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- Opioids can be safe and effective for certain types of pain when prescribed and monitored carefully; however, they also come with potential risks, such as the development of physical tolerance (needing higher doses to achieve the same pain relief) and the development of opioid use disorder.
www.apa.org/topics/substance-use-abuse-addiction/opioids-heroin-fentanyl
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Mar 19, 2018 · At lower doses, opioids can make people feel sleepy, but higher doses of the drugs can slow your breathing and heart rate, which can lead to death. Mixing any opioid painkillers with alcohol, or...
Mar 19, 2018 · Opioids are a group of drugs that range from codeine, to illegal drugs like heroin. Prescription opioids are primarily used for pain relief. They work by attaching to opioid receptors in your...
Aug 26, 2023 · Opioids are a broad group of pain-relieving medicines that work with your brain cells. Opioids can be made from the poppy plant — for example, morphine (Duramorph, MS Contin, others). Or opioids can be made in a laboratory — for example, fentanyl (Actiq and Fentora).
May 1, 2018 · What makes opioids so dangerous? What makes opioid medications effective for treating pain also can make them dangerous. At lower doses, opioids may make you feel sleepy, but higher doses can slow your breathing and heart rate, which can lead to death.
- Overview
- Additional Common Questions
Opioids (sometimes called narcotics) are a class of drugs healthcare providers prescribe to manage moderate to severe pain. They also sometimes prescribe opioids for chronic coughing and diarrhea. Opioids have high addiction potential, so it’s important to talk with your provider about their risks and benefits before taking them.
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How should I take prescribed opioids?
You should always be careful when taking any prescribed medication, but you need to take extra care when taking prescribed opioids. Helpful tips include: Take your medication exactly as prescribed by your healthcare provider — do not take extra doses. Check the instructions every time you take a dose. Do not break, chew, crush or dissolve opioid pills. Do not drive or use any machinery that may injure you or others, especially when you first start the medication. Opioids can cause drowsiness. Contact your provider if you have side effects. If you can, use the same pharmacy for all your medications. The pharmacy's computer system will alert the pharmacist if you’re taking two or more medicines that could cause a dangerous interaction. If you feel that you’re dependent on opioids or your prescribed dosage isn’t helping you manage your symptoms, do not take more than your recommended dosage and talk with your healthcare provider immediately. Never share your opioid medication with someone else or sell your medication. Always store it in a safe place away from children and pets.
What are the side effects of opioids?
Common side effects of opioids include: Drowsiness (sedation). Dizziness. Nausea and vomiting. Constipation. Physical dependence — Dependence often manifests with withdrawal symptoms when opioids are discontinued or decreased. Tolerance — As you take repeated doses of opioids, you require increased medication to experience the same effect of pain relief. Respiratory depression — This can occur in healthy people, especially with higher doses. However, people with COPD, asthma or other lung conditions may be even more susceptible to fatal respiratory impairment. Uncommon side effects of opioids include: An increased sensitivity to feeling pain and extreme response to pain (hyperalgesia). Chronic use of opioids can lead to this. Delayed gastric emptying (the process by which the contents of your stomach are moved into your small intestine). Muscle rigidity. Immune system and hormonal dysfunction. Quick, involuntary muscle jerks (myoclonus). Arrhythmia. Itchy skin (pruritus). Dry mouth (xerostomia).
What are the long-term effects of opioids?
Long-term side effects from chronic opioid use include: Chronic constipation. Sleep-disordered breathing (SDB). Increased risk of bone fractures. Hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal dysregulation. Increased risk of overdose.
Oct 5, 2022 · Opioids are powerful drugs that relieve pain. Learn their medical uses and side effects, plus factors that may increase opioid use disorder risk.
Jan 16, 2020 · The downside of long-term opioid use is it puts you at increased risk of constipation, memory loss, addiction - and even accidental death by overdose. Michael Mosley says he was wrongly taught at...
