Expectations for Opioid Therapy

Your health and safety are important, and your doctor or healthcare provider should:

• Provide the best possible treatment for your condition.
• Work closely with you to set pain management goals and develop a treatment plan that will help you achieve your goals.
• Assess the risks and benefits of prescription opioids with you, and prescribe opioids only when their benefits outweigh their risks.
• Follow-up if your pain is not resolving as quickly as expected.
• Check your state’s prescription drug monitoring program information.
• Conduct urine drug testing during the course of your therapy.
• Provide instructions on how to taper opioids to minimize withdrawal symptoms once treatment is complete, if you have taken them around the clock for more than a few days.