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Learning About Opiates

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Introduction

Opiates are medicines used to relieve moderate to severe pain. They may be used for a short time for pain, such as after surgery. Or they may be used for long-term pain. They don’t cure a health problem. But they help you manage the pain.

Opiates relieve pain by changing the way your body feels pain and the way you feel about pain.

Sometimes opiates are used for people who can’t take other pain medicines. They may be prescribed if you have heart, kidney, or liver problems. For instance, you may take an opiate instead of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). NSAIDs include ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) and naproxen (Aleve).

Opiates are powerful medicines. You may need to take extra steps to stay safe.

Examples

Opiates or other medicines that contain them include:

  • Codeine (Tylenol 3).
  • Hydrocodone (Norco).
  • Oxycodone (OxyContin, Percocet).

Safety tips

Taking too much (overdose) of an opiate can cause death. To avoid an overdose:

  • Take your medicines exactly as prescribed. Call your doctor if you think you are having a problem with your medicine. You will get more details on the specific medicines your doctor prescribes.
  • Do not break, crush, or chew a pill. Do not cut or tear a patch.
  • Do not drink alcohol. Do not take recreational or illegal drugs.
  • Do not drive or operate machinery until the medicine effects are gone. Wait until you can think clearly.
  • Keep your medicine away from children and pets. Store it in a safe and secure place.
  • Call your doctor if you miss a dose of your medicine and aren’t sure what to do. Do not double your dose.
  • Check with your doctor or pharmacist before you use any other medicines. This includes over-the-counter medicines. Make sure your doctor knows all of the medicines, vitamins, herbal products, and supplements you take. Taking some medicines together can cause problems.
  • Talk to your doctor about a naloxone rescue kit. A kit can help you, and even save your life, if you take too much of an opiate.

Side effects

Common side effects include:

  • Constipation.
  • Feeling dizzy or lightheaded. You may feel like you might faint.
  • Feeling sleepy.
  • Nausea or vomiting.

You may have other side effects or reactions. Check the information that comes with your medicine.

What to know about taking this medicine

  • Your body gets used to opiates if you take them all the time. You could have withdrawal symptoms when you stop taking them. Symptoms include nausea, sweating, chills, diarrhea, anxiety, and shaking. But you can avoid these symptoms if you slowly stop taking the medicine as your doctor tells you to.
  • You have a small chance of addiction if you take opiates as prescribed. Your risk is a bit higher if you have abused drugs in the past.
  • Some opiates have acetaminophen in them. Check the labels on all the other medicines you take. This includes over-the-counter drugs. Many medicines have acetaminophen. Do not take others with acetaminophen in them unless your doctor has told you to. Taking too much acetaminophen can be harmful. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist if you have questions about this.
  • Be sure you know how to safely get rid of any leftover medicine. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist about how to do this. Ask for written instructions.

When should you call for help?

Call 911 anytime you think you may need emergency care. For example, call if:

  • You have symptoms of a severe allergic reaction. These may include:
    • Sudden raised, red areas (hives) all over your body.
    • Swelling of the throat, mouth, lips, or tongue.
    • Trouble breathing.
    • Passing out (losing consciousness). Or you may feel very lightheaded or suddenly feel weak, confused, or restless.
  • You have signs of an overdose. These include:
    • Cold, clammy skin.
    • Confusion.
    • Severe nervousness or restlessness.
    • Severe dizziness, drowsiness, or weakness.
    • Slow breathing.
    • Seizures.

Call your doctor now or seek immediate medical care if:

  • You have symptoms of an allergic reaction, such as:
    • A rash or hives (raised, red areas on the skin).
    • Itching.
    • Swelling.
    • Belly pain, nausea, or vomiting.

Watch closely for changes in your health, and be sure to contact your doctor if:

  • Your medicine is not helping with the pain.
  • You are having side effects, such as constipation.

Care instructions adapted under license by Neuromuscular Spine & Joint Center. This care instruction is for use with your licensed healthcare professional. If you have questions about a medical condition or this instruction, always ask your healthcare professional. Kopp Medical LLC, DBA Neurmomuscular Spine & Joint Center disclaims any warranty or liability for your use of this information.

Pain Medicine Side Effects: Care Instructions

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When you go to a medical facility in pain, you may get a strong medicine to give you relief. The medicine may be given in a vein (by IV) or as an injection (shot). Examples of this type of pain medicine include fentanyl, hydromorphone, and morphine. While these medicines help relieve pain, they also have side effects.

For your safety, it’s important that you know how this strong pain medicine affects you. Common side effects can include:

  • Nausea or vomiting.
  • Feeling dizzy or lightheaded.
  • Feeling sleepy.

