Suppose you struggle with chronic pain and have been prescribed an opioid medication. If this happens, you will most likely be asked to sign a pain management agreement, also called an opioid treatment agreement. Before signing any of these pain contracts, you should understand what is asked. Click here for more information.
What is a Pain Management Contract?
A pain management contract is between you, as a patient, and your doctor. The main goal is to ensure that if you take opioid drugs, you will do exactly as your doctor has prescribed.
These pain management contracts are designed to protect you from drug abuse and protect the doctor if you abuse the medication somehow.
According to Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) pain medication agreements that were infrequent years ago are only required by pain clinics and pain management specialists. However, more and more family practitioners need their patients who take long-term opioid pain medication to sign such agreements.
The contract will include strict guidelines for the proper use of opioid medication and be signed by both the patient and the doctor.
When taking opioids, beware of the risk of addiction. If you need to seek help, head over to ANR Clinic’s resources on ANR treatment.
How Does a Pain Management Contract Work?
Once you sign a pain management contract, you agree not to obtain opioid medication from any other source or use only one pharmacy. You should discuss your pain treatment with your physician and share any concerns about the contract. Here are some things you need to know about the pain management contract:
Take Medication as Prescribed
Firstly, you must agree to take the medication exactly as prescribed. You must accept the exact amount of opioid medication specified at time intervals. Contrarily, you may risk your agreement being terminated.
Under no circumstances can you decrease your intake or save medicine on a low-pain day to take it later. You cannot increase your dose on a given day regardless of your pain unless your doctor writes a new prescription. Do not change the dosage on your own, no matter what.
Drug Testing is Permitted
It is critical to understand that doctors can do drug testing, and if they find you have too little drug in your system, they may think you are selling the opioid medication or offering it to someone else. If you have too much medicine in your system, they may think you are abusing the drugs.
You must agree to random drug testing when signing a pain management contract. It is not that the doctor doesn’t trust you, but they can lose their medical license and face criminal prosecution if you are being caught abusing or selling the medication to others.
Only One Pharmacy is Allowed
You must agree to get all your prescriptions filled at one pharmacy and allow the pharmacist and doctor to share information about you.
No Replacement Medication
By signing a pain management contract, you agree that stolen, lost, or destroyed medication will not be replaced. Contrarily, you will be forced to deal with your pain until you renew your prescription. Make sure that no one else has access to your medicines. It would be ideal for keeping them under lock and key.
Prescriptions Come From One Provider
You also must agree not to request nor take medication from other healthcare providers. Bear in mind that only your pain management doctor can prescribe your pain medication.
Before signing a pain management contract, read carefully every word and ask if something is unclear to you. Then consider whether signing such an agreement will be the best option.
