All about Opioid Drugs

When over-the-counter medicines don’t work for your severe pain, you are prescribed something stronger – a prescription opioid. Opioids are narcotic pain medications which are, though effective in relieving from pain, have some serious side effects if not used correctly.

Opioids are a type of narcotic pain medication which can often lead to addiction. Prescription opioids are known to have some serious side effects and people are often addicted to the medicine if not taken safely and correctly.

How opioids work

Opioid drugs bind to opioid receptors in the brain, spinal cord, and other areas of the body. They “tell your brain” that there is no pain. They are used to treat moderate to severe pain that may not respond well to other pain medications.

Different types of opioid drugs:

•    Codeine (only available in generic form)
•    Fentanyl (Actiq, Duragesic, Fentora, Abstral, Onsolis)
•    Hydrocodone (Hysingla, Zohydro ER)
•    Hydrocodone/acetaminophen (Lorcet, Lortab, Norco, Vicodin)
•    Hydromorphone (Dilaudid, Exalgo)
•    Meperidine (Demerol)
•    Methadone (Dolophine, Methadose)
•    Morphine (Kadian, MS Contin, Morphabond)
•    Oxycodone (OxyContin, Oxaydo)
•    Oxycodone and acetaminophen (Percocet, Roxicet)
•    Oxycodone and naloxone

Most of these drugs are prescribed for oral intake, except Fentanyl which is available in a patch that allows the medication to be absorbed through the skin.

Regular checkups and doctor visits

For taking in opioids, you need a doctor’s prescription, with the dose mentioned. You may receive around-the-clock doses to manage pain throughout the day and night. And your doctor may prescribe opioids to be taken "as needed" in case you have "breakthrough" pain that you get despite round-the-clock doses.

While you are on prescribed opioids, you are suggested to check in with your doctor regularly to report:

•    How your pain is responding to the drug
•    Whether you're having any side effects
•   Whether you have any potential interactions or medical conditions that could make you more likely to have side effects, such as sleep apnea, alcohol use, or kidney problems
•    Whether you're taking the drug properly

It is never suggested to stop or alter the doses without confirming with your doctor. Opioids are known to have adversely affecting withdrawal symptoms.

Opioid side effects

Your doctor needs to closely monitor you if on opioid medication, because of these side effects:

•    Constipation
•    Drowsiness
•    Nausea and vomiting

Opioids can be dangerous if you take them with alcohol, or with other drugs like antidepressants, antibiotics and sleeping pills

Opioid tolerance and addiction

Once you start taking opioid for a while, the use of the drug might go high in easing pain over the period. This is called tolerance. Addiction is, however, the compulsive use of drug which can lead to withdrawal symptoms once the drug is stopped abruptly.

Some of the common side effects of the drug include:

•    Diarrhea, nausea and vomiting
•    Muscle pain
•    Anxiety
•    Irritability

The Opioid epidemic

The prescription opioid is adversely affected thousands of patients causing serious medical consequences. Since the last 15 years or so, the increase in prescription drug misuse is reflected in emergency room visits, overdose deaths and treatments admissions for drug disorder. To top it all, the drug addiction is the most prominent one.

Unintentional overdose deaths involving opioid pain relievers have more than quadrupled since 1999 and have outnumbered those involving heroin and cocaine since 2002. The increase in prescription opioid overdose deaths has been dramatic, and opioids are now responsible for 49,000 of the 72,000 drug overdose deaths overall in the US in 2017.

Several lawsuits have been filed and the law firms are fighting for justice on behalf of individuals, municipalities, Native American tribes, and other minority groups.