Chronic pain affects millions of Americans, creating an estimated $600 billion each year in medical costs and lost productivity. While certain medications can help reduce pain and maintain quality of life, their long-term use comes with significant risks. A growing body of research shows that the right treatment approach can improve patient safety, even for those requiring long-term pain management.
Risks of Long-Term Pain Management Medications
Chronic pain affects millions of Americans, creating an estimated $600 billion each year in medical costs and lost productivity.
Medications used for chronic pain relief can present challenges, such as tolerance, dependence, and other potential risks, including:
Nausea and bowel disorders
Depression and anxiety
Sleep disturbances and abnormal breathing
Cardiovascular risks
Increased risk of falls
Hormone disruption
If a patient’s pain is best managed with long-term opioids, they likely have complex healthcare needs. This makes opioid use a complicated decision. Providers have to consider many factors, including the patient’s quality of life, when deciding whether to recommend continuing or tapering off medication use.
What New Research Shows
In a study described in Mayo Clinic Proceedings, researchers evaluated how the use of healthcare changed among 772 patients receiving long-term therapy for chronic, non-cancer pain. These patients were enrolled in a controlled substance agreement (CSA) in 2015.
Researchers looked at patient data 12 months before and after CSA enrollment. Specifically, they looked for a decrease of 1 or more hospitalizations or emergency department visits and 3 or more outpatient primary and specialty care visits.
Study results indicated that CSA enrollment was associated with decreased outpatient primary care visits. Among patients with greater comorbidity, CSA enrollment was associated with fewer outpatient primary care visits and reduced specialty care visits.
Qualities of an Effective Controlled Substance Agreement (CSA)
Patients enrolled in a CSA receive individualized care plans for managing their pain, including:
Psychological screening
Pain monitoring
Prescription monitoring programs
Drug testing
Advising CSA participants to have only one care team prescribe the opioids
Expectations for follow-up appointments among patients
Showing patients how to store medications safely
Warning patients not to share medications
Warning patients not to change doses without contacting the prescriber
Medication-Assisted Treatment for Dependency
For individuals struggling with dependency on certain medications, treatment options are available to reduce reliance.
Medication-assisted treatment (MAT) is a proven approach that combines FDA-approved medications with counseling and behavioral therapies. MAT provides an effective pathway for individuals managing dependency and may be tailored to the unique needs of each patient.
The FDA recommends that individuals seeking treatment for dependency be offered access to approved medications. Providers should work closely with patients to periodically reassess their need for MAT, which can sometimes be a long-term or indefinite solution.
Besides understanding of their patients’ treatment needs, behavioral health providers need the right tools to operate an effective practice. Contact BestNotes today to get started with EHR and CRM solutions tailored to your specific needs.