This conscious guideline advises doctors to use after an operation prescribe powerful painkillers such as oxycodone more quickly. So say anesthetist Albert Dahan and clinical epidemiologists Willem Lruiking and Frits Rosendaal of the Leiden University Medical Center (LUMC).
‘Opiatenepidemie’
These so-called opiates, such as oxycodone, have in many cases replaced lighter painkillers, such as ibuprofen and diclofenac. Increasing use also leads to more complications, such as poisoning.
In 2017, more than 200 people died from the use of heavy painkillers, RTL News reported last August; nearly 50 percent more compared to 2013. “A significant increase,” said anesthetist Dahan at the time.
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In an article in the scientific journal Scientific Reports, the researchers argue for amendment of the guideline. They speak of an ‘opiate epidemic’, which must be urgently countered.
More than a million users
Dahan, Lijfersing and Rosendaal already signaled the increase last year, but they could not explain it at that time. They conclude from further research that the guideline is the problem. “We found no indications of an increase in pain in the population,” says L figureing. “A growth in illegal use also explained the increase insufficiently.”
The researchers did see a clear link between the decrease of so-called NSAID painkillers (anti-inflammatory painkillers such as ibuprofen and naproxen) and an increase in opiate use. They state that in 2017 more than a million people in the Netherlands used an opiate. In the same year, hospitals admitted 2,200 patients with opiate poisoning.
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Change guideline
A change of the guideline is in order, according to the three LUMC employees. The amended guideline should advise doctors to prescribe an opiate less often. That is in line with the view of former Minister of Medical Care Bruno Bruins.
If nothing changes, the researchers don’t think the number of serious complications from powerful painkillers will decrease.
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