994 - Sleep aid use in chronic pain population

Chronic pain can both cause and result in lack quality and quantity of sleep.  As a result, numerous anecdotal, over the counter and prescribed medications exist. Studies have evaluated the use and efficacy of various treatments to aid in sleep.

However, despite the prevalence of use of these medications, limited data exist in the outcome of these treatments, and more recently, particularly in the chronic pain population, risks have been found to exist with concomitant use of some types of sleep aid medications.

The purpose of the study is to evaluate the use of sleep aid medications in the chronic pain population, as well as to understand the frequency and duration use, as well as the impact on sleep and pain.

Design: The patients currently established and managed with opioids for chronic pain were surveyed anonymously during their scheduled office follow ups in the clinic.

Results:

82 subjects were included in the study, 40 were female, 42 were male. 18 (45%) females and 10 (24%) used prescription or over the counter sleep (OTC) aids in the past. Average use of prescription sleep aids was 68 months, OTC aids were 18.5 months.  9 (32%) of reported sleep benefit with OTC, 15 (53%) with prescriptions medications. Only 7 (25%) reported improvement of the pain with initiation and use of the sleep aids. 4 (14%) reported side effects with sleep aid use. Those using sleep aid had an average of 46 morphine milligram equivalent (MME) vs 36 MME in those not using sleep aids.

Conclusions: Sleep aid use is common in patients with chronic pain managed with opioids. However, only a minority reported sleep benefit and even less perceived pain improvement with the sleep aids.