Q. I’ve been on a stable dose of opioid pain relievers for years, but my doctor’s office just informed me their practice will no longer prescribe opioids to any of their patients for chronic pain. What are my options?
A
This has been a common experience over the last several years in response to the opioid overdose epidemic and a shifting workforce of prescribers. Your current provider should offer you some options if they will no longer prescribe opioids. One option is to slowly reduce your dose of opioids and try other medications and methods to manage your pain. Many patients have had side effects with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as gastritis or ulcer, are on blood thinners, or have kidney disease and can’t take NSAIDS and have more limited options of oral pain relief medications. You may find you can taper off the opioid medications. If you have been taking opioids regularly for more than a few weeks, you may experience withdrawal symptoms, which can last a few days to a week.
