Guidance
Update information
December 2020: We reviewed our guidance on opioids for non-cancer pain in response to a Public Health England evidence review on dependence on, and withdrawal from, prescribed medicines. We added links in recommendation 1.2.19 to other NICE guidelines that support discussion with patients about opioid prescribing, and safe withdrawal management.
September 2020: We have reviewed the evidence and made new recommendations on pharmacological management for people with sciatica. These recommendations are marked [2020].
We have also updated a recommendation to bring it in line with current terminology. This recommendation is marked [2016, amended 2020].
Recommendations marked [2016] last had an evidence review in 2016. In some cases minor changes have been made to the wording to bring the language and style up to date, without changing the meaning.
Minor changes since publication
April 2022: We added a link to NICE's guideline on medicines associated with dependence or withdrawal symptoms in the sections on pharmacological management of sciatica and low back pain.
October 2021: We added a link to NICE's guideline on shared decision making in recommendation 1.2.19.
ISBN: 978-1-4731-2186-7