The guidance below is based upon the Opioids Aware resource and input from local specialists. Please also refer to the BNF and Summary of Product Characteristics (SPC) for further information.

Opioid rotation or switching may be considered:

• if a patient obtains pain relief with one opioid but is suffering severe adverse effects
• in the context of co-morbidity e.g. renal impairment
• if a patient has developed tolerance over time to the analgesic effect of an opioid that was initially helpful

It is important to taper or stop opioid prescription if the medication is not providing meaningful pain relief. Increasing opioid dose above 120mg oral morphine or equivalent/24 hours is unlikely to yield further benefits but exposes the patient to increased harm.

Consider the following points when rotating/switching opioids:

• Switching from one opioid to another should only be recommended by a healthcare professional with adequate competence and sufficient experience in the management of pain and prescription of opioids.
• If in any doubt over an opioids witch for a patient receiving palliative care, seek advice from the specialist palliative care team
• It is recommended that conversion calculations are double checked with a colleague.
• There is no definitive guide to equivalences. There is significant inter-individual variation in opioid pharmacokinetics and other variables such as nutritional status and concurrent medication (both prescribed and over the counter); an individualised approach to switching opioids is required.
• It is recommended not to target the equianalgesic dose but to take such a dose and make a 30–50% reduction as an initial target. In cases where dose ranges, rather than equianalgesic doses, are quoted it may be prudent to consider a dose reduction from the lowest point of the dose range. A dosage reduction may not be appropriate if the original opioid taken at the prescribed dosage failed to control the pain.
• A dose reduction of at least 50% is recommended when switching at high doses (e.g. oral morphine or equivalent doses of 500mg/24 hours or more), in elderly or frail patients, or because of intolerable undesirable effects.
• Conversion at high doses may lead to withdrawal symptoms from discontinuing the primary opioid. If appropriate, consider a crossover period with a tapered reduction of the initial opioid
• The half-life and time to onset of action of the two drugs should be considered.
• Patients who have been using opioids in the medium term or longer may have undergone physiological adaptations to chronic use. This may impact not only on subsequent analgesic requirements but also on withdrawal symptoms.
• Ensure 4-hourly doses of short-acting immediate-release opioids are prescribed for breakthrough pain "when required".
• The general advice is to calculate doses using morphine as standard (particularly important if the patient is prescribed multiple opioids) and to adjust them to suit the patient and the situation. The current dosage per 24 hours should be totalled including both regular and additional "when required" doses.
• When switching patients from oral opioids to transdermal opioids or vice versa, refer to individual formulary entries (4.7.2 Opioid analgesics), individual product literature, and/or seek specialist advice.
• Switching between very high-dose opioids or switching to/from methadone is recommended for inpatients only with access to breakthrough medication and a fall-back plan. Specialist input is required.
• Once the conversion has occurred, the dose of new opioid should be titrated carefully according to individual response and the patient monitored closely for the first 7-14 days for side effects and efficacy, especially when switching at high doses.
• Withdrawal symptoms (e.g. sweating, yawning and abdominal cramps, restlessness, anxiety) may occur if an opioid is stopped/dose reduced abruptly.

A guide to equivalent doses of opioid drugs, hosted on the Rowcroft Hospice website and often used in palliative care, has been developed by local specialists across the region. Please note this is not a definitive set of equivalences. Drug conversions can be challenging, it is recommended that conversion calculations are double checked with a colleague. If in any doubt over an opioid switch for a patient receiving palliative care, seek advice from the specialist palliative care team.

See section 4.7.2 Opioid analgesics for a full list of preparations.

Side effects are relatively common – these need to be considered and balanced with potential benefits.

The most common side effects include nausea, vomiting, constipation and drowsiness. Larger doses can produce respiratory depression and hypotension. Anti-emetic therapy should be considered with the initial titration of opioids (see section 4.6 drugs used in nausea and vomiting). When treatment with opioids exceeds 3 days, an osmotic laxative (or docusate which also softens stools) and a stimulant laxative e.g. senna, should be considered (see Management of constipation in adults and section 1.6 laxatives).

Additional side effects that can occur with high dose opioid use (particularly above 120mg), when used long term:

• Patients on high dose opioids have been shown to have a worse quality of life than those on a low dose and the same pain score
• Hormonal changes - suppression of the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis (testosterone depletion reported in patients on long term methadone)
• Immunological changes - potential, but poorly understood phenomenon
• Opioid induced hyperalgesia (OIH) - Although OIH can occur at lower doses it is more likely at higher doses. If suspected, opioids should be stopped. Patients on very high doses of opioids may benefit from cautious dose reduction
• Osteoporosis
• Problem drug use

The use of most monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) with opioids is contraindicated or cautioned by manufacturers. There is conflicting information in the literature about the degree of risk of an interaction. Some opioid analgesics are associated with a risk of serotonin syndrome in combination with MAOIs; other combinations may result in opioid toxicity. When assessing the risk of combining an opioid with an MAOI, it is important to consider any other serotonergic drugs the patient is taking. It is recommended that the individual Summary of Product Characteristics (SPC) is reviewed before prescribing concomitant opioid and MAOI.

