Bienek N, et al. - Given the recommendation of controlled opioid withdrawal for patients with chronic noncancer pain (CNCP) with insufficient pain reduction or intolerable side effects while on opioid treatment, researchers here focussed on the management of opioid withdrawal (OW), comparing two protocols—fixed starting dosage (FSD) and individualized starting dosage (ISD)—with respect to the intensity of withdrawal symptoms using the Subjective Opioid Withdrawal Scale (SOWS) and incidences of serious adverse events (SAE) and dropouts in each taper schedule. In an inpatient facility, 195 CNCP patients with OW underwent either of the protocols: FSD (2014–2016): N = 68, starting dose: 90 mg morphine/d; and ISD (2010–2014): N = 127, starting dose: 70% of the patient’s daily morphine equivalent dose (MED). The FSD group exhibited lower mean daily SOWS score due to a lower rate of high-intensity withdrawal symptoms, particularly in patients on > 180 mg MED. Both groups showed a decrease in pain intensity after withdrawal, and had a low incidence of SAEs and dropouts. Based on these findings, the FSD protocol can be recommended for OW in CNCP patients.