Do not prescribe opioids lightly for musculoskeletal pain

A UK research team used electronic primary care patient records from 2006-2021 based on the Clinical Research Practice Datalink (CPRD) to identify opioid prescriptions. The analyses revealed that almost three quarters of all new opioid prescriptions were for patients with musculoskeletal conditions. The results were published in the journal Pain in 2025. Specific recommendations for the management of non-tumor-related chronic pain in the GP setting can be found in the current German-language DEGAM guideline, among others.