Moon AM, et al. - Using a landmark analysis and conducted multivariable Cox proportional hazards regression, researchers intended to determine if there is a connection between opioids and hepatic encephalopathy (HE), a debilitating and common complication of cirrhosis, in patients with well-compensated cirrhosis. In order to identify patients (aged 18-64 years) with cirrhosis, the IQVIA PharMetrics (Durham, NC) database were used. The cohort involved 6,451 individuals without any decompensation events within 1 year before the diagnosis of cirrhosis. Data reported that 23.3% and 4.7% had short-term and chronic opioid prescriptions respectively. An association was found between opioid prescriptions and the risk of incident HE in this national cohort of privately insured patients with cirrhosis. The use of opioids in those with cirrhosis should be reduced and restricted to a short duration when necessary.