Role of Medication
Most episodes of acute pain can be managed with medication and the pain usually goes away when the injury or illness heals. More information about medicines for short-term pain is available here.
Persistent pain
Medication alone is not helpful for the management of persistent pain and people will often need to adopt other strategies for long-term pain management.
For persistent pain, supported self-management and adopting a multidisciplinary pain management approach is recommended. A holistic plan that incorporates biological, psychological and social factors will be the most beneficial to reduce the effects of chronic pain and improve ability and quality of life.
Some medicines can play a role within this holistic plan, such as paracetamol and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medicines.
Sometimes, if an individual has tried other treatments without success, their doctor might prescribe opioid medications. However, opioids play a limited role in the treatment of chronic non-cancer pain and can come with a risk of harm and can be addictive if used long-term.
If you are using medication alone for pain management, it is recommended that you discuss other options with your GP or health professional.
Opioid regulation reforms
Information about the Opioid reforms that came into effect in June 2020
SEPTEMBER 2020
- What the TGA’s recent opioid changes mean for GPs
- PHARMACEUTICAL BENEFITS SCHEME (PBS) OPIOID CHANGES – PATIENT INFORMATION
- PBS-subsidised opioids – patient information
- PBS-subsidised opioids – steps to prescribing
- NPS MEDICINEWISE - Opioid prescribing changes – improving safety, reducing harm
- Prescription opioids: Information for consumers, patients and carers - Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA)
- Prescription opioids: Information for health professionals - Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA)
- https://www.pbs.gov.au/info/news/2020/05/revised-opioids-pbs-listings-from-1-june-2020 - Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS)
Opioids: Communication videos (NPS MedicineWise)
This series of four educational videos aims to support effective conversations between health professionals and patients about the use of opioids for the management of chronic non-cancer pain. The videos focus on motivational interviewing techniques, providing examples of interactions between patients and health professionals, and demonstrating how best practice recommendations can be applied to individual patient circumstances.
Register adverse medicine events
If you have any concerns about reactions, side effects or medicine interactions call the Adverse Medicine Events (AME) Line. The AME Line is staffed by registered pharmacists and provides information related to prescription, over-the-counter and complementary medicines. AME LINE: 1300 134 237 Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm
Help & Resources
- National Pain Services Directory
- NPS MedicineWise
- Multidisciplinary Pain Management Factsheet
- Statement regarding the use of opioid analgesics in patients with chronic non-cancer pain (FPM/ANZCA)
- Medicines with Codeine: Advice for Pharmacists (NPS Medicinewise)
- Codeine Myth Buster Factsheet (RACP & Painaustralia)
- The Pain Toolkit (paintoolkit.org)
- healthdirect Practical health information and advice (Australian government)
- Codeine hub (ScriptWise)
- Medicines and procedures (pain health)
- PainWISE Find a pharmacist near you trained in PainWISE pain management
- Alcohol and Drug Foundation Preventing alcohol and other drug harms in Australia
- Opioid medicines and chronic non-cancer pain