Algorithm

Module C is on tapering or discontinuation of opioid therapy. If there is indication to taper to reduced dose or taper to discontinuation, repeat comprehensive biopsychosocial assessment. Then see if the patient demonstrates signs or symptoms of SUD. If the patient demonstrates signs or symptoms of SUD, then see whether the patient is willing to engage in SUD therapy. If the patient is willing to engage in SUD therapy, then access specialized SUD care with monitoring and follow-up appropriate for the patient’s needs (e.g., MAT, treatment for comorbidities), see VA/DoD SUD CPG, exit algorithms and manage with non-opioid modalities. If the patient does not demonstrate signs or symptoms of SUD, then look for evidence of diversion. If there is evidence of diversion, then immediately discontinue opioid therapy. If there is no evidence of diversion, then look for high-risk or dangerous behavior (e.g., overdose event, accidents, and threatening provider). If there is high risk or dangerous behavior or the patient is not willing to engage in SUD therapy or immediately after discontinuing OT, then address safety and misuse, assess for withdrawal symptoms and offer expedited taper, immediate discontinuation or detox as indicated, continue to monitor for SUD and mental health comorbidities and offer treatment as indicated (see VA/DoD SUD CPG and Academic Detailing Tapering Document), exit algorithm and manage with non-opioid modalities. If there is no high risk or dangerous behavior, then develop an individualized tapering treatment plan (including pace of tapering, setting of care) based on patient and treatment characteristics. Follow-up 1 week to 1 month after each change in dosage and after discontinuation considering patient and treatment characteristics. At each interaction with patient, consider the followings: educate on self-management and risks of OT, optimize whole person approach to pain care, optimize treatment of co-occurring mental health conditions, optimize non-opioid pain treatment modalities, reassess for OUD and readiness for OUD treatment as indicated. If the patient is resistant to taper or there is high risk or dangerous behaviors or there is an increase in patient distress, then repeat comprehensive biopsychosocial assessment and see if an SUD is identified. If an SUD is identified, then find out if the patient is willing to engage in SUD therapy. If an SUD is not identified, then identify the followings: use of opioids to modulate emotions (i.e., “chemical coping”), untreated or undertreated psychiatric disorder. If an SUD is not identified and there is use of opioids to modulate emotions or an untreated or undertreated psychiatric disorder, then engage the patient in appropriate behavioral and/or psychiatric treatment, ideally in an interdisciplinary setting, consider reduced rate of taper or pause in taper for patients actively engaged in skills training. If the patient is fearful and/or anxious about taper and ability to function on lower dose or without opioids, then provide additional education about whole person pain care and LOT and reassurance that the patient will not be abandoned, consider more frequent follow-up using the expanded care team (registered nurse, clinical pharmacist, health coach, mental health provider), consider reduced rate of taper or pause in taper for patients actively engaged in skills training, reassess for OUD throughout the taper. If there is concern for diversion, then immediately discontinue opioid therapy. If there is no concern for diversion, then follow-up 1 week to 1 month after each change in dosage and after discontinuation considering patient and treatment characteristics.

Question: What is Module C about?
Answer: tapering or discontinuation of opioid therapy

Question: What to do if there is an indication to taper to reduced dose or taper to discontinuation?
Answer: repeat comprehensive biopsychosocial assessment. Then see if the patient demonstrates signs or symptoms of SUD.

Question: What to do if the patient demonstrates signs or symptoms of SUD?
Answer: see whether the patient is willing to engage in SUD therapy

Question: What to do if the patient is willing to engage in SUD therapy?
Answer: access specialized SUD care with monitoring and follow-up appropriate for the patient’s needs (e.g., MAT, treatment for comorbidities), see VA/DoD SUD CPG, exit algorithms and manage with non-opioid modalities

Question: What to do if the patient does not demonstrate signs or symptoms of SUD?
Answer: look for evidence of diversion

Question: What to do if there is evidence of diversion?
Answer: immediately discontinue opioid therapy

Question: What to do if there is no evidence of diversion?
Answer: look for high-risk or dangerous behavior (e.g., overdose event, accidents, and threatening provider)

Question: What are some examples of high-risk or dangerous behavior?
Answer: overdose event, accidents, and threatening provider

