Final answer:
When prescribing a CII opioid for a traumatic injury, a prescriber must evaluate the patient's history, limit the dose, consider non-opioid alternatives, inform the patient about risks, and monitor medication use, possibly through electronic prescriptions to mitigate the risk of addiction and misuse.
Step-by-step explanation:
Prescribing CII Opioids for Traumatic Injuries
A prescriber must take several critical steps when prescribing a CII opioid for a traumatic injury to ensure the safe and effective use of these potent medications. Considering the high potential for addiction and overdose, the prescriber must:
Evaluate the patient's medical history and current medication regimen to avoid harmful drug interactions, especially with central nervous system depressants like benzodiazepines.
Assess the need for such a high-level opioid, as the risk of addiction is significant, with up to one in four patients potentially struggling with opioid addiction during long-term therapy.
Limit the quantity to the lowest effective dose for the shortest period necessary, as physiological addiction to opiate drugs can develop in less than a week.
Consider alternatives for pain management, including non-opioid medications or other therapies, particularly for mild to moderate pain where drugs like codeine or acetaminophen may be sufficient.
Provide clear information to the patient regarding the risks of addiction, abuse, side effects, and the importance of following the prescribed dosage schedule.
Implement strategies for monitoring the patient's use of the medication, which may include follow-up appointments and potentially utilizing electronic prescriptions to track patterns that may indicate misuse.
Electronic prescriptions for opioids, as suggested by Gawande (2017), may help reduce the instances of prescription forgery and misuse, thereby addressing part of the opioid crisis.