Management of chronic pain is a challenging task. Treating patients with opioid analgesics can be quite complicated. For this reason, before the treatment is started, patients are made to sign a contract called Pain Management Contract, Pain Contract or Opioid Contract. It is important that the patients strictly follow the treatment plan as opioids are highly addictive drugs. This contract can help educate the patient as well as save the doctor in an event of misuse of drugs. Patients need to know whether they are getting the desired response from the drugs and if there are any signs of addiction and how to minimize a risk of addiction.
These contracts are a written proof of understanding between then doctor and patient and that the patient has consented for the treatment. If you are about to seek treatment for your chronic pain, you will be asked to sign the contract. Make sure to discuss any concerns you have with your doctor before you sign it. Some questions that you can likely have include:
- What medications will be prescribed to me and what do they do?
- What are the risks associated with the use of these medications?
- What happens if I fail to follow the agreement?
Here is an example of a patient agreement form for the treatment of chronic pain with opioids. The medications used and treatment plan may vary depending upon the outcome of the therapy and the progress shown by the patient. The Individual details of the agreement can also vary from doctor to doctor. However, there are a few elements that remain consistent in every agreement. Here are a few important things that a patient needs to know and whether or not they agree to these before they sign the contract.
- They agree to take the medication exactly as prescribed. This includes taking the exact prescribed dose of medicine at prescribed intervals. If not, they risk being terminated from the agreement. So even if you do not feel a need to take the medications on a certain day, you still need to take them. Do not save them for a day you feel more in pain.
- They agree to random drug testing. This measure is taken to ensure that the medications are being taken as prescribed and the patient is not abusing them. It also ensures that the patient is the only one using the medications and they are not being shared with anyone else. The test can analyze and report the amount of drug present in the system.
- They agree to get their prescriptions filled at one pharmacy and allow your doctor and pharmacist to share information with each other. This can help prevent abuse.
- They agree that any medications that they have lost, has got stolen or destroyed will not be replaced. For this reason, make sure to protect your medications and keep them out of reach of anyone else.
- They agree that they will not request or take opioid medications from other healthcare providers. That means even if you visit the emergency room or a dentist, they cannot prescribe you these medications.