Question: What to do if there is high risk or dangerous behavior?
Answer: address safety and misuse, assess for withdrawal symptoms and offer expedited taper, immediate discontinuation or detox as indicated, continue to monitor for SUD and mental health comorbidities and offer treatment as indicated (see VA/DoD SUD CPG and Academic Detailing Tapering Document), exit algorithm and manage with non-opioid modalities

Question: What to do if the patient is not willing to engage in SUD therapy?
Answer: address safety and misuse, assess for withdrawal symptoms and offer expedited taper, immediate discontinuation or detox as indicated, continue to monitor for SUD and mental health comorbidities and offer treatment as indicated (see VA/DoD SUD CPG and Academic Detailing Tapering Document), exit algorithm and manage with non-opioid modalities

Question: What to do immediately after discontinuing OT?
Answer: address safety and misuse, assess for withdrawal symptoms and offer expedited taper, immediate discontinuation or detox as indicated, continue to monitor for SUD and mental health comorbidities and offer treatment as indicated (see VA/DoD SUD CPG and Academic Detailing Tapering Document), exit algorithm and manage with non-opioid modalities

Question: What to do if there is no high risk or dangerous behavior?
Answer: develop an individualized tapering treatment plan (including pace of tapering, setting of care) based on patient and treatment characteristics

Question: When to follow-up after each change in dosage?
Answer: 1 week to 1 month

Question: When to follow-up after discontinuation?
Answer: 1 week to 1 month

Question: What to consider while deciding when to follow up with a patient after each change in dosage or after discontinuation?
Answer: patient and treatment characteristics

Question: What to consider at each interaction with patient during the follow-ups?
Answer: educate on self-management and risks of OT, optimize whole person approach to pain care, optimize treatment of co-occurring mental health conditions, optimize non-opioid pain treatment modalities, reassess for OUD and readiness for OUD treatment as indicated

Question: What to do if the patient resists taper?
Answer: repeat comprehensive biopsychosocial assessment and see if an SUD is identified

Question: What to do if there is high risk or dangerous behaviors?
Answer: repeat comprehensive biopsychosocial assessment and see if an SUD is identified

Question: What to do if there is an increase in patient distress?
Answer: repeat comprehensive biopsychosocial assessment and see if an SUD is identified

Question: What to do if an SUD is identified?
Answer: find out if the patient is willing to engage in SUD therapy

Question: What to do if an SUD is not identified?
Answer: identify the followings: use of opioids to modulate emotions (i.e., “chemical coping”), untreated or undertreated psychiatric disorder

Question: What to do if an SUD is not identified and there is use of opioids to modulate emotions or an untreated or undertreated psychiatric disorder?
Answer: engage the patient in appropriate behavioral and/or psychiatric treatment, ideally in an interdisciplinary setting, consider reduced rate of taper or pause in taper for patients actively engaged in skills training

Question: What to do if there is use of opioids to modulate emotions or an untreated or undertreated psychiatric disorder?
Answer: engage the patient in appropriate behavioral and/or psychiatric treatment, ideally in an interdisciplinary setting, consider reduced rate of taper or pause in taper for patients actively engaged in skills training

Question: What is chemical coping?
Answer: use of opioids to modulate emotions

Question: What to consider for patients who are actively engaged in skills training?
Answer: reduced rate of taper or pause in taper

Question: What to do if patient is fearful or anxious about taper and ability to function on lower dose or without opioids?
Answer: provide additional education about whole person pain care and LOT and reassurance that the patient will not be abandoned, consider more frequent follow-up using the expanded care team (registered nurse, clinical pharmacist, health coach, mental health provider), consider reduced rate of taper or pause in taper for patients actively engaged in skills training, reassess for OUD throughout the taper

Question: What to use for more frequent follow-up?
Answer: the expanded care team

Question: What includes expanded care team?
Answer: registered nurse, clinical pharmacist, health coach, mental health provider

Question: What to do if there is a concern for diversion?
Answer: immediately discontinue opioid therapy

Question: What to do if there is no concern for diversion?
Answer: follow-up 1 week to 1 month after each change in dosage and after discontinuation considering patient and treatment characteristics