Reports Examine Effectiveness, Risks of Pain Treatments

Three new AHRQ-funded reports examine the effectiveness and risks of different kinds of chronic pain treatments. The reports were developed for use by researchers, policymakers and clinical teams to gain a deeper understanding of the impact of different pain treatments. Each report examines a separate approach: opioids; nonopioid drugs; and nondrug treatments such as exercise, acupuncture and cognitive behavioral therapy. The report on opioids found small benefits from the use of those drugs, but also found that their use was accompanied by serious risks at higher doses. The report on nonopioid painkillers found small to moderate improvements in chronic pain management. And the report on nondrug options found benefits in pain and function without serious risks.