Guideline for Prescribing Opioids to Treat Pain in Injured Workers

Jaymie Mai; Gary Franklin; David Tauben

doi:10.1016/j.pmr.2015.04.005

Guideline for Prescribing Opioids to Treat Pain in Injured Workers

Phys Med Rehabil Clin N Am. 2015 Aug;26(3):453-65. doi: 10.1016/j.pmr.2015.04.005.

Authors

Jaymie Mai¹, Gary Franklin², David Tauben³

Affiliations

¹ Washington State Department of Labor and Industries, Olympia, WA, USA.
² Washington State Department of Labor and Industries, Olympia, WA, USA; Department of Environmental Health, Neurology and Health Services, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA. Electronic address: fral235@lni.wa.gov.
³ Division of Pain Medicine, Anesthesia and Pain Medicine, University of Washington Medical Center, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA.

PMID: 26231959
DOI: 10.1016/j.pmr.2015.04.005

Abstract

Recently, there has been a dramatic increase in the use of opioids to treat chronic noncancer pain. Opioids are also being prescribed in stronger potencies and larger doses for musculoskeletal injuries. In some cases, the use of opioids for work-related injuries may actually increase the likelihood of disability. Chronic opioid use is associated with increased risk for overdose morbidity and mortality and other nonfatal adverse outcomes. The risk of dependence and addiction is much more common than previously thought. This guideline provides recommendations for prudent opioid prescribing and addresses issues critical to the care and rehabilitation of injured workers.

Keywords: Acute pain; Addiction; Chronic pain; Injured workers; Opioids; Surgical pain; Workers’ compensation.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Analgesics, Opioid / therapeutic use*
Chronic Pain / drug therapy*
Chronic Pain / economics
Drug Prescriptions / standards*
Humans
Occupational Diseases / drug therapy*
Practice Guidelines as Topic / standards*
United States
Workers' Compensation

Substances

Analgesics, Opioid