Patient Outcomes in Dose Reduction or Discontinuation of Long-Term Opioid Therapy

Patient Outcomes in Dose Reduction or Discontinuation of Long-Term Opioid Therapy: A Systematic Review – Annals of Internal Medicine (link to abstract – $ for full-text)

Commentaries: Tapering long-term opioid therapy may improve outcomes in chronic pain, review finds – ACP Internist (free) AND Opioid Reduction Therapy Offers Some Benefits to Patients with Chronic Pain – Physician’s First Watch (free) AND How tapering off opioids can help people with chronic pain – CNN (free)

“Opioid tapering:

– less pain: 8 of 8 studies

– Improved function: 5 of 5 studies

– Improved QOL: 3 of 3 studies” (RT @DavidJuurlink see Tweet)