Opioid Use and Pain Resolution for Acute Pain Among Opioid-Naive Patients

Among opioid-naive patients offered an opioid prescription for acute pain, what are the trajectories of pain resolution and treatment use?In this cohort study of 1708 patients with acute pain in 5 US health systems, median time to pain resolution was 20 days, with longer durations for surgical and low back pain. Opioid use was largely short-term and at low doses, although some patients reported prolonged use; 67% of patients reported leftover medication.Opioid use in this study was primarily of low dose and short duration, suggesting it provided small analgesic benefit.

Corresponding Author: Molly Moore Jeffery, PhD, MPP, Mayo Clinic, 200 First St SW, Rochester, MN 55905 (jeffery.molly@mayo.edu).

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