A study published online in the journal Pain suggests that opioids prescribed at discharge from the emergency department (ED) may offer no advantage compared to NSAIDs for risk of moderate to severe musculoskeletal pain among patients who have been involved in a motor vehicle collision (MVC). 

The research team analyzed existing study data on 948 patients who had presented to the ED following an MVC. At 6-week follow-up, they found no difference in risk for moderate to severe musculoskeletal pain between patients who were discharged with opioid analgesics or NSAIDS. However, the research team notes that at 6 weeks, patients who were prescribed opioids were more likely than those prescribed NSAIDS to report continued use of prescription opioid medications. Learn more...