Opioids v placebo for chronic non-cancer pain*
| Outcomes at 6–24 months | Number of trials (n) | Opioids | Placebo | RRI (95% CI) | NNH (CI) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| *Abbreviations defined in glossary; RRI, NNH, and CI calculated from data in article. | |||||
| ⩾1 adverse event | 4 (445) | 80% | 56% | 40% (30 to 60) | 4 (3 to 6) |
| Constipation | 8 (1114) | 41% | 11% | 260% (170 to 370) | 3 (3 to 4) |
| Nausea | 8 (1114) | 32% | 12% | 170% (110 to 260) | 5 (4 to 6) |
| Sleepiness/sedation | 7 (1022) | 29% | 10% | 230% (140 to 350) | 5 (4 to 7) |