A pharmacist initiative to reduce opioid prescribing in primary care

To evaluate the impact of a pharmacist-led primary care review clinic on reducing opioid prescribing.

Retrospective analysis of routinely collected opioid prescription data for patients using strong opioids for pain at a practice with high social deprivation and staffed mainly by locum GPs.

Forty-seven patients were reviewed. The median opioid dose before review was 80 mg oral morphine equivalent. After intervention, the median dose was 30 mg. Thirty-seven (78.7%) patients had reduced doses or discontinued opioids. No adverse events were reported.

A pharmacist-led clinic aimed at reducing opioid medication appears feasible and effective.