Specialty Pharmacy ContinuumASCO Provides New Guideline for Opioids in Cancer Care

The update was based on the findings of 31 systematic reviews and 16 randomized controlled trials (RCTs) chosen from a total of 820 publications. The investigators set out to answer seven questions:

1. In what situations should opioids be prescribed?
2. Which opioids should be available?
3. When and how should opioids be started and titrated?
4. How should opioid-related side effects be avoided or managed?
5. In patients with renal or hepatic impairment, how should opioid use be modified?
6. How should acute pain be managed?
7. When and how do opioids need to be switched (rotated)?