short-term (<90d) or long-term (≥90d) opioid users, and whether persons had high (≥120mg) or low (<120mg) average daily morphine equivalents. ResultsPersons with SCI were significantly more likely to be long-term users of low-dose, short-acting opioids (P<.0001) and more likely to be taking high morphine-equivalent doses of long-acting opioids (P<.0001) than matched controls. Among persons with SCI, those with lumbar/sacral injuries had more days' supply of high-dose, long-acting opioids than did persons with thoracic or cervical injuries. ConclusionsPersons with SCI are prescribed opioids for longer durations and at higher morphine-equivalent doses than controls, which may increase the risk of opioid dependence or adverse drug events. Findings should be considered in the development of practice guidelines for alternate pain management options or opioid dependence interventions for persons with SCI.

Narcotic Use and Postoperative Doctor Shopping by Patients with Nephrolithiasis Requiring Operative Intervention: Implications for Patient Safety

We sought to determine perioperative patterns of narcotic use and the prevalence of postoperative doctor shopping among patients with nephrolithiasis requiring operative management. We retrospectively reviewed the records of consecutive patients residing in Tennessee who required ureteroscopy with laser lithotripsy for nephrolithiasis at a single institution from January to December 2013. Using the Tennessee CSMD (Controlled Substances Medication Database) patients were categorized by the number of postoperative narcotic providers. Doctor shopping behavior was identified as any patient seeking more than 1 narcotic provider within 3 months of surgery. Demographic and clinical characteristics associated with doctor shopping behavior were identified. During the study period 200 eligible patients underwent ureteroscopy with laser lithotripsy for nephrolithiasis, of whom 48 (24%) were prescribed narcotics by more than 1 provider after surgery. Compared to those receiving narcotics from a single provider, patients with multiple narcotic providers were younger (48.1 vs 54.2 years, p <0.001), less educated (high school education or less in 83.3% vs 58.7%, p = 0.014), more likely to have a history of mental illness (37.5% vs 16%, p <0.01) and more likely to have undergone prior stone procedures (66% vs 42%, p <0.01). Additionally, these patients demonstrated more frequent preoperative narcotic use (87.5% vs 63.2%), longer postoperative narcotic use (39.1 vs 6.0 days) and a higher morphine equivalent dose per prescription (44.7 vs 35.2 dose per day, each p <0.001). Postoperative doctor shopping is common among patients with nephrolithiasis who require operative management. Urologists should be aware of available registry data to decrease the likelihood of redundant narcotic prescribing.

Benzodiazepines May Be Worse Than Opioids

Opioid prescription for noncancer pain is increasing in Europe and the United States. Research and guidance have focused on the potential for dependency and medical side effects with high doses. In contrast, benzodiazepines have received little attention in the chronic pain literature, despite evidence for dependency and cognitive impairment in long-term use. We aimed to examine the relationship between these classes of medication use, mood, and functioning. This cross-sectional study included patients (N=229) with disabling chronic pain who were about to start intensive pain rehabilitation. They completed self-report measures of mood, functioning, and responses to pain. We examined each patient's medication use and calculated a single morphine equivalent (ME) dose per person, and a similar diazepam equivalent (DE) dose. We examined the relationship between drug dose, mood, and functioning. Higher DE doses were associated with worse outcomes in most domains. Higher ME doses were more narrowly associated with worse functioning. There was no evidence for any benefit of these drugs; higher doses were not associated with less pain, fear, or disability. Higher ME doses were not more problematic, contrary to our predictions. The combination of opioids and benzodiazepines was associated with particularly poor outcomes for mood. This study is the first to examine both opioid and benzodiazepine use together in chronic pain. We found the anticipated negative effects of opioid medication, and particularly consistent associations between benzodiazepine use and poor well-being. Future guidance on chronic pain prescription should focus on restricting benzodiazepine use.

Characteristics of patients receiving long-term opioid therapy for chronic noncancer pain: a cross-sectional survey of patients attending the Pain Management Centre at Hamilton General Hospital, Hamilton, Ontario

Characteristics of patients receiving long-term opioid therapy (≥6 months) for chronic noncancer pain are poorly understood. We conducted a cross-sectional survey of this patient population to explore demographic variables, pain relief, functional improvement, adverse effects and impressions of an educational pamphlet on long-term opioid therapy. We invited 260 adult patients presenting to the Pain Management Centre at the Hamilton General Hospital, Hamilton, Ontario, with chronic noncancer pain to complete a 20-item survey. Patients who presented for procedures were not eligible for our study. We used adjusted logistic regression models to explore the association between higher morphine equivalent dose and pain relief, functional improvement, adverse events and employment. The survey was completed by 170 patients (a response rate of 65.4%). Most respondents (87.6%; 149 out of 170) were receiving long-term opioid therapy, and the median morphine equivalent dose was 180 mg daily (interquartile range 60-501). Most respondents reported at least modest (>40%) opioid-specific pain relief (74.1%; 106 out of 143) and functional improvement (67.6%; 96 out of 142), and 46.5% (66 out of 142) reported troublesome adverse effects that they attributed to their opioid use. Most patients were receiving disability benefits (68.3%; 99 out of 145) and, among those respondents who were less than 65 years of age (90.3%; 131 out of 145), 10 (7.6%) were working full-time and 14 (10.7%) part-time. In our adjusted analyses, higher morphine equivalent dose was associated with greater self-reported functional improvement (odds ratio [OR] 1.45, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.07-1.96) but not with pain relief (OR 1.38, 95% CI 1.00-1.89), troublesome adverse effects (OR 0.92, 95% CI 0.70-1.20) or employment (OR 0.80, 95% CI 0.56-1.15). Most outpatients receiving long-term opioid therapy for chronic noncancer pain at a tertiary care chronic pain clinic reported at least moderate pain relief and functional improvement; however, adverse effects were common and few patients were engaged in competitive employment.

Is there a ceiling effect of transdermal buprenorphine? Preliminary data in cancer patients

The aim of this preliminary study was to explore the possibility of using higher doses of transdermal buprenorphine (TD-BUP) than those commonly used and available as manufactured patches, which are based on the assumption that BUP may have a ceiling effect that has never been determined yet. Ten patients who were already receiving TD-BUP (70 microg/h, which is about 1.6 mg/day) and were no longer responsive to this dosage were administered higher doses up to a maximum of 140 microg/h within 6 days, when the study was completed. In six patients, dose increments of TD-BUP were effective, and patients achieved adequate analgesia within 6 days. Four patients discontinued the treatment due to inefficacy of TD-BUP 140 microg/h and were switched to other opioids until achieving stabilization (oxycodone 320 and 400 mg/day, methadone 120 mg/day, transdermal fentanyl 200 microg/h). This group of patients required higher doses than those chosen for TD-BUP, underlying the need to escalate the dose rapidly, a modality not accomplished with transdermal drugs. Adverse effects did not change and were similar to those observed before increasing the dose of TD-BUP. On the basis of these preliminary data, patients requiring doses higher than 70 microg/h of TD-BUP, in the range of 105-140 microg/h, may still have an analgesic benefit without important consequences in terms of adverse effects. It cannot be excluded that even higher doses may be effective, as some patients required rapid titration with higher morphine equivalent doses, and according to the protocol, other opioids were provided to facilitate this process. Further studies should clarify the role and the benefit of TD-BUP in specific clinical circumstances.