A 65-year-old man with chronic back pain phones his GP practice requesting a repeat prescription for high-dose Morphine that was started during a rece...

Question

A 65-year-old man with chronic back pain phones his GP practice requesting a repeat prescription for high-dose Morphine that was started during a recent inpatient stay. There is no clear discharge plan and he has been taking increasing doses. What is the most appropriate GP action?

Accepted Answer

Review him in person, assess pain, function and opioid use, and consider dose reduction or alternative strategies

Answer

Issue an indefinite repeat prescription without review

Answer

Refuse to prescribe any analgesia at all

Answer

Increase the dose over the phone if he reports ongoing pain

Answer

Ask him to buy over-the-counter analgesia instead

uk-plab-1 MCQ (SBA): Long-term opioid prescribing in chronic pain

A 65-year-old man with chronic back pain phones his GP practice requesting a repeat prescription for high-dose Morphine that was started during a recent inpatient stay. There is no clear discharge plan and he has been taking increasing doses. What is the most appropriate GP action?