Patient-Centered Prescription Opioid Tapering Methods: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

Patient-centered opioid tapering achieves about 50% success without added benefit from behavioral support strategies in a U.S. trial of 562 adults.

• Why it matters: Effective methods for tapering long-term prescription opioids are crucial to reduce dependence and adverse effects, yet evidence on optimal approaches remains limited.
• What they did: A randomized controlled trial compared three strategies—taper only, taper plus cognitive behavioral therapy, and taper plus self-management—across 11 U.S. sites, involving adults on stable opioid doses for at least 3 months.
• The result: Taper success was similar across groups (~45-51%), with behavioral interventions not improving outcomes but potentially reducing adverse events, highlighting the challenge of tapering and the need for tailored support.