This review is intended primarily for healthcare professionals. It provides a brief summary of key information on the safety of medicinal products published in January 2023 by the Ministry of Health of Canada (Health Canada). The published information is not exhaustive.
The analysis that contributed to this safety review included scientific and medical literature, Canadian and international information, as well as what is known about the use of medicinal products both in Canada and abroad.
Updates to instructions for medical use
Opioids – mental and behavioral disorders
Key messages for healthcare professionals:
- Opioids should be used with particular caution in patients with a history of psychiatric disorders, including, but not limited to, major depression, anxiety, and alcohol and drug abuse.
- Concerns about abuse and dependence should not prevent adequate pain relief.
- Efforts must be made to promote good opioid prescribing practice that would assess the benefit/risk balance of opioids taking into account the individual needs of each patient.
Opioids may be prescribed to relieve pain. Although opioids can be beneficial, they also carry potential risks.
A recent study showed that the use of opioid-containing analgesics by adults is often associated with mood disorders.
The analysis also indicates that some adults who reported taking opioid medicinal products also reported taking them not as prescribed or for reasons other than pain relief. This indicator was higher among adults diagnosed with “Affective disorder.”
From January 1, 2008, to June 30, 2022, Health Canada received hundreds of reports of adverse reactions related to drug abuse and dependence on opioids dispensed in Canada, in patients whose medical history included mental health disorders.
Health Canada is working with registration certificate holders to update the instructions for medical use with information on the use of opioids for the treatment of patients with a history of mental disorders. The updates will be made to the “Special precautions for use” sections of the instructions for medical use. Health Canada will continue to monitor opioid safety information, as for all medicinal products on the Canadian market, in order to identify and assess potential risks.
The original text of this publication can be found at the link:
