how to safely switch opioid analgesics

August 2012

You'll hear debate about how to safely switch opioid analgesics.

Everyone knows why opioid switches are so common...to meet formulary requirements...to change the route of administration...or to find an opioid that's better tolerated or more effective.

We've all been taught to use opioid equianalgesic charts to find comparable doses. But these can do more harm than good.

Get concise advice on drug therapy, plus unlimited access to CE

Pharmacist's Letter Canada includes:

12 issues every year, with brief articles about new meds and hot topics
200+ CE courses, including the popular CE-in-the-Letter
Quick reference drug comparison charts
Access to the entire archive

Subscribe Today!

Already a subscriber? Log in

Volume pricing available. Get quote

Opioids how to safely switch opioid analgesics
Gastroenterology Aloxi (ah-LOX-see), a new option for preventing nausea and vomiting due to cancer chemotherapy
Supplements questions about the workout booster DMAA
Women's Health the risk of thrombosis with hormonal contraceptives
Diabetes take both a GLP-1 agonist (Victoza, Byetta) and DPP-4 inhibitor (Januvia, etc) for type 2 diabetes
Antithrombotics how to handle alerts for drug interactions between warfarin and many antimicrobials
HIV & AIDS Truvada (emtricitabine/tenofovir) to PREVENT HIV infection in adults
Infectious Diseases the new oral drug Dificid (DIFF-ih-sid, fidaxomicin) for Clostridium difficile diarrhea
Travel Medicine how to get medications through airport screening
Infections prevention and treatment of diabetic foot infections
Cardiology renewed skepticism about whether fish oil supplements decrease cardiovascular risk

how to safely switch opioid analgesics

Get concise advice on drug therapy, plus unlimited access to CE

Table of Contents