FPGEE for National Association of Boards of Pharmacy (NABP) Practice Exam

What does the 2016 CDC guideline for prescribing opioids suggest regarding daily doses of morphine milligrams equivalent?

1. Reassess individual benefit and risk above 40 MME

2. Reassess individual benefit and risk above 50 MME

3. Avoid doses greater than 70 MME

4. Avoid doses greater than 90 MME

The correct answer is: Reassess individual benefit and risk above 50 MME

The 2016 CDC guideline for prescribing opioids emphasizes the importance of reassessing the individual benefit and risk of opioid therapy when dosages exceed a specific threshold. The guideline suggests that when a patient's dosage reaches 50 morphine milligram equivalents (MME) per day, practitioners should carefully evaluate whether the potential benefits of continuing or escalating the opioid therapy outweigh the risks, such as overdose and dependency. This approach aims to prevent complications from high-dose opioid use, promoting safer prescribing practices and advising clinicians to be vigilant in monitoring patient outcomes. While doses above 40 MME are highlighted for further scrutiny, the specific guideline reference for reassessment is centered around the 50 MME mark, placing focus on this critical threshold as a guideline for clinical decision-making. It's important for healthcare providers to recognize when to engage in this reassessment process to ensure patients receive appropriate and safe pain management.