Dose Tapering, Increases, and Discontinuity among Patients on Long-Term High-Dose Opioid Therapy in the United States, 2017-2019

Original research
by
Nataraj, Nisha et al

Release Date

2022

Geography

USA

Language of Resource

English

Full Text Available

No

Open Access / OK to Reproduce

No

Peer Reviewed

Yes

Objective

To examine potentially unsafe tapering and discontinuation among dosage changes in opioid prescriptions dispensed to US patients on high-dose long-term opioid therapy.

Findings/Key points

Half of patients on high-dose long-term opioid therapy had daily dosages tapered. Many patients experienced dosage reductions exceeding recommended rates. Rapid tapers were more likely among patients with baseline daily dosages ≥150 MME.

Design/methods

Longitudinal observational study (n=595,078)

Keywords

About PWUD
Withdrawal