Red Flags
The CRG developed ‘red flag’ guidance to highlight when opioids may pose a serious and/or imminent risk to patient safety.
Please see below list of links as above:
“Opioid use disorder (OUD) is a complex illness characterized by compulsive use of opioid drugs even when the person wants to stop, or when using the drugs negatively affects the person’s physical and emotional well-being.”
Opioid Use Disorder | Johns Hopkins Medicine
Consider concurrent opioid and benzodiazepine prescriptions (Benzodiazepines and opioids: reminder of risk of potentially fatal respiratory depression)
Consider concurrent opioid and gabapentinoid prescriptions (Gabapentin (Neurontin): risk of severe respiratory depression)
Ask and advise on driving (Drugs and driving: the law - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
Consider obstructive sleep apnoea (STOP-BANG Score for Obstructive Sleep Apnoea (mdcalc.com)
Patients with suspected opioid use disorder should be referred to “Turning Point” – Lincolnshire Recovery Partnership:
(https://www.turning-point.co.uk/services/lincolnshire-recovery-partnership)
This content is part of the 4 Step Approach guidelines. To see the full document please click here.