Patients prescribed opioids need to be aware of the risks of drowsiness and the effect on their ability to drive. Patients should not drive if they have changed their dose or if they feel unsafe: it is their responsibility to ensure they are fit to drive; further advice is available from the DVLA.

Opioids Aware (Faculty of Pain Medicine) states it is important to taper or stop the opioid regimen if:

• The medication is not providing meaningful pain relief. The dose above which harms outweigh benefits is 120mg oral morphine equivalent/24hours. Increasing opioid load above this dose is unlikely to yield further benefits but exposes the patient to increased harm
• The underlying painful condition resolves
• The patient receives a definitive pain relieving intervention (e.g. joint replacement)
• The patient develops intolerable side effects
• There is strong evidence that the patient is diverting his/her medications

The Royal College of General Practitioners has produced factsheets regarding prescription and over-the-counter medicines misuse and dependence and include guidance to distinguish inadequate symptom control from drug misuse. The factsheets can be accessed here.

The decision to taper/stop an established opioid regimen needs to be discussed carefully with the patient and may require close collaboration between the patient, their carers and all members of the patient's health care team. Consideration should be given to physical and mental health co-morbidities including significant emotional trauma.

Agree outcomes of opioid tapering with patients and inform them of symptoms and signs of opioid withdrawal. Arrangements for monitoring and support during opioid taper should be discussed and the agreement of tapering schedule should be documented.

Patients prescribed large doses of opioids may need support from specialist services in order to reduce medication. Opioid tapering/cessation when patients are taking large doses is more likely to succeed if patients' emotional and mental health (including addiction) needs are identified and an appropriate plan for support established.

Practical advice for tapering and stopping opioids (individualise for each patient)

• The dose of drug can be tapered by 10% weekly or two weekly
• Some patients who have taken opioids for a long time might find even slower tapers (e.g. 10% per month) easier
• Adjust the rate and duration of the taper according to the patient's response
• The cardinal symptom of opioid withdrawal is pain. A pain flare-up may represent over rapid opioid tapering not a failure of analgesia. If the patient experiences a pain flare-up it may be necessary to pause the taper for 4-6 weeks to allow the flare to settle before continuing the reduction
• Let patients know that most people have improved function without worse pain after tapering opioids. Some patients even have improved pain after a taper, even though pain might briefly get worse at first
• Once the smallest available dose is reached, the interval between doses can be extended and opioids may be stopped when taken less than once a day.
• Discuss the increased risk for overdose if patients quickly return to a previously prescribed higher dose
• When withdrawing patients from tramadol, the reduction in serotonin levels must be considered alongside the withdrawal from the opioid
• If a patient is on multiple opioids, there is no rule as to which opioid is stopped first, or if they are all gradually reduced at the same time. It is recommended that some immediate release opioid is provided for breakthrough, but its use should be strictly monitored.

The Department of Health and the Scottish Government have issued a strong recommendation that the maximum quantity of Schedule 2, 3 or 4 Controlled Drugs prescribed should not exceed 30 days; exceptionally, to cover a justifiable clinical need and after consideration of any risk, a prescription can be issued for a longer period, but the reasons for the decision should be recorded on the patient's notes.

In general, opioids should not be added to the repeat prescribing system but should be generated as acute prescriptions. If an opioid has a demonstrable positive benefit for an individual patient and there is a robust system for monitoring use then consideration may be given for short-term authorisation of prescriptions being added to repeat prescribing systems.

The prescriber and patient together should review the continuing benefit of opioid therapy and potential harms at regular intervals (at least twice each year).

For further details regarding opioid prescription requirements refer to the BNF here

An opioid contract is strongly recommended.

The goals of therapy should be agreed before starting opioid treatment and assessed at each review. These goals should be clearly documented. A formal opioid 'contract' can provide a useful basis for further discussion if medication use becomes poorly controlled or the agreed outcomes of therapy are not achieved. It is helpful to plan for the management of flare-ups in symptoms by means other than an increase in stable opioid dose.

Supplies of naloxone injection 400 micrograms in 1ml are required in the same clinical storage locations where diamorphine and morphine injections are stored, including in GPs' bags and bags held by out-of-hours providers (NPSA Safer Practice Notice 12; May 2006).