Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 21, 2026
12:20
Use of the Operant Orofacial Pain Assessment Device OPAD to Measure Changes in Nociceptive Behavior
Published on: June 10, 2013
22.0K
Association Between Opioid Prescribing Patterns and Abuse in Ophthalmology
Shriji Patel1, Paul Sternberg1
1Vanderbilt Eye Institute, Nashville, Tennessee.
JAMA Ophthalmology
|October 7, 2017
Summary
Ophthalmologists generally prescribe opioids cautiously, with most writing fewer than 10 prescriptions annually. This study analyzed their opioid prescribing patterns to understand their role in the ongoing opioid abuse epidemic.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Public Health
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Drug overdoses are a leading cause of death in Americans under 50.
- Prescription opioid abuse is a significant public health concern.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine opioid prescribing habits among ophthalmologists.
- To determine ophthalmologists' contribution to the opioid abuse epidemic.
Main Methods:
- Observational cohort study using Medicare Part D Prescriber Data (2013-2015).
- Analysis of opioid prescription patterns, including number of prescriptions, days' supply, and prescriber rates.
- Data collected and analyzed for all participating ophthalmologists.
Main Results:
- Most ophthalmologists (88%-89%) prescribed 10 or fewer opioid prescriptions annually.
- Approximately 1% of ophthalmologists prescribed over 100 opioid prescriptions per year.
- Ophthalmologists averaged 7 opioid prescriptions per year, with a mean supply of 5 days.
Conclusions:
- Ophthalmologists demonstrate discretion in opioid prescribing.
- Physicians should review prescribing protocols due to the high risk of opioid dependency.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
01:02Prescription, Nonprescription and Orphan Drugs
1.3K
Prescription drugs require a prescription from a medical practitioner and can only be obtained from a pharmacy. They have many applications, including treating pain, anxiety, and hypertension.
The misuse and addiction to prescription drugs is a growing problem that can affect people of all age groups, specifically teenagers. This can happen when prescription medications are used in ways not intended by the prescriber, such as taking someone else's prescription or using medication for...
The misuse and addiction to prescription drugs is a growing problem that can affect people of all age groups, specifically teenagers. This can happen when prescription medications are used in ways not intended by the prescriber, such as taking someone else's prescription or using medication for...
1.3K
01:15Opioid Analgesics: Synthetic and Semisynthetic Opioids
1.2K
Synthetic and semisynthetic opioids are pivotal in pain management and tackling opioid addiction. Semisynthetic opioids, including morphinans (morphine derivatives), oxycodone, oxymorphone, hydrocodone, and hydromorphone, have improved pharmacokinetic profiles compared to morphine. Additionally, heroin and 6-MAM (6-Monoacetylmorphine) show better CNS penetration than morphine due to heightened lipid solubility. Hydromorphone, a potent opioid, undergoes hepatic metabolism to form the active...
1.2K
01:25Analgesia and Pain Management
2.2K
Pain is critical to various clinical pathologies, provoking an urgent need for effective management. Pain, whether acute or chronic, is a complex neurochemical process. Its alleviation depends on the type, with nonopioid analgesics effective for mild to moderate pain, such as musculoskeletal or inflammatory pain, while neuropathic pain responds best to anticonvulsants, tricyclic antidepressants, or serotonin/norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors. For severe acute or chronic pain, opioids may be...
2.2K
01:20Opioid Analgesics: Morphine and Other Natural Cogeners
1.2K
Opioids are a class of drugs that mimic endogenous opioid peptides and act on opioid receptors, and help in pain relief. These compounds are classified as natural, synthetic, or semi-synthetic. Natural opioids, like morphine, codeine, and thebaine, are derived from the opium poppy plant (Papaver somniferum or Papaver album) and are termed opiates. Synthetic opioids are artificial, while semi-synthetic opioids combine natural and synthetic compounds. Morphine, a prototypical opioid, possesses a...
1.2K
01:23Ophthalmic Drug Delivery Systems
61
Ophthalmic drug delivery faces major limitations due to poor absorption across the corneal membrane. This process is primarily driven by diffusion and is influenced by two main factors: the physicochemical properties of the drug and tear drainage. Most ophthalmic drugs, such as pilocarpine, epinephrine, atropine, and local anesthetics, are weak bases. They are typically formulated at an acidic pH to enhance chemical stability. However, this leads to high ionization, reducing their ability to...
61
01:15Drug Abuse and Addiction: Pharmacological Phenomena
1.3K
Drug dependence, abuse, and addiction are complex phenomena that can precipitate various abnormal states. Physical dependence refers to a state of pharmacological adaptation to a drug. This adaptation often results in tolerance—a reduced response to the drug after repeated administrations. When the drug use is abruptly stopped, withdrawal symptoms occur due to the body's need to readjust from the pharmacologically induced imbalance. However, tolerance and withdrawal symptoms do not...
1.3K