The opioid epidemic and headache: Experience of a general neurology consult service
Background: Headaches represent a significant proportion of referrals to any neurology consult service, of which many are migrainous. Regular use of opioids can lead to medication overuse headache in these patients and in some cases, dependence. The epidemic of opioid abuse represents a serious publ...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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SAGE Publishing
2020-12-01
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| Series: | Cephalalgia Reports |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1177/2515816320980995 |
| _version_ | 1828883667145981952 |
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| author | Conor Fearon Kevin Moloney Albi Chalissery Damien Ferguson Janice Redmond |
| author_facet | Conor Fearon Kevin Moloney Albi Chalissery Damien Ferguson Janice Redmond |
| author_sort | Conor Fearon |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background: Headaches represent a significant proportion of referrals to any neurology consult service, of which many are migrainous. Regular use of opioids can lead to medication overuse headache in these patients and in some cases, dependence. The epidemic of opioid abuse represents a serious public health concern, with long term use of opioids associated with risk of misuse, abuse, addiction and even overdose. Methods: We audited headache referrals to the neurology consult service in an acute tertiary hospital over three 6-month periods between 2012 and 2019. Appropriateness of referrals with respect to NICE guidelines and initial treatments strategies were assessed. Results: The majority of headache disorders seen were migrainous and we found an alarming and repeated trend of early opioid prescribing in the initial acute setting (up to 56%). Conclusions: Further education of healthcare professionals and patients is urgently required to prevent this group becoming victims of the growing global opioid epidemic. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-13T10:52:38Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-2c2922cee2e349398f4d5ca6074390bf |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2515-8163 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-13T10:52:38Z |
| publishDate | 2020-12-01 |
| publisher | SAGE Publishing |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Cephalalgia Reports |
| spelling | doaj.art-2c2922cee2e349398f4d5ca6074390bf2022-12-21T23:49:45ZengSAGE PublishingCephalalgia Reports2515-81632020-12-01310.1177/2515816320980995The opioid epidemic and headache: Experience of a general neurology consult serviceConor Fearon0Kevin Moloney1Albi Chalissery2Damien Ferguson3Janice Redmond4 Department of Neurology, St. James’s Hospital, Dublin, Ireland Department of Neurology, St. James’s Hospital, Dublin, Ireland Department of Neurology, Connolly Hospital, Blanchardstown, Dublin, Ireland Department of Neurology, St. James’s Hospital, Dublin, Ireland Department of Neurology, St. James’s Hospital, Dublin, IrelandBackground: Headaches represent a significant proportion of referrals to any neurology consult service, of which many are migrainous. Regular use of opioids can lead to medication overuse headache in these patients and in some cases, dependence. The epidemic of opioid abuse represents a serious public health concern, with long term use of opioids associated with risk of misuse, abuse, addiction and even overdose. Methods: We audited headache referrals to the neurology consult service in an acute tertiary hospital over three 6-month periods between 2012 and 2019. Appropriateness of referrals with respect to NICE guidelines and initial treatments strategies were assessed. Results: The majority of headache disorders seen were migrainous and we found an alarming and repeated trend of early opioid prescribing in the initial acute setting (up to 56%). Conclusions: Further education of healthcare professionals and patients is urgently required to prevent this group becoming victims of the growing global opioid epidemic.https://doi.org/10.1177/2515816320980995 |
| spellingShingle | Conor Fearon Kevin Moloney Albi Chalissery Damien Ferguson Janice Redmond The opioid epidemic and headache: Experience of a general neurology consult service Cephalalgia Reports |
| title | The opioid epidemic and headache: Experience of a general neurology consult service |
| title_full | The opioid epidemic and headache: Experience of a general neurology consult service |
| title_fullStr | The opioid epidemic and headache: Experience of a general neurology consult service |
| title_full_unstemmed | The opioid epidemic and headache: Experience of a general neurology consult service |
| title_short | The opioid epidemic and headache: Experience of a general neurology consult service |
| title_sort | opioid epidemic and headache experience of a general neurology consult service |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1177/2515816320980995 |
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