Opiod Pain Medications
Note: *Please allow 48 – 72 hours for an opioid prescription request to be addressed*
Many of our patients suffer significant pain from their orthopedic injuries and ailments, and we strive to help them be as comfortable as possible. Narcotic pain medicines are often appropriately prescribed to alleviate pain, and are very helpful in this role. Unfortunately narcotic pain medications are subject to overuse and abuse and therefore require oversight in their use and prescription. For that reason we have developed the following guidelines to regulate narcotic prescription writing:
- Examples of controlled opioid medication include
- Oxycodone (Percocet, OxyContin, Roxicodone), Hydrocodone (Norco, Vicodin)
- Hydromorphone (Dilaudid), Ultram (Tramadol), Codeine
- In most cases, you can take additional types of medications such as acetaminophen (Tylenol) or NSAIDs (ibuprofen, naproxen, Advil, Aleve, Motrin) in addition or instead of opioids. Ice is also recommended.
- Providers are required to check a state database prior to sending opioid prescriptions. For this reason, requests for opioid prescriptions will not be addressed after hours, on weekends, or on holidays.
- Opioid prescriptions are sent electronically to the pharmacy. Please verify your specific pharmacy with the person sending the prescription.
- Please verify that your pharmacy will be open when you plan to pick up the medication. It is not always possible to change the pharmacy once the prescription has been sent.
- Some insurance companies will limit a patient to 3 opioid scripts in a 30 day period. If you are receiving opioids from other sources (i.e. ER, family doctor, pain specialist, etc.) you may not be eligible to receive another opioid prescription without prior authorization from your insurance company.
- If you have a pain contract, it is important to inform your surgeon as the contract may be broken or suspended if you receive a prescription from a different physician than is on your contract.
FRACTURES/ACUTE PAIN
- Within 30 days of your original prescription another provider MAY write another prescription, but may also defer to the original prescriber (this can take up to 10 days)
- After 30 days from your original prescription, only the original prescriber can address the need for another prescription (this may take up to 10 days)
SURGICAL PATIENTS
- Your surgeon will send the script to the pharmacy. Please verify that your pharmacy will be open when you plan to pick up the prescription. This is especially important if you may be going home from the hospital on a weekend. Some hospitals have on-site pharmacies.
- A postoperative prescription for more medication MAY be written by another LOG provider within 30 days of your surgery but may require authorization from your primary surgeon
- After 30 days from your surgery, requests for more opioids will be referred to your surgeon (this could take up to 10 days)
- After 60 days from your surgery, no further opioids will be prescribed. Exceptions would require an appointment.
Please feel free to contact the office if you have any questions