IWP Sees Drop in Opioid Prescriptions, High-Risk Regimens

Injured Workers Pharmacy, or IWP, a specialty pharmacy dedicated to workers’ compensation, reported a 7% decrease in narcotic prescriptions last year. At the same time, prescriptions for analgesics and anti-inflammatory drugs were up 6% in 2015; prescriptions for musculoskeletal therapy drugs were up 3%; and anticonvulsant prescriptions were up 8%, IWP said in a new “Front Line Perspective” report. Prescriptions for topical local anesthetics and combinations were up 16% in 2015. IWP notes in its report that compounded medications are recommended only after first- and s...