Doctors are prescribing stronger painkillers

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Significantly more strong opioids were prescribed for both minor and severe injuries, as Baden Cantonal Hospital (KSB) announced on Wednesday. In 2018, 91.4 percent more opioid painkillers were prescribed for minor injuries than in 2008, and 88.3 percent more for severe injuries.

This is shown by an evaluation of the painkillers prescribed in approximately two million patients with fractures, bruises, sprains or superficial injuries.

According to the doctors, this is worrying because opioids are no more effective than other painkillers for pain in the musculoskeletal system after accidents, but often have unwanted side effects. These range from cognitive impairment, nausea and hypersensitivity to pain to the risk of opioid dependence.

German-speaking Switzerland has been particularly affected

Previous studies have already shown that opioid prescribing in Switzerland has increased significantly over the past two decades, the study authors write. According to previous studies, Switzerland is one of the top four prescribers of opioids worldwide. What is new is that this trend affects not only tumor pain, but also trivial cases.

The researchers also saw regional differences: According to the study, the increase in the prescription of opium-based painkillers is significantly greater in German-speaking Switzerland than in the French- and Italian-speaking parts of Switzerland. The study cited cultural differences between the language regions as the reason for this.

Researchers from the University of Bern, the Inselspital, the Bern University of Applied Sciences, Suva and the ROB contributed to the study, which was published in the journal “Journal of Occupational Rehabilitation”. (SDA)

Source:Blick