A 66-year-old man with chronic non-cancer low back pain has been on escalating doses of long-acting opioids for several years with limited functional ...

Question

A 66-year-old man with chronic non-cancer low back pain has been on escalating doses of long-acting opioids for several years with limited functional improvement and frequent early refill requests. According to Canadian opioid stewardship guidelines, what is the most appropriate next step?

Accepted Answer

Reassess pain, function, and risk, and consider a gradual, collaborative opioid taper while optimising non-opioid therapies

Answer

Continue to increase opioid dose to achieve complete pain relief

Answer

Abruptly stop opioids without discussion

Answer

Switch to injectable opioids

Answer

Ignore opioid-related risks because pain is subjective

ca-mccqe1 MCQ (SBA): Chronic pain and opioid stewardship

A 66-year-old man with chronic non-cancer low back pain has been on escalating doses of long-acting opioids for several years with limited functional improvement and frequent early refill requests. According to Canadian opioid stewardship guidelines, what is the most appropriate next step?