CDC has released the 2022 CDC Clinical Practice Guideline for Prescribing Opioids for Pain, which updates and replaces the 2016 guideline. We are in the process of updating available resources and materials. Please refer to the 2022 Clinical Practice Guideline for current CDC recommendations and implementation strategies.
CDC Opioid Guideline Mobile App
Prescribe with Confidence
CDC’s Opioid Guideline App can help providers apply the recommendations of CDC’s Guideline for Prescribing Opioids for Chronic Pain in clinical practice by putting the entire guideline, tools, and resources in the palm of their hand. Managing chronic pain is complex, but accessing prescribing guidance has never been easier.
The application includes a Morphine Milligram Equivalent (MME) calculator*, summaries of key recommendations, a link to the full Guideline, and an interactive motivational interviewing feature to help providers practice effective communications skills and prescribe with confidence.
Free Download
The CDC Opioid Guideline App is available for free on Google Play (Android devices) and in the Apple Store (iOS devices).
*MME Calculator Disclaimer: This calculator is not intended to replace clinical judgement or to guide opioid dosing for patients receiving active cancer treatment, palliative care, end-of-life care, or for patients younger than 18. The application is not intended to provide guidance on dosing of opioids as part of medication-assisted treatment for opioid use disorder. Conversion factors for drugs prescribed or provided as part of medication-assisted treatment for opioid use disorder should not be used to benchmark against MME dosage thresholds meant for opioids prescribed for pain. The calculator does not account for incomplete cross-tolerance between opioids and should not be used to guide opioid rotation or conversion between different opioids. This is especially important for fentanyl and methadone conversions. Equianalgesic dose ratios are approximations and do not account for interactions between opioids and other drugs, patient weight, hepatic or renal insufficiency, genetic factors, and other factors affecting pharmacokinetics. Additional clinical guidance, including opioid prescribing for acute pain, may be available through manufacturers’ full prescribing information or consultation with other clinicians with expertise and experience in pain management.
