Opioids are medicines used to the treat severe or long-term (chronic) pain. Some are very stronger than others pain. The most common side-effects are constipation, feeling sick and tiredness. Other possible problems with opioids include depend on and addiction. When proper responsibly in line with good practice guidelines, addiction does not usually happen.
What are opioids?
Opioids (sometimes called opiates) are medicines used to treat pain. There are many many difference types of painkillers that are suitable for different types of the pain. Most doctors will start off prescribing a weak painkiller such as paracetamol or ibuprofen. If these don’t work, depending on the type of pain you have, your doctor may consider prescribing an opioid.
Opioids are usually divided up into two groups:
Weak opioids - these include codeine and dihydrocodeine.
Strong opioids - these include tramadol, buprenorphine, methadone, diamorphine, fentanyl, hydromorphone, morphine, oxycodone, and pethidine.
Even the strong opioids are classified together, they can differ a lot in the strength. The stronger ones may be ten times stronger than the weakest. Strong opioids are usually prescribed for more severe types of the pain - for example if you have had an operation or have injured in a car accident. They may also be considered for the people who have long-term (chronic) pain when other painkillers have been not worked. They are also often used for pain in the people with cancer.
The weaker opioids are as usually taken as tablets. There are dispersible and liquid forms. They may come in the brands which combine paracetamol and the opioid. Strong opioids can be you taken as:
Some painkiller Liquid or syrup.
Quick-acting tablets and capsules.
Slow-release tablets and capsules.
Sachets.
Tablets that are held in the mouth - next to the gum (buccal tablets).
Patches of the skin.
Injections, which may be under the skin, into the vein or into a muscle.
They all come in the various different brand names and not all brands are to the same. Once you have started taking one brand you should stick to the same one, unless your doctor has been told you to switch to another brand.
Although there are a few strong opioids, the most commonly prescribed one is morphine. If your doctor thinks that a strong opioid would help your type of painkiller then morphine is at every turn the first strong opioid to be prescribed. If this does not work, your doctor may be consider switching you to a different brand.
How do opioids work?
Opioids central nervous system (brain and spinal cord), gut and other parts of the body binding to specific receptors work. In this way to you reduce the pain and the pain you feel in your response, and it leads to increased tolerance for the pain reliever.
How do I take opioids?
Each different opioid medicine will have different instructions. Your doctor and pharmacist will explain exactly when and how to take them. Some examples are discussed below.
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