Use Treatment Agreements to Improve Opioid Safety

April 2014

More prescribers will rely on treatment agreements or "pain contracts" for chronic pain patients taking controlled substances.

These agreements get the patient and prescriber on the same page about pain management...with a goal to reduce misuse and improve safety.

Agreements are recommended by pain guidelines...and required by some state medical boards...for patients taking long-term pain meds.

Get concise, unbiased advice for effective drug therapy, plus CE/CME

Prescriber's Letter includes:

12 issues every year, with brief articles about new meds and guidelines
48+ CE courses, including the popular CE-in-the-Letter
Quick reference drug comparison charts
Access to the entire archive

Subscribe Today!

Already a subscriber? Log in

Volume pricing available. Get a quote

Table of Contents

Diabetes Choose Metformin Add-Ons Based on A1C, Side Effects, Cost
Hypertension Focus on Urgent FOLLOW-UP for Most Patients With Severe HTN
Women's Health Reassure Pregnant Women That Acetaminophen Is Safer Than NSAIDs
COPD Consider Anoro Instead of Twice Daily Combivent for COPD
Neurology & Pain Be Aware That Zohydro ER is a NON-Tamper Resistant Long-Acting Hydrocodone
Neurology & Pain Use Treatment Agreements to Improve Opioid Safety
Asthma Consider Short Course of Dexamethasone for Asthma Exacerbations in Kids
Men's Health Choose a PDE5 Inhibitor Based on Cost and Convenience
Heart Failure Titrate Digoxin Doses for A Fib to Target Heart Rate and NOT a Specific Level
Stroke Minimize Stroke Risk in Younger Women
Ulcers Stop Stress Ulcer Prophylaxis When Patients Leave the ICU
Phosphate Separate Doses of Velphoro From Levothyroxine, Doxycycline, or Bisphosphonates
Restless Legs Continue to Use Dopamine Agonists First for Restless Legs Syndrome