Agencies issue new opioid risk mitigation strategy, resource

The Food and Drug Administration yesterday updated its Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy for extended-release and long-acting opioid analgesics, and extended the same requirements to immediate-release opioid analgesic products. The REMS applies to 347 opioid analgesics intended for outpatient use. Among other changes, the updates modify the prescriber education blueprint to include more information on pain management and require manufacturers to make training available to other, non-physician prescribers, such as nurses and pharmacists involved in pain management. FDA announced the planned updates last year. In other news, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently released a resource to help health care providers implement its guidelines for prescribing opioids for chronic pain.