Resource Category: Tapering
CDC Pocket Guide: Tapering Opioids for Chronic Pain
Consider tapering to a reduced opioid dosage or tapering and discontinuing opioid therapy when your patient:
- requests dosage reduction
- does not have clinically meaningful improvement in pain and function (e.g., at least 30% improvement on the 3-item PEG scale)
- is on dosages ≥ 50 MME*/day without benefit or opioids are combined with benzodiazepines
- shows signs of substance use disorder (e.g. work or family problems related to opioid use, difficulty controlling use)
- experiences overdose or other serious adverse event
- shows early warning signs for overdose risk such as confusion, sedation, or slurred speech