DERMATOLOGISTS ADDRESS RESPONSIBLE OPIOID PRESCRIBING PRACTICES IN NEW GUIDELINES
Recommendations suggest that opioids are not routinely needed for pain management after most dermatologic procedures, and minimizing their use helps improve patient care and safety
Newswise — ROSEMONT, Ill. (Nov. 18, 2019) — According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the National Institutes of Health (NIH), overdose deaths involving prescription opioids increased nearly 400% from 1999 to 2017.[1],[2] In 2017, more than 70,000 Americans died from drug overdoses, and almost 68% of these deaths involved a prescription or illicit opioid.[3] While the CDC has released general opioid prescribing recommendations for health care providers, there remains a need for guidelines that are specific to dermatologic procedures to address variation in prescribing patterns and practices.
That’s why a group of 40 board-certified dermatologists, including Mohs micrographic surgeons, dermatopathologists and cosmetic dermatologists, convened to develop consensus recommendations for opioid management following some of the most common dermatologic procedures. These procedure-specific recommendations were published online in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology.
“The hope is that this will serve as a tool to help safely guide the management of patients’ post-procedural pain,” said board-certified dermatologist and Mohs surgeon, Lindsey Collins, MD, FAAD, who played a key role in the guidelines’ creation. “We think it will help curb potential opioid misuse by addressing pain in a procedure-specific manner.”
After extensive discussion, the panel of dermatologists developed recommendations for 87 of the most common dermatologic procedures, measured by morphine milligram equivalents (MME):
- Routine opioid prescriptions are unnecessary for 66 of the procedures, as these can be adequately managed with acetaminophen and/or ibuprofen.
- A prescription of 1-10 opioids (equal to oxycodone 5mg) for the duration of the patient’s recovery may be necessary for 16 of the procedures, including scalp and cheek reconstruction.
- A prescription of 1-15 opioids (equal to oxycodone 5mg) for the duration of the patient’s recovery may be necessary for only one of the procedures: upper lip reconstruction, known as the Abbe flap.
- No procedure routinely requires more than 15 opioids (equal to oxycodone 5mg).
Lead study author and dermatology resident at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center Justin McLawhorn, MD, said that many of the procedures that require 1-10 opioids are performed by dermatologists and Mohs surgeons on a daily basis. In comparison, the sole scenario requiring up to 15 opioid tablets is a complex repair that is not often performed. He also pointed out that the recommendations are presented in a quick-reference manner, enabling dermatologists to easily consult the suggested personalized pain management for their patients.
As Dr. McLawhorn notes, the guidelines are not meant to be a one-size-fits-all solution, and are only meant to apply to patients who do not experience any complications during or after the procedure. He suggests that dermatologists should have a discussion with their patients about their expectations for managing post-procedural pain, including the risks of opioid use. “These recommendations must be individualized to accommodate each patient on a case-by-case basis while ensuring that all patients receive safe, effective pain treatment,” he said. “The guidelines are another tool in dermatologists’ arsenal that can be used to provide adequate pain counseling for patients undergoing these procedures.”
The authors are also hopeful that the new recommendations will resonate with patients. “We think patients will appreciate that their dermatologists are taking steps to limit the over-prescription of opioid pills,” said Dr. Collins.
The CDC warns that taking prescription opioids for long periods of time can increase the risk of addiction and overdose, yet despite the evidence of potential for abuse and misuse of opioids, more than 191 million opioid prescriptions were given to American patients in 2017.[4] Statistics such as this one, say the authors, make these guidelines all the more timely and crucial for dermatologists to help lead and serve as patient advocates in confronting the opioid crisis. “Countering the opioid epidemic will require physicians to re-evaluate their current practice patterns, and we are providing this tool for dermatologists as a starting point to reduce opioid addiction and opioid-related deaths,” said Dr. McLawhorn. “These guidelines are one step in the process of producing meaningful change in the prudent use of opioids.”
To find a board-certified dermatologist in your area, visit aad.org/findaderm.
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Nicole Dobkin, (847) 240-1746, [email protected]
Cristina Mutchler, (847) 240-1714, [email protected]
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About the AAD
Headquartered in Rosemont, Ill., the American Academy of Dermatology, founded in 1938, is the largest, most influential, and most representative of all dermatologic associations. With a membership of more than 20,000 physicians worldwide, the AAD is committed to: advancing the diagnosis and medical, surgical and cosmetic treatment of the skin, hair and nails; advocating high standards in clinical practice, education, and research in dermatology; and supporting and enhancing patient care for a lifetime of healthier skin, hair and nails. For more information, contact the AAD at (888) 462-DERM (3376) or aad.org. Follow the AAD on Facebook (American Academy of Dermatology), Twitter (@AADskin), Instagram (@AADskin1), or YouTube (AcademyofDermatology).
About JAAD
The Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology is the most widely read dermatology journal in the world, according to Kantar Media. JAAD was the second most-cited dermatology journal in 2017, according to Thomson Reuters’ impact factor report. Follow @JAADJournals on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
[1] CDC. New Data Show Growing Complexity of Drug Overdose Deaths in America. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2018/p1221-complexity-drug-overdose.html. Published 2018. Updated December 21, 2018.
[2] CDC. Opioid Overdose. National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/drugoverdose/index.html. Updated 2019.
[3] NIH. Overdose Death Rates. National Institutes of Health https://www.drugabuse.gov/related-topics/trends-statistics/overdose-death-rates. Updated 2019.
[4] CDC. 2018 Annual Surveillance Report of Drug-Related Risks and Outcomes — United States. Surveillance Special Report 2pdf icon. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Published August 31, 2018.
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