BENZODIAZEPINES are not to be prescribed for low back pain, according to one of five new recommendations for pain management from Choosing Wisely Australia.
Other recommendations are to avoid prescribing opioids (particularly long-acting opioids) as first-line or monotherapy for chronic non-cancer pain; do not continue opioid prescription for chronic non-cancer pain without ongoing demonstration of functional benefit, periodic attempts at dose reduction and screening for long-term harms; avoid prescribing pregabalin and gabapentin for pain which does not fulfil the criteria for neuropathic pain; and do not refer axial lower lumbar back pain for spinal fusion surgery.
The recommendations come from consultation with Faculty of Pain Medicine of the Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists.
MEANWHILE NPS MedicineWise has announced that the 2018 Choosing Wisely Australia National Meeting will be held on Wed 30 May at the National Convention Centre Canberra.
Keynote speaker is ABIM (American Board of Internal Medicine) Foundation executive vice president and chief operating officer Daniel Wolfson, who has been instrumental in leading the Choosing Wisely campaign in the United States.
Early bird discounts for the event are available for registrations up until Fri 20 Apr.
See choosingwisely.org.au.
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