Are opioid analgesics taken for more than 90 days effective for patients with chronic low back pain (CLBP)?. Issue 5 (May 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Jaiswal, Arpana; Scherrer, Jeffrey F.; Saleem, Fheza
• Is Part Of: Evidence-based practice. Volume 20:Issue 5(2017)
• Publication Date: 2017-05
• DOI: 10.1097/01.EBP.0000541711.43692.d4
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1095-4120

Abstract

Abstract : Bottom line : Opioid analgesics reduce pain more than placebo in patients with CLBP; however, few trials used opioids for more than 90 days and adverse events were more common with opioids (SOR: B, meta‐analysis of RCTs at risk of bias). Opioids do not reduce pain more than nonopioid analgesics in patients with CLBP or chronic noncancer pain (CNCP) (SOR: B, metaanalyses of RCTs at risk of bias). Patients treated with opioids for CLBP and CNCP experience more non‐life‐threatening adverse events and discontinue therapy due to adverse events more frequently than patients treated with nonopioid analgesics (SOR: B, meta‐analyses of RCTs at risk of bias).