Research Long-term Risk of Overdose or Mental Health Crisis After Opioid Dose Tapering

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Long-term Risk of Overdose or Mental Health Crisis After Opioid Dose Tapering​

Joshua J. Fenton, MD, MPH; Elizabeth Magnan, MD, PhD; Irakis Erik Tseregounis, PhD; et al
JAMA
13 Jun 2022

Excerpt:

Question Is opioid dose tapering associated with reduced longer-term risks of overdose, withdrawal, or mental health crisis in patients prescribed long-term opioids?

Findings In this cohort study of 19 377 patients, in a posttaper period (beginning at least 12 months and extending up to 24 months after taper initiation) vs the pretaper period, the adjusted incidence rate ratios were 1.57 for overdose-withdrawal and 1.52 for a mental health crisis. Both were significant.

Meaning These findings suggest that opioid dose tapering was associated increased risks of overdose-withdrawal and mental health crisis that persisted up to 2 years after taper initiation.

Full article here.