The challenge of international consensus: defining an opioid essential prescription package.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW To describe a new strategy that aimed to facilitate opioid prescription for better pain management. RECENT FINDINGS The International Association of Hospice and Palliative Care recently develop a single prescription package (drugs and dosing) with one opioid, one laxative, and one antiemetic for the initiation of opioid treatment in cancer pain and other life-threatening conditions, with the intention to facilitate opioid use, improve patient compliance, and reduce adverse effects. SUMMARY The opioid essential prescription package was an international project designed to ensure that opioids are better tolerated by reducing the adverse effects of opioids, which could lead to more sustained improvements in pain management.