Retrospective analysis of opiod analgesics prescription in Outpatient pain clinic in Clinical centre of Serbia: Prescribed doses of opioid analgesics

Introduction: Chronic pain is typically defined as pain lasting longer than 3 months or beyond the expected period of healing. Methods: the global health issue followed by psychosocial and economic costs. Opioid analgesics are still the inevitable part of chronic pain treatment. The retrospective cohort study included all patients examined during the first 8 months in 2014. and 2015. Opioid doses were calculated in morphine equivalent doses. Results: In 2014. the total of 232 patients were examined. Among cancer pain patients, 90.7% of them received opioids. To sixty three percent of patients suffering from non-cancer pain the opiod therapy had been prescribed. During the same period in 2015 the total of 558 patients were examined. Opioid therapy had been prescribed to 32.08% of patients suffering from non-cancer pain while opioid treatment received 65.92% of patients diagnosed with cancer pain. We found significant difference between number of examined non-cancer patients in 2014. and 2015. as well as gender difference between cancer and non-cancer pain. Opioids were more frequently prescribed to cancer patients but there is no difference in average amount of opioids prescribed for the type of pain. Discussion: Average prescribed daily dose of opioids in our cohort were less than maximum recommended. Conclusion: The physician and the patient should discuss the potential benefits and harms of opioid analgesics compared to those of other drugs and/or non-invasive procedures.