Overuse of Opioids for Headache Treatment in U.S. EDs

Nationwide, opioids were administered at 35% of ED visits for headache in 2010.

Treatment of primary headache disorders (migraine, tension headache) with opioids is not recommended and is more likely to do harm than good. Researchers reviewed data from the National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey from 2001 to 2010 to assess trends in opioid use at emergency department (ED) visits with headache listed as a reason for the visit.

The percentage of ED visits for headache during which opioids were administered increased from 21% in 2001 to 35% in 2010.

Reviewing Author

Daniel J. Pallin, MD, MPH

Disclosures

Consultant/Advisory BoardPortola Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

Speaker’s BureauPeerView Institute for Medical Education

Grant/Research SupportAgency for Healthcare Research and Quality; CDC; NIH–National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences; NIH–National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID); NIH–NIAID–Antibacterial Resistance Leadership Group; Merck; Pfizer; Boehringer-Ingelheim; Shire; Portola Pharmaceuticals, Inc.; Novartis; bioMérieux; Siemens; Rapid Pathogen Screening; Magnolia; Stago; Innovative Biosensors; Molecular Detection, Inc.; Dyax Corp.; Trius Pharmaceuticals

Daniel J. Pallin, MD, MPH

Disclosures

Consultant/Advisory BoardPortola Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

Speaker’s BureauPeerView Institute for Medical Education

Overuse of Opioids for Headache Treatment in U.S. EDs

Topics

Reviewing Author