The Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) releases Drug Utilization Review (DUR) articles which provide timely and relevant information on drug-specific therapy issues.
Medi-Cal provides healthcare coverage for more than half of all births in California. The California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) is prioritizing maternity outcomes by improving screening for depression and reducing maternity care disparities.
Postpartum pain is common and often persistent and problematic. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) recommends a stepwise multimodal approach to manage postpartum pain.
Acetaminophen and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are non-opioid analgesics recommended as first-line pharmacologic therapies for acute postpartum pain and in individuals who are breastfeeding. If pain control is not adequate and opioids are initiated, ACOG recommends to prescribe a low-dose, low-potency and short acting opioid as needed to manage acute postpartum pain.
The Food & Drug Administration (FDA) issued a drug safety communication recommending against the use of codeine and tramadol in breastfeeding mothers due to risk of harm to the infant.
View the full Clinical Review: Management of Acute Postpartum Pain article.