High Doses of Opioids
More than 25% of dialysis patients received high doses of opioid that exceeded recommendations, according to a new study published in the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology. Researchers analyzed data collected from 2006-2010 that examined opioid prescriptions patients received while undergoing dialysis therapy.
The study found that patients with kidney failure frequently received opioid medications that exceeded the recommended dosage and were often used for long periods of time. Approximately 66% of dialysis patients received at least 1 opioid prescription every year. The study also found that dialysis patients who received higher doses of opioids had significantly higher risks of early death, dialysis withdrawal, and the need for hospitalization.
Researcher Paul Kimmel, MD, MACP, FASN, said, “Exploring other options to treat pain, such as medications and behavioral therapy, could help reduce these prescriptions in this population.”
