Patients are being prescribed excessive amounts of post-op pain medication, which researchers at the University of Utah Health Sciences Center say contributes to society's narcotic abuse problems.
The researchers sent surveys to patients 2 to 4 weeks following urology procedures to inquire about their post-op pain levels, how much and what type of pain medication they were prescribed, how many refills they needed, the amount of medication left over, the instructions they received for disposing of surplus medicine and how they disposed of the pills they didn't use.
Of the 275 patients who completed the survey, most were prescribed hydrocodone and oxycodone to alleviate post-op discomfort. Sixty-seven percent of the patients had medication left over from the initial prescription, while 12% requested refills. Overall, 86% of the patients reported being satisfied with their pain relief.
The researchers note that only 58% of the prescribed narcotics were consumed. They say 250 patients kept leftover medication in the house, 16 threw it in the trash, 6 flushed it down the toilet and 3 returned it to the pharmacy. Nearly all patients (92%) received no guidance for properly disposing of the medication, according to the study, which appears in the February issue of the Journal of Urology.
Surgeons need to do a better job of educating patients on ways to safely throw away excess medication and review their opioid prescription practices in order to reduce leftover medication amounts and limit the temptations of anyone with access to patients' medication cabinets, suggest the study's authors.
Cory Bates, MD, urologist at the University of Utah and the study's lead author, has begun cutting his typical pain medication doses in half. He says patients can always ask for more pills if pain persists.
He advises patients to flush excess pain meds down the toilet, mix them with an unappealing substance (like coffee grounds) or consult pharmacists about proper disposal practices.
Daniel Cook
