A new study in Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology reveals that opioid prescriptions for chronic abdominal pain more than doubled between 1997 and 2008, according to an Anesthesiology News report.
Researchers found that the number of outpatient visits for abdominal pain decreased over time from 14.8 million visits in 1997 to 1999 to 12.2 million visits in 2006 through 2008. However, outpatient visits when an opioid was prescribed for abdominal pain increased from 5.9 percent in 1997 through 1999 to 12.2 percent in 2006 through 2008.
Researchers noted that the surge in prescriptions has been problematic, particularly because no study has shown opioids to be effective for treating chronic abdominal pain. To the contrary, opioids have been shown to worsen gastrointestinal symptoms when used over time.
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Researchers found that the number of outpatient visits for abdominal pain decreased over time from 14.8 million visits in 1997 to 1999 to 12.2 million visits in 2006 through 2008. However, outpatient visits when an opioid was prescribed for abdominal pain increased from 5.9 percent in 1997 through 1999 to 12.2 percent in 2006 through 2008.
Researchers noted that the surge in prescriptions has been problematic, particularly because no study has shown opioids to be effective for treating chronic abdominal pain. To the contrary, opioids have been shown to worsen gastrointestinal symptoms when used over time.
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