3 Contact Hour Best Practices for Prescribing Opioids in Chronic Non-Cancer Pain

Course overview

Describe how to assess patients for the appropriateness of treatment with opioid analgesics. Explain how to start opiate therapy, change dosages, and discontinue treatment with opioid analgesics. Recognize the types of written agreements that can be used to initiate and monitor therapy with opioid analgesics. Describe how to monitor patients on opiate therapy, including high-risk patients and those showing signs of abuse. Explain the side effects associated with opiate treatment, including management of side effects. Discuss switching between opiates and variables that may influence opioid rotation. Describe the important points that must be conveyed to the patient during patient consultation. Explain general and product-specific information related to the prescribing of extended-release/long-acting opiates.