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Introduction: Pain management is a cornerstone of emergency department (ED) practice, yet ongoing pain after ED discharge and return visits for inadequate analgesia are common. Over-the-counter (OTC) acetaminophen and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are widely accepted first line agents for mild to moderate pain. Previous research has not investigated how patients actually consume such agents after discharge, and if they consume them synergistically and at sufficient doses for optimal analgesia. We sought to determine the proportion of patients in ongoing pain post-discharge that were utilizing analgesics as well as the type and dose of agent(s) used. Methods: Adults presenting to our ED with an acutely painful musculoskeletal complaint during research assistant hours were eligible for enrollment. After excluding non-English speakers as well as admitted, pregnant/breastfeeding, and chronic pain patients, consenting subjects completed in-person questionnaires during their ED stay and a follow-up telephone interview 2-3 days later. Results: 158 individuals were approached during the study period, of which 99 enrolled. 78 completed follow-up. At follow-up, 71 (91%) individuals experienced ongoing pain with a median score of 5 (interquartile range (IQR) 3-6) on an 11-point scale. 48 (67%) of patients still in pain consumed analgesics in the preceding 24 hours. The most commonly used agents were acetaminophen by 18 individuals (38% of analgesic users), ibuprofen by 16 (33%), and naproxen by 9 (19%). 29 respondents (60% of analgesic users) were using solely oral OTC analgesics. Only 15 (31% of analgesic users) used multiple agents concurrently, and 11 (23%) used prescription opioids. Acetaminophen was used at a median daily dose of 1500mg (IQR 1000-2000mg), much lower than that recommended for maximal analgesia (4000mg). Ibuprofen daily doses (1200mg, IQR 800-1300mg) were slightly lower than typical recommended doses (1600mg, 400mg every 6 hours). Conclusion: Only two-thirds of patients with ongoing pain at 2-3 days post-ED discharge were consuming analgesics, most commonly acetaminophen and ibuprofen. Of patients using analgesics, less than one-third used multiple agents. OTC medications are not used by most patients at doses for maximal analgesia. It may be possible to reduce pain burden and repeat-visits in discharged ED patients by optimizing the use of OTC analgesics.
