OPIOID EQUIVALENCY

Course overview

OPIOIDS ARE OFTEN PRESCRIBED FOR CANCER-RELATED PAIN AND MODERATE-TO-SEVERE CHRONIC PAIN, ESPECIALLY PAIN THAT IS INADEQUATELY CONTROLLED WITH NON-OPIOID THERAPIES. CLINICIANS CAN IMPROVE THE LIVES OF PATIENTS LIVING WITH PAIN BY APPLYING KNOWLEDGE REGARDING OPIOID EQUIVALENT DOSING FOR OPIOID-TOLERANT PATIENTS ELIGIBLE FOR OPIOID ROTATION. THIS ACTIVITY REVIEWS THE IMPORTANCE OF ESTABLISHING AND CALCULATING OPIOID EQUIVALENCE BETWEEN VARIOUS AGENTS WHEN MAKING A THERAPEUTIC SWITCH, AND THE ROLE OF THE INTERPROFESSIONAL TEAM IN ENSURING THERAPEUTIC AND ANALGESIC EFFICACY WHILE SIMULTANEOUSLY MINIMIZING ADVERSE EVENTS.