Pharmacist-led Opioid Deprescribing Pilot Clinic within Outpatient Palliative Care

Patients with cancer receiving opioid therapy often follow with specialty palliative care after achieving remission. Strategies to reduce risks associated with ongoing opioid therapy in survivorship are needed.

Feasibility, safety, and impact.

A pharmacist-led opioid deprescribing program, embedded within a specialty palliative care clinic, was designed for patients on long-term opioid therapy who have reached cancer remission.

In the nine-month pilot phase, 80% of referred patients established care with the pharmacist. One hundred seventeen pharmacist visits occurred: 20 in person, 52 telemedicine, and 45 telephone. The pharmacist spent an average of 72 minutes for initial and 45 minutes for follow-up visits. Oral morphine equivalents (OMEs) were reduced for 75% of referred patients, with an average of 22% reduction. No patients were hospitalized for uncontrolled pain or withdrawal.

Opioid deprescribing clinic was time-intensive and patients required close monitoring for implementation of patient-specific opioid deprescribing plans.