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. 2012 Dec;58(12):e708.

Opioids for osteoarthritis pain: benefits and risks

Noah Ivers 1, Irfan A Dhalla 2, G Michael Allan 3
PMCID: PMC3520677  PMID: 23242901

Clinical question

What is the evidence for opioids for osteoarthritis (OA) pain?

Evidence

Benefits: There is no high-quality evidence that opioids improve function more than nonopioid analgesics.1,2

  • Systematic review: nontramadol opioids for OA3:
    • -10 RCTs (N = 2268) with maximum 12-week treatment.
    • -More patients reported 50% improvement in pain than with placebo (NNT = 25).
      • —Median dose: 51 mg of morphine equivalent per day; higher doses did not increase benefits.
      • —Function improved 0.7 points (scale 0 to 10).
  • Systematic review: tramadol for OA4:
    • -11 RCTs (N = 1939) with maximum 12-week treatment.
    • -More patients reported 50% improvement or at least “moderate” improvement than with placebo (NNT = 6).
      • —Function improved 0.3 points (scale 0 to 10).
      • —Side effects caused 1 in 8 patients to stop treatment.

Harms: Retrospective cohort study of 12 840 patients with arthritis (mean age 80) comparing NSAIDs with opioids5:

  • Patients prescribed opioids had a higher risk of fracture than those prescribed NSAIDs (estimated NNH = 26).

  • Opioids increased risk of cardiovascular events, hospitalization, and overall mortality (estimated NNH = 17–27).

  • Opioids and NSAIDs had similar risk of GI bleeding.

  • Opioid risk is likely exaggerated by selection bias and confounding.

Context

  • Only small differences are seen between OA treatments and placebo (standard mean difference [95% CI]): acetaminophen 0.13 (0.22 to 0.04),6 NSAIDs 0.23 (0.16 to 0.31),7 and nontramadol opioids 0.36 (0.26 to 0.47).3
    • -Pain reduction is equivalent for topical and oral NSAIDs in most cases.8

  • International OA guidelines recommend strong opioids only in exceptional cases.9

  • Opioid risks are dose-dependent: More than 100 mg of morphine equivalent per day (eg, about 20 mg of hydromorphone or 66 mg of oxycodone) is associated with increased risk of opioid-related mortality.10,11

  • Prescription opioids are a common source of opioid misuse.12 Most opioid overdose deaths occur in individuals who are prescribed opioids.13

Bottom line

No research demonstrates long-term improvement in OA pain or function with opioids. In elderly patients, it is unclear if opioids or NSAIDs are safer. Opioids should not be routinely used in OA but if they are necessary, use them with caution and monitor carefully.

Implementation

When patients are in chronic pain, clinicians are obliged to treat (beneficence), but are also obliged to not do further harm (nonmaleficence). The Cochrane Musculoskeletal Group produced a patient decision aid to help health care providers work with patients to balance these goals when treating OA pain.14 Consider having patients evaluated for joint replacement if pain from OA is severe, as surgery improves long-term function.15

Tools for Practice articles in Canadian Family Physician (CFP) are adapted from articles published on the Alberta College of Family Physicians (ACFP) website, summarizing medical evidence with a focus on topical issues and practice-modifying information. The ACFP summaries and the series in CFP are coordinated by Dr G. Michael Allan, and the summaries are co-authored by at least 1 practising family physician and are peer reviewed. Feedback is welcome and can be sent to toolsforpractice@cfpc.ca. Archived articles are available on the ACFP website: www.acfp.ca.

Footnotes

The opinions expressed in this Tools for Practice article are those of the authors and do not necessarily mirror the perspective and policy of the Alberta College of Family Physicians.

References

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