Opioid Use in People with Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS)
Method
From October 23, 2008, 12:00 pm, to November 2, 2008, 12:00 pm, a survey was conducted by the RSDSA regarding the use of opioids in people with CRPS, and specifically, the thoughts of this population, and their caregivers, about abuse-deterrent components in opioids. The survey was sent via e-mail to 4,959 contacts from the Electronic Alert listserv of the RSDSA. Of these 4,959 invitations, there were 513 completed survey responses (10.34%). The survey consisted of 7 questions surrounding the topics of opioid use, physician prescription of opioids, and abuse-deterrent components in opioids (See ‘Question-Answer Details’ for the survey questions).
Results
Of the 513 responses of people with CRPS, 422 (82.2%) use opioid medications for their pain (opioids were defined as a class of controlled pain-management drugs that contain natural or synthetic chemicals based on morphine, the active component of opium. Morphine, codeine, oxycodone, and related drugs are among the opioids). Of the 82.2% of respondents currently taking opioids for their pain, 49.3% take a sustained-release opioid to manage their pain.
A majority of respondents (87.1%) would not be deterred from taking an opioid if it contained an abuse-deterrent component, and a number of comments had the sentiment of one respondent “Patients w/true pain don't want to get ‘high’ we just want the pain gone” (See Appendices I-IV for additional comments). Respondents were about split (Yes: 44.8%; No: 55.1%) on the issue of whether or not caregivers would feel more comfortable if they were taking an opioid that included an abuse-deterrent component.
Question-Answer Details
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Added November 17, 2008 |
