Reduction in opioid prescribing through evidence-based prescribing guidelines.

This pre–post study examined the effect of implementing an evidence-based opioid prescribing guideline following cholecystectomy surgery. After guideline implementation, the average number of opioid pills per prescription declined, but no increase in refill requests occurred. More patients were prescribed nonopioid pain medications after guideline implementation than before. These promising results suggest a path toward reducing the use of these high-risk medications.