New Guidelines for Prescribing Opioids Proposed by CDC
A proposal by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention would make changes in the opioid guidelines for use, which is directed to primary care physicians and others. The draft of the proposal is intended as an update to the 2016 guidelines released by the CDC for those with chronic pain. The reason for the new update is due to the misapplication of the guidelines by some providers, which could lead to placing patients at risk.
What Are the Issues With the 2016 Opioid Guidelines?
Four separate issues with the 2016 guidelines are felt by the CDC to potentially put patients at risk, and these are addressed and clarified in the new proposal:
- Misuse of the dosage recommendation: Clinicians are told to prescribe the lowest dosage that would be effective and to avoid increasing the dosage to 90 morphine milligram equivalents (MME) per day or more under the current opioid guidelines. Some clinicians have apparently taken this guideline to mean that opioids prescribed at higher doses be discontinued.
- Treatment of chronic pain: Some clinicians are applying the guidelines outside their scope. For example, the guideline is meant for primary care physicians and clinicians who are treating cases of chronic pain in those 18 or older. Misapplication of the guidelines includes treatment of patients actively being treated for cancer, those with post-surgical pain and sickle cell crises.
- Misused dosage recommendations: In some cases, those who are being treated for opioid use disorder are being treated outside the guidelines. Treatment that is medication-assisted is recommended for this condition, and the use of opioids in the guideline is for those with chronic pain.
- The opioid guidelines do not support suddenly discontinuing or abrupt tapering off of the drug: The guidelines emphasize assessing patients individually on the risks and benefits of opioid treatment. It does not recommend suddenly discontinuing or tapering off of these drugs because severe withdrawal symptoms can occur, and patients may look for other substitutes for the drug.
Clarification of the Language in the Proposed Guideline Changes
Under the proposed changes to the opioid guidelines, the duration of treatment is not suggested. However, hard thresholds for dosage of pain medications are included. The draft is aimed at those with chronic pain and subacute and acute conditions. The proposal is not meant to interfere with clinical judgment but as a tool to treat pain. The proposal does not apply to pain caused by cancer or sickle cell disease. Neither does it apply to those facing the end of their lives or palliative care.
Opioid Problems Contribute to Traffic Accidents
Impaired driving, whether from marijuana or opioid use or other drugs, contributes to all types of traffic accidents. When that occurs, those who are injured by those types of drivers can file a claim to recover compensation. Traffic accidents, whether they involve a vehicle, pedestrian, bicycle rider or motorcyclist, can cause severe injuries. Those injuries can result in high medical expenses, lost wages because you cannot work and pain and suffering.
At AutoAccident.com, our injury lawyers have successfully handled many claims, including those that involved drugged or drunk drivers. We investigate your case to collect the evidence needed to support your case and keep you in the loop on the progress we are making. Once the evidence has been gathered, our injury lawyers use it to build a strong case to support your recovery of compensation. We shoulder the burden, while you concentrate on getting better.
Sacramento Personal Injury Lawyer
I am Ed Smith, and I’m a Sacramento personal injury lawyer. If a drugged driver was the cause of your accident injuries, you can find out if you can file a claim to recover compensation by calling us at (916) 921-6400. You can also reach our injury lawyers by phoning (800) 404-5400 or contacting us online.
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