Multiple Prescriptions of Painkillers Result in Serious Health Issues and Hospitalization

A study found that nearly one-third of elderly patients under Medicare have painkillers prescribed by multiple doctors leading to serious health implications and hospitalization.

According to the National Health Institute report, the prescriptions for narcotics and painkillers have tripled in the last two decades with the numbers reaching 200 million each year, marking an increase in accidental abuse and overdose of opioids.

Researchers from Harvard Medical School used data of medical claims and prescription drugs from a study by Medicare (an insurance program for the elderly) to estimate the frequency of drug prescription and drug induced hospitalization. The study involved 1.8 million elderly patients who had at least one opioid painkiller prescription such as hydrocodone, fentanyl, morphine, and oxycodone during 2010.

It was found that among the beneficiaries of Medicare, nearly 34.6 percent had prescriptions from two health care providers, 14.2 percent were reported to have drug prescriptions from three and 11.9 percent had four or more prescriptions.  Multiple prescription rates were high among younger beneficiaries and those who filled prescriptions for stimulants, non-narcotic analgesics, central nervous system, neuromuscular, and antineoplastic drugs or medications which have anti-cancer properties.

Dr. Anupam Jena, an assistant professor of health care policy and medicine at Harvard Medical School said, "I thought it would be 5 percent to 10 percent," reports HealthDay.

The results revealed multiple prescriptions increase risks for hospitalization. The annual hospital admission rates were twice among patients who had received more than four prescriptions of pain killer drugs compared to those with only one prescription. Patients were hospitalized due to opioid poisoning, respiratory problems, drug induced mental disorders, constipation and extreme lethargy.

Dr Jena said "We don't know if this is due to doctor shopping in those who have become addicted to these opioids, but this probably accounts for just a small fraction of what we're seeing. "

The study aims to educate patients about the risks of drug overdose that poses serious threat to health and may even result in death. The researchers emphasize the need for stronger control system and policies to reduce the illicit intake of opioid among elderly and disabled people. The study authors said, "Our results also suggest a potentially greater role for pharmacists to serve as gatekeepers to prescription opioid drugs. For example, pharmacists can use computerized databases of prescription filling integrated into their practice to notify all providers when a patient concurrently fills two or more prescriptions for an opioid from multiple providers."

The research is published in the British Medical Journal.