Don’t continue opioid analgesia beyond the immediate postoperative period; prescribe the lowest effective dose and number of doses required to address the expected pain.

Rationale and Comments

The use of opioid analgesia for pain is often appropriate in surgical patient care. However, due to the emergence of opioid use disorder as a public health epidemic, the appropriate use of opioid therapy must begin with adherence to minimum prescribing in terms of dose, duration, and quantity.

Sponsoring Organizations

American Urological Association

Sources

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Disciplines

Neurologic
Surgical

References

Dowell D, Haegerich TM, Chou R. CDC Guideline for Prescribing Opioids for Chronic Pain — United States, 2016. MMWR Recomm Rep 2016;65(No. RR-1):1–49. DOI: dx.doi.org/10.15585/mmwr.rr6501e1; www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/65/rr/rr6501e1.htm.