The doctor has checked you carefully, but problems can develop later. If you notice any problems or new symptoms, get medical treatment right away.

Follow-up care is a key part of your treatment and safety. Be sure to make and go to all appointments, and call your doctor if you are having problems. It’s also a good idea to know your test results and keep a list of the medicines you take.

How can you care for yourself at home?

Activity

  • Don’t do anything for 24 hours that requires attention to detail. This medicine makes your mind foggy. It takes time for the effects to wear off completely.
  • Don’t drive a car until you are sure the effects from the medicine are gone.

Medicines

  • Be safe with medicines. Read and follow all instructions on the label.
    • If the doctor gave you a prescription medicine for pain, take it as prescribed.
    • If you are not taking a prescription pain medicine, ask your doctor if you can take an over-the-counter medicine.

Diet

  • You can eat your normal diet, unless your doctor gives you other instructions. If your stomach is upset, try clear liquids and bland, low-fat foods like plain toast or rice.
  • Drink plenty of fluids (unless your doctor tells you not to).
  • Don’t drink alcohol for 24 hours.

When should you call for help?

Call 911 anytime you think you may need emergency care. For example, call if:

  • You have trouble breathing.
  • You passed out (lost consciousness).

Call your doctor now or seek immediate medical care if:

  • You have new or worse pain.

Watch closely for changes in your health, and be sure to contact your doctor if:

  • You do not get better as expected.

Care instructions adapted under license by Neuromuscular Spine & Joint Center. This care instruction is for use with your licensed healthcare professional. If you have questions about a medical condition or this instruction, always ask your healthcare professional. Kopp Medical LLC, DBA Neurmomuscular Spine & Joint Center disclaims any warranty or liability for your use of this information.

Pain Medicine: Care Instructions

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Pain can keep you from doing the things you want to do. Medicine may help you feel better. There are many kinds of pain medicine. One type you can buy over the counter is acetaminophen (Tylenol).

Other medicines help both pain and swelling. These are called nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). They include aspirin, ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), and naproxen (Aleve). All of these drugs can cause side effects. Take them just as the package label tells you to. The most common side effects are stomach upset, heartburn, and nausea. Taking these drugs with food may help.

If you take NSAIDs often, you could get stomach ulcers or kidney problems. This can also happen if you take them for a long time. NSAIDs rarely cause a bad allergic reaction.

Many pain medicines need to be prescribed by a doctor. Some of these drugs, called opiates, can be addicting. Examples are hydrocodone, morphine, fentanyl, and codeine. They often can be used safely if you are under a doctor’s care.

Follow-up care is a key part of your treatment and safety. Be sure to make and go to all appointments, and call your doctor if you are having problems. It’s also a good idea to know your test results and keep a list of the medicines you take.

How can you care for yourself at home?

  • Be safe with medicines. If you take an over-the-counter pain medicine, such as acetaminophen (Tylenol), ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), or naproxen (Aleve), read and follow all instructions on the label.
  • Do not give aspirin to anyone younger than 20. It has been linked to Reye syndrome, a serious illness.
  • Be careful when taking over-the-counter cold or flu medicines and Tylenol at the same time. Many of these medicines contain acetaminophen, which is Tylenol. Read the labels to make sure that you are not taking more than the recommended dose. Too much Tylenol can be harmful.
  • Do not take two or more pain medicines at the same time unless the doctor told you to.
  • Do not drink alcohol and take pain medicine at the same time.
  • If your pain pills make you constipated:
    • Talk to your doctor about a laxative.
    • Drink plenty of fluids, enough so that your urine is light yellow or clear like water. Drink water, fruit juice, or other drinks that do not contain caffeine or alcohol. If you have kidney, heart, or liver disease and have to limit fluids, talk with your doctor before you increase the amount of fluids you drink.
    • Take fiber, such as Citrucel or Metamucil, daily if needed. Read and follow all instructions on the label. If you take pain medicine for more than a few days, talk to your doctor before you take fiber.

When should you call for help?

Call your doctor now or seek immediate medical care if:

  • Your pain medicine is not easing your pain.
  • You have stomach pain, an upset stomach, or heartburn that lasts or comes back.
  • You can’t sleep because of the pain.

Watch closely for changes in your health, and be sure to contact your doctor if:

  • You do not get better as expected.

Care instructions adapted under license by Neuromuscular Spine & Joint Center. This care instruction is for use with your licensed healthcare professional. If you have questions about a medical condition or this instruction, always ask your healthcare professional. Kopp Medical LLC, DBA Neurmomuscular Spine & Joint Center disclaims any warranty or liability for your use of this information.