Opioid Titration in Pain Management

A 65-year-old patient with a history of chronic pain due to osteoarthritis is being discharged after an extended hospital stay. The healthcare provider prescribes an oral opioid analgesic. The patient expresses concern about the potential for addiction and asks how the medication would be managed during therapy. The nurse provides education on the proper dosage and frequency, indicating that the initial dose of the medication is 3.75 mg and can be titrated up by a maximum of __________ mg every __________ hours based on the patient's pain level and side effects.