Opioid overdose related to variable dosages, claims study

Washington DC: One study reported that patients who were prescribed opioid badgesics but who continuously changed their dosage were three times more likely to overdose than those who were on stable opioids. "Our study suggests that the safe management of long-term opioid therapy is complex," said Ingrid Binswanger, co-author of the study published in the journal "JAMA Network Open."

The study also found that patients who stopped opioid treatment for three months or longer were at risk of overdosing by half. "This study suggests that increasing or decreasing opioid doses – also called dose variability – could present an increased risk of overdose." This study also showed us that the eventual interruption of Treatment with opioids could prevent overdoses, "said Ingrid.

She went on to say: "Through further studies, we hope to find out how providers can help patients with pain without unnecessarily putting them at risk because of rapid dose changes." The study lasted 12 years and involved 14,000 people who received long-term opioid therapy.

Researchers used electronic health records to track patients' history to determine whether they had dose changes and overdoses caused by opioid badgesics and other opioid medications.

"Our goal is to help identify the safest and most effective approaches to managing long-term opioid therapy.We want to be able to minimize patients' pain and reduce their risk of overdose." ", said Jason Glanz, co-author of the study.