AWMSG resources on the use of opioids updated to account for MHRA Drug Safety Updates

In September 2020, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) published two Drug Safety Updates:

• Fentanyl patches for non-cancer pain: do not use in opioid-naive patients
• Opioids: risk of dependence and addiction

Following a review of the risks associated with use of opioid medicines for non-cancer pain, the Commission on Human Medicines (CHM) now recommends that fentanyl transdermal patches are contraindicated in opioid-naive patients in the UK. New recommendations have also been issued by the MHRA following a review of the risks of dependence and addiction associated with prolonged use of opioid medicines (opioids) for non-cancer pain. They recommend that before prescribing opioids, healthcare professionals should discuss with the patient the risks and features of tolerance, dependence, and addiction, and agree together a treatment strategy and plan for end of treatment.

To account for the Drug Safety Updates, the following AWMSG-endorsed resources have been updated to capture these key points:

• Persistent Pain Resources (Original publication October 2016 [Updated December 2020])
• Safeguarding Users of Opioid Patches by Standardising Patient and Caregiver Counselling (Original publication September 2016 [Updated December 2020])