Only a quarter of opioid analgesics taken after most surgeries

WEDNESDAY, November 7, 2018 (HealthDay News) – A new study reveals that surgical patients typically use only one-quarter of the opioids prescribed for postoperative pain.

And these remaining pills represent a risk of abuse, addiction and overdose, said researchers at the University of Michigan.

"It is striking to note the major discrepancy between the amount prescribed and the amount actually absorbed by patients," said Dr. Joceline Vu, an experienced author of the study. She is a surgical resident and a research scientist at Michigan Medicine.

"This is not a phenomenon of a few outstanding surgeons – this has been observed throughout the state and in many operations," said Vu in a press release issued by a university.

In this study, researchers analyzed data from nearly 2,400 patients who underwent one of the 12 most common types of surgery in 33 Michigan hospitals. On average, patients took only 27% of the opioids (such as OxyContin) that were prescribed to them. However, for each additional 10 prescribed pills, patients took five.

The researchers found that the median number of prescribed pills was 30 and the median number used was nine.

Patients operated for hernia repair – open or minimally invasive surgery – took the most opioids, while those whose appendix or thyroid had been removed took the least, according to the results.

But the size of the opioid prescription was a more important factor in the number of pills that a patient was taking, than his pain scores, the intensity of his operation, and his personal factors, said the authors of the study.

According to the first author of the study, Dr. Ryan Howard, "we tell patients what kind of pain to expect after surgery and the number of pills we give them.We define their expectations – and patient expectations play out. important role in their experience of postoperative pain, so if they receive 60 pain tablets, they think they need to take more than one. "

Howard, a surgical resident at Michigan Medicine, added, "We hope that, by highlighting the difference between the size of the prescription and its actual use, we will be able to give surgeons the means to change their habits regarding to prescribe and better manage their larger community patient. "

The report was published November 7 in the journal JAMA Surgery.

More information

The US National Institute on Drug Abuse has more on prescription opioids.