Articles: opioid.
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Journal of anesthesia · Jun 2024
Randomized Controlled TrialEffect of remifentanil on three effect-site concentrations of propofol and their relationship during electroencephalography at loss of response, at maximum alpha power, and at onset of burst suppression: a prospective randomized trial.
The effect-site concentration (Ce) at loss of response (Ce-LOR) to propofol closely correlates both with Ce as electroencephalographic alpha power becomes highest (Ce-alpha) and with Ce at onset of burst suppression (BS) (Ce-OBS), when no opioids are administered. Co-administration of opioids dose-dependently decreases Ce-LOR. We investigated the influence of remifentanil on the relationship between these three Ces. ⋯ During propofol anesthesia, even low concentrations of remifentanil shifted concentration-related electroencephalographic changes.
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To determine whether the elimination of extended release (ER) opioids in the multimodal medication regimen of total knee replacement (TKR) patients resulted in improved patient outcomes. ⋯ Sixty patients were reviewed with a mean age at 70 years for both the pre-protocol (n = 36) and post-protocol groups (n = 34). There was a reduction in antiemetic use, t(59) = 2.2, p = .03 and length of stay, t(58) = 1.0, p = .33, and more discharges to home than rehab, x2 = 60, p < .001. All patients received 30 tablets of only one opioid prescription upon discharge with no refill, either oxycodone-IR (82%, n = 49), hydromorphone (5%, n = 3), or tramadol (12%, n = 7). The project, aimed to reduce opioid overprescription and overconsumption, has the potential to improve prescribing practices, promoting patient safety and healthcare quality by supporting the current guidelines that recommend against using ER opioids for the study population.
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J Pain Palliat Care Pharmacother · Jun 2024
Prevalence of Reluctance to Prescribe Opioids Among Physicians in Oncology Departments: A Descriptive Cross-Sectional Study From Turkey.
Cancer-related pain (CrP) is a significant public health problem, and opioids are the mainstay of CrP treatment. Considering the persistent problem of inadequate treatment of cancer pain in Turkey, the study was conducted to determine the prevalence of reluctance to prescribe opioids among physicians in oncology departments. The descriptive cross-sectional study included oncology residents and residents without oncology specialization in oncology departments. ⋯ A significant positive association was found between the factor associated with reluctance to prescribe opioids and fear of opioid use disorder (β = 0.964; 95% CI = 0.362-1.566; p = .002). Reluctance to prescribe opioids was inversely related to the oncology subspecialty (β = -0.878; 95% CI = -1.54 to -0.213; p = 0.010) and education about CrP and opioid management (β = -1.707; 95% CI = -2.404 to -1.009; p = 0.01). Reluctance to prescribe opioids appears to be associated with a lack of knowledge and fear of opioid use disorder.
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The COVID-19 pandemic led to severe disruptions in health care and a relaxation of rules surrounding opioid prescribing-changes which led to concerns about increased reliance on opioids for chronic pain and a resurgence of opioid-related harms. Although some studies found that opioid prescriptions increased in the first 6 months of the pandemic, we know little about the longer-term effects of the pandemic on opioid prescriptions. Further, despite the prevalence of pain in veterans, we know little about patterns of opioid prescriptions in the Veterans Health Administration (VA) associated with the pandemic. ⋯ These findings suggest that the pandemic was not associated with short- or long-term increases in opioid prescriptions or doses in the VA. PERSPECTIVE: This article examines opioid prescribing over a 3-year period-1 year prior to and 2 years after the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic-for VA patients with chronic low-back pain. Results indicate that, despite disruptions to health care, opioid prescriptions and doses decreased over the entire observation period.
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In the United States, there are no federal restrictions on the use of methadone to manage opioid withdrawal symptoms when patients are hospitalized with a medical or surgical condition other than addiction. In contrast, in an outpatient setting, methadone for opioid use disorder (OUD) is highly regulated by federal and state governments and can only be dispensed from an opioid treatment program (OTP). Discrepancies in regulatory requirements across these settings may lead to barriers in care for patients with OUD. ⋯ Strict methadone regulations have resulted in unintended consequences for patients with OUD in the hospital setting, during care transitions, and in the OTP setting. Recent and ongoing federal efforts to reform methadone provision may improve some of the reported challenges, but significant hurdles remain in providing safe, equitable care to hospitalized patients with OUD.