Engage Patient

All decisions made should be made in collaboration with the patient and/or caregiver. Consider implementing an opioid taper agreement with your patient to ensure that both the patient and the provider know what goal they are working towards and the responsibilities of each party involved.

Resources

• Starting a Conversation about Deprescribing Opioids or Benzodiazepines (UNC resource)
• Opioid Taper Agreement (UNC resource)
• Addressing Barriers to Opioid Tapering (UNC resource)

Motivational interviewing helps the patient identify the benefits, from their perspective, of tapering their opioid medications(s).

Resources

• Motivational Interviewing Resource – Pain (UNC resource)
• Opioid Taper/Discontinuation (The BRAVO Protocol) (Oregon Pain Guidance)