News Report | March 30, 2021
New Opioid Prescriptions For Adults With New Diabetic Neuropathy Dropped 35% Between 2014 & 2018
New opioid prescriptions for adults newly diagnosed with diabetic peripheral neuropathy, treated at the Mayo Clinic, declined by 35% between January 2014 and December 2018. The adjusted odds of starting a new opioid pain medication declined from 45.6% in 2014 to 35.2% in 2018.
Diabetic peripheral neuropathy is a lifelong pain syndrome. Clinical guidelines recommend use of anticonvulsants, antidepressants, or topical analgesics for painful diabetic peripheral neuropathy. Opioids are not a recommended treatment for this condition.
Over the five-year analysis period, of those prescribed a new medication to treat diabetic peripheral neuropathy pain, 42.9% were prescribed . . .