Patients who cease opioids end up in less pain: study

The results are from pain clinics but one GP argues primary care can achieve similar outcomes
Dr Milana Votrubec
Dr Milana Votrubec.

Patients who quit prescription opioids with specialist pain care are more likely to improve than those who remain on the drugs, five years of Australian data suggest.

But referral to a pain clinic shouldn’t be necessary, Sydney GP Dr Milana Votrubec argues, because such patients can achieve similar outcomes in general practice.