Opioid Treatment

For people living with chronic pain, often pharmacological treatment is the best medicine. Opioids are a form of treatment for moderate to severe pain that cannot be managed with other treatment modalities or with other medications. Opioids, like all medications, are not for everyone, and they provide unique risks and benefits for patients.

The use of opioids (morphine, and its derivatives) can be
either long or short acting. The goal of opioid therapy is to lessen a patient’s pain while, at the same time helping you perform everyday activities. Opioids can be highly addictive and people who are at risk for opiate addiction have a history of familial addiction. If a person is taking an opiate, it is important not to stop taking the medication abruptly, or serious side effects can occur. Stopping cold turkey can cause withdrawal symptoms.

The Chronic Pain Foundation offers a helpful worksheet that can help determine if opioid treatments are the best treatment option and to make sure all of the medical, behavioral, and social risks of opioid therapy been thoroughly covered. The worksheet can be found at http://www.painfoundation.org/learn/publications/files/cot-worksheet.pdf.

The pain foundation also suggests that all patients who are given opioids should be provided with informed consent that covers these basics:
•Potential adverse effects of opioids including, but not limited to sleepiness, constipation, nausea, itching, respiratory depression, inadequate pain relief, risk of addiction, drug interactions, and pregnancy-related concerns in women
•Definitions and descriptions of tolerance, physical dependence, and addiction
•Alternative pain treatments
•Discussion of driving and work safety

There are important safety considerations when taking opioids. For example, medications should be kept away from children and a patient should never use alcohol when taking opioids, as it can cause a rapid release of the medication. If you have any questions or concerns about your medication, contact your health care provider.