Best Practices for Prescribing Opioids in Chronic Non-Cancer Pain
About the Course:
This course focuses on best practices for prescribing opioids for chronic non-cancer pain. It will emphasize the importance of appropriate prescribing of opiates, as well as using patient education to promote the safe use of long-acting opiates. This course offers pharmacists a solid foundation for responsible and vigilant opioid use.
“This course will [partially] fulfill the DEA-mandated 8 hours of training on the treatment and management of patients with opioid or other substance use disorders for DEA licensees renewing on or after June 27, 2023.”
Learning objectives
After completing this course, the leaner should be able to:
- Describe how to assess patients for the appropriateness of treatment with opioid analgesics.
- Explain how to start opiate therapy, change dosages, and discontinue treatment with opioid analgesics.
- Recognize the types of written agreements that can be used to initiate and monitor therapy with opioid analgesics.
- Describe how to monitor patients on opiate therapy, including high risk patients and those showing signs of abuse.
- Explain the side effects associated with opiate treatment, including management of side effects.
- Discuss switching between opiates and variables that may influence opioid rotation.
- Describe the important points that must be conveyed to the patient during patient consultation.
- Explain general and product-specific information related to the prescribing of extended-release/long-acting opiates.
About the Author:
Katie Ingersoll-Blair, Pharm.D., R.Ph., is a community pharmacist, consultant and freelance writer who specializes in pharmacy education. She has performed freelance work writing and editing practice questions for various pharmacy technician exams, as well as has written and revised continuing education programs for pharmacists and pharmacy technicians. She has also written for Natural Standard, summarizing research studies on dietary supplements, and working on the company blog. Dr. Ingersoll-Blair graduated from Northeastern University in Boston, Massachusetts in 2009 with a Doctor of Pharmacy degree.
How to receive credit:
- A minimum test score of 75% is needed to obtain a credit.
Activity Type - Knowledge-based
Target Audience - Pharmacists, Pharmacists Technicians
Disclosures:
- Contact hours will be awarded through the expiration date.
- You must score 75% or higher on the final exam and complete the course evaluation to pass this course and have your record of completion submitted through CPE Monitor and to the NABP.
- Through our review process, Colibri Healthcare, LLC ensures that this course content is presented in a balanced, unbiased manner and is free from commercial influence. It is Colibri Healthcare, LLC's policy not to accept commercial support.
- All persons involved in the planning and development of this course have disclosed no relevant financial relationships or other conflicts of interest related to the course content.
Colibri Healthcare, LLC is accredited by the Accreditation Council of Pharmacy Education (ACPE) as a provider of continuing pharmaceutical education. (Provider #0607).