give long-acting opioids more frequently than the preferred dosing schedule recommended by the product manufacturer
March 2008
Many prescribers give long-acting opioids more frequently than the preferred dosing schedule recommended by the product manufacturer.
Some patients use fentanyl patches every 24 to 48 hours...instead of every 72 hours. Many OxyContin and MS Contin users end up taking them TID to QID...rather than BID.
Recommend increasing the DOSE before decreasing the dosing INTERVAL for patients who are not getting adequate pain relief.
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