Calls to cut post-surgery painkillers as opioid addiction becomes a killer

Rampant painkiller prescriptions after surgery needS to be scaled back and patients offered the chance of a drug buyback scheme to rid their cupboards of dangerous medicines, pain specialists say.

The widespread use of painkillers to recover from surgery needs to be scaled back and re-examined, according to an international team of experts led by Melbourne researchers.

Measures to roll out specialised pain clinics and establish drug “take back” events similar to gun buyback schemes are also being called for to combat the growing opioid crisis and overdoses from medications such as oxycodone.

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A global review into the use of opioids after surgery led by The Alfred hospital’s Prof Paul Myles found poorly controlled use of the strong drugs is leading to long-term chronic pain for about one in 10 patients.

“The opioid painkillers can make the pain worse,” Prof Myles said.

“The nerve pathways are being inflamed or activated by the opioids.

A team of Melbourne researchers says the widespread use of painkillers to recover from surgery needs to be scaled back and re-examined.

“If the pain is not being relieved by the opioids like oxycodone or fentanyl, and you give higher doses, you get tolerance.

“On top of that, the person can then get addicted or tablets at home (are) being used for the wrong reason, or somebody steals or sells their tablets — all these things have been happening.”

Around the world the use of prescription opioids more than doubled between 2001 and 2013, with 7.3 billion daily doses of the drugs prescribed per year, while Victorian deaths from prescription medicines have outnumbered the road toll for the past six years.

Prof Myles said alternatives such as paracetamol should replace opioids if treatment extended for weeks.