Logo image
Use of a Simple Pain Assessment Tool in a Shared Decision-Making Approach to Tapering Chronic, High-Dose Opioids
Journal article   Open access   Peer reviewed

Use of a Simple Pain Assessment Tool in a Shared Decision-Making Approach to Tapering Chronic, High-Dose Opioids

CUREUS JOURNAL OF MEDICAL SCIENCE, v 13(10), e18892
19 Oct 2021
PMID: 34804736
url
https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.18892View
Published, Version of Record (VoR) Open

Abstract

Because of the opioid overdose epidemic, over the past decade, efforts have been made to reduce opioid prescribing. However, tapering patients off their chronic opioid medications can lead to opioid withdrawal and increased chronic pain, use of illicit opioids, mental health crisis, and opioid overdose. Strategies for safely tapering opioids are needed because of these risks. This case report describes a 57-year-old male suffering from chronic back pain who had been on high-dose opioids for over 20 years. Using shared decision-making, a simple pain assessment tool, and a patient-guided taper schedule, he was able to taper off his opioids completely. This case highlights a successful opioid taper and presents simple strategies that can be used by patients and clinicians who are working to reduce chronic high-dose opioid use.

Metrics

Details

UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

This publication has contributed to the advancement of the following goals:

#3 Good Health and Well-Being

InCites Highlights

Data related to this publication, from InCites Benchmarking & Analytics tool:

Web of Science research areas
Medicine, General & Internal
Logo image