Opioid Policies

(If you are considering opioids, please read)

  • Medications are NOT prescribed on the first visit.
  • Oxycodone and oxycodone containing medications (Percocet, oxycontin) are RARELY prescribed at this clinic.
  • When chronic opioids are prescribed, no alcohol consumption is allowed.
  • Chronic prescribing of most opioid medications will require repeat clinic appointments every 3 to 4 weeks.
  • Opioid medication will not be if benzodiazepine medications are prescribed to them.
  • Opioids have many risks including, but not limited to, dependence, tolerance, addiction, and accidents.
  • Patients cannot take more pain medication than prescribed per day and per 4 weeks
    or take medications that are not prescribed to them.
  • For chronic pain medication, only one clinician and one pharmacy are involved. If it’s a new emergent injury or for pain, post–surgical patient may receive short dose opioid per attending clinician.
  • An office visit is required for medication changes and for providing a prescription. This is NOT done over the phone.
  • The patient is fully responsible to determine if they are at increased risk to self or others, per a certain activity that has inherited risks. 
  • Periodic lab tests to monitor liver and kidney functions will be performed.
  • The patient is fully responsible to determine if they are at increased risk to self or others, per a certain activity that has inherited risks.
  • A replacement prescription will NOT be provided for lost, stolen or out early pain meds.
  • Opioid medications are not to be taken to help benefit a patient’s mood, only for pain reduction.
  • Pain medication must be kept in a locked container or location.
  • Opioid medications’ purpose is to support patient exercise and conditioning, and to benefit activities of daily living AOL’s (self-hygiene, transfers, dressing, toilet, etc.).
  • The goal is to take the least amount of opioid medication to help improve function while not taking any more than what is prescribed.
  • When opioids are prescribed, they will be just one part of an interdisciplinary and multi modal treatment regimen for chronic pain management. Opioids will NOT be prescribed without interdisciplinary and multi modal treatment regimens.
  • After a surgery, procedure, or accident, for new onset pain, it is ok if attending clinician (emergency room, dentist, surgeon) provides a short-term pain medication prescription, only after patient conveys pain medication being prescribed by NSPS. In this case, the patient must notify pain medicine clinician expediently of additional prescription received.
  • Opioid rotation can be needed after multiple years on a specific opioid. Normally, the body develops tolerance, and that medication needs to be rotated to a different one.
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