Pain management: Management of pain severe enough to require an opioid analgesic and for which alternative treatments are inadequate.
Limitations of use: Generally, 3 days or less of treatment with the lowest effective dose is recommended for acute pain, and rarely should use exceed 7 days. For chronic pain, nonpharmacologic and nonopioid pharmacologic treatment are first-line therapy and opioid prescriptions should be accompanied by established goals for pain and function and a discussion of risks and benefits (CDC [Dowell 2016]).