Schedule II Opioids Associated with Emergency Department Visits

UseUseUse of Schedule II Opioids Associated with Emergency Department Visits

Use of Schedule II opioids, headache, back pain, and substance use disorders are associated with emergency department visits and alcohol- or drug-related encounters (ADEs) among adults prescribed opioids for 90 days or more, according to a study published in the Archives of Internal Medicine.

The study, titled, “Emergency Department Visits Among Recipients of Chronic Opioid Therapy,” used data from administrative claim records obtained from the Arkansas Medicaid and HealthCore commercially insured enrollees.

The enrollees were age 18 and older, andused prescription opioids for at least 90 continuous days with a six-month period from 2000 to 2005.

The researchers used regression analysis to examine risk factors or emergency department visits (EDVs) and alcohol- or drug-related encounters (ADEs) in the 12 months following 90 days or more of prescribed opioids.

They found that headache, back pain, and preexisting substance use disorders were significantly associated with EDVs and ADEs. Additonally, mental health disorders were associated with EDVs in HealthCore enrollees and with ADEs in both samples.

Opioid dose per day doubled the risk of ADEs at morphine-equivalent doses over 120mg/d.

The use of short-acting DEA schedule II opioids was also associated with EDVs compared with the use of non-schedule II opioids alone. The use of schedule II long-acting opioids was strongly associated with ADEs.

Based on the results, the authors concluded that “It may be possible to increase the safety of chronic opioid therapy by minimizing the prescription of Schedule II opioids in these higher-risk recipients.”

http://dx.doi.org/10.1001/archinternmed.2010.273 of Schedule II Opioids Associated with Emergency Department Visits

Use of Schedule II opioids, headache, back pain, and substance use disorders are associated with emergency department visits (EDVs) and alcohol- or drug-related encounters (ADEs) among adults prescribed opioids for 90 days or more, according to a study published in the Archives of Internal Medicine.

The study, titled, “Emergency Department Visits Among Recipients of Chronic Opioid Therapy,” used data from administrative claim records obtained from the Arkansas Medicaid and HealthCore commercially insured enrollees.

The enrollees were age 18 and older, andused prescription opioids for at least 90 continuous days with a six-month period from 2000 to 2005.

The researchers used regression analysis to examine risk factors or emergency department visits (EDVs) and alcohol- or drug-related encounters (ADEs) in the 12 months following 90 days or more of prescribed opioids.

They found that headache, back pain, and preexisting substance use disorders were significantly associated with EDVs and ADEs. Additonally, mental health disorders were associated with EDVs in HealthCore enrollees and with ADEs in both samples.

Opioid dose per day doubled the risk of ADEs at morphine-equivalent doses over 120mg/d.

The use of short-acting DEA schedule II opioids was also associated with EDVs compared with the use of non-schedule II opioids alone. The use of schedule II long-acting opioids was strongly associated with ADEs.

Based on the results, the authors concluded that “It may be possible to increase the safety of chronic opioid therapy by minimizing the prescription of Schedule II opioids in these higher-risk recipients.”

http://dx.doi.org/10.1001/archinternmed.2010.273of Schedule II Opioids Associated with Emergency Department Visits

Use of Schedule II opioids, headache, back pain, and substance use disorders are associated with emergency department visits (EDVs) and alcohol- or drug-related encounters (ADEs) among adults prescribed opioids for 90 days or more, according to a study published in the Archives of Internal Medicine.

The study, titled, “Emergency Department Visits Among Recipients of Chronic Opioid Therapy,” used data from administrative claim records obtained from the Arkansas Medicaid and HealthCore commercially insured enrollees.

The enrollees were age 18 and older, andused prescription opioids for at least 90 continuous days with a six-month period from 2000 to 2005.

The researchers used regression analysis to examine risk factors or emergency department visits (EDVs) and alcohol- or drug-related encounters (ADEs) in the 12 months following 90 days or more of prescribed opioids.

They found that headache, back pain, and preexisting substance use disorders were significantly associated with EDVs and ADEs. Additonally, mental health disorders were associated with EDVs in HealthCore enrollees and with ADEs in both samples.

Opioid dose per day doubled the risk of ADEs at morphine-equivalent doses over 120mg/d.

The use of short-acting DEA schedule II opioids was also associated with EDVs compared with the use of non-schedule II opioids alone. The use of schedule II long-acting opioids was strongly associated with ADEs.

Based on the results, the authors concluded that “It may be possible to increase the safety of chronic opioid therapy by minimizing the prescription of Schedule II opioids in these higher-risk recipients.”

http://dx.doi.org/10.1001/archinternmed.2010.273Use of Schedule II Opioids Associated with Emergency Department Visits

Use of Schedule II opioids, headache, back pain, and substance use disorders are associated with emergency department visits (EDVs) and alcohol- or drug-related encounters (ADEs) among adults prescribed opioids for 90 days or more, according to a study published in the Archives of Internal Medicine.

The study, titled, “Emergency Department Visits Among Recipients of Chronic Opioid Therapy,” used data from administrative claim records obtained from the Arkansas Medicaid and HealthCore commercially insured enrollees.

The enrollees were age 18 and older, andused prescription opioids for at least 90 continuous days with a six-month period from 2000 to 2005.

The researchers used regression analysis to examine risk factors or emergency department visits (EDVs) and alcohol- or drug-related encounters (ADEs) in the 12 months following 90 days or more of prescribed opioids.

They found that headache, back pain, and preexisting substance use disorders were significantly associated with EDVs and ADEs. Additonally, mental health disorders were associated with EDVs in HealthCore enrollees and with ADEs in both samples.

Opioid dose per day doubled the risk of ADEs at morphine-equivalent doses over 120mg/d.

The use of short-acting DEA schedule II opioids was also associated with EDVs compared with the use of non-schedule II opioids alone. The use of schedule II long-acting opioids was strongly associated with ADEs.

Based on the results, the authors concluded that “It may be possible to increase the safety of chronic opioid therapy by minimizing the prescription of Schedule II opioids in these higher-risk recipients.”

http://dx.doi.org/10.1001/archinternmed.2010.273