• Gitte Handberg, Anette Bendiksen, Eva McGehee, and Regitze Vrads.
• Odense Universitetshospital, Smertecenter Syd, Odense C. Gitteh@dadlnet.dk
• Ugeskr. Laeg. 2007 Oct 8;169(41):3486-8.

IntroductionIn this study the consequences of following the Nordic recommendation for treating chronic pain patients with opioids are illustrated with regard to how many patients started and how many ended opioid treatment, what was the success rate for going from short-acting to long-acting opioids and what were the consequences for the daily doses of going from short-acting to long-acting opioids.Materials And MethodsDuring the study period patients revisited the Pain Centre 6 months after treatment had ended. It was documented whether each patient was treated with opioids initially as well as any changes in the opioid prescription during their treatment.Results2/3 of the patients were initially in opioid treatment, 1 patient began while 25% were weaned off opioids during treatment. 88% percent of the patients initially on opioids were changed from short-acting to long-acting opioids. The number of patients who had their opioid doses increased with this change was approximately the same as the number of patients who had their doses reduced and the percent of changes was almost identical.ConclusionFollowing the Nordic recommendations for treating chronic pain patients with opioids can help to minimise the number of opioid users. The recommendation for going from short-acting to long-acting opioids can be accomplished in daily routine and in this study there is no indication that changing from short-acting to long-acting opioids per se increases daily doses.

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