Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsWhat Are Opioids?TypesNon-Opioid AlternativesSide EffectsRisksTypes
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
What Are Opioids?
Types
Non-Opioid Alternatives
Side Effects
Risks
Opioidshave long been used to treat severe pain, though their use in the management of chronic pain remains somewhat controversial. Some people can tolerate opioids for years without any adverse effects, while others may become physically dependent or even develop a tolerance with regular use. Like most medications, opioids work differently for everyone.
Opioids can have profound effects when not taken as prescribed. Your healthcare provider will work with you to determine the best medication for your pain.
This article explores what opioid medication is, types of opioids, and side effects. It also discusses non-opioid alternatives and how your healthcare provider will determine the right choice for you.
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If you are prescribed opioids for chronic pain, chances are you will be using either an oral or patch form or a combination of the two.
Opioids Used to Treat Chronic Pain
Opioid medications bind to opioid receptor cells in the brain, spinal cord, and other parts of the body. Pain signals are blocked from reaching the brain when binding to these receptors.Some opioid medications include:
There is no single opioid or non-opioid pain reliever that is ideal for chronic pain. The underlying cause of chronic pain is an essential factor, as well as individual variability. Working closely with a healthcare provider is the only way to know what might work best for your chronic pain.
Non-Opioid Alternatives for Chronic Pain
Before opioids are prescribed, most healthcare providers will recommend non-opioid medications to prevent the side effects and risks associated with opioid use. Although some of these medications may have potential side effects, they are typically more appropriate than opioids for long-term use. These include:
Opioid use may be considered when non-opioid analgesics have failed to provide pain relief. If these analgesics are not effective against your chronic pain, your healthcare provider may consider something stronger. Opioids vary in strength, and some may be combined with otherpain medicines.
Side Effects of Opioids
Opioids carry side effects, some of which are mild and some of which are potentially life-threatening. Some potential side effects include:
Risks of Opioids for Chronic Pain
One of the single most significant risks of opioid use for chronic pain is developing adependenceand/oropioid use disorder.
Those with opioid dependence experiencewithdrawal symptomswhen their opioid medication is discontinued. They may use more of the medication to achieve the same high feeling, which increases the risk of overdose.
What Kind of Opioid Will Your Healthcare Provider Prescribe?
Thetype of opioidyou are prescribed will depend on the type and quality of your pain. Unless you have tried other non-opioid medications without relief, your healthcare provider may not prescribe you opioids at all. If non-opioid analgesics have not been effective for you, your practitioner may start you on a mild opioid such as codeine. Or, he may try you on an opioid that is mixed with aspirin or acetaminophen.
If your pain is more severe, you may be given something stronger, such as oxycodone. Your healthcare provider may try both short-acting and long-acting forms to see what works best for your pain. He may also combine stronger opioids with other analgesics, depending on your needs.
Like most other pain medications, you may have to try more than one type of opioid or opioid combination before you find relief.
Summary
Chronic pain can be a complex condition to manage. Still, different types of opioid medications can help, in addition to non-opioid medications like NSAIDs, acetaminophen, anti-seizure medication, anti-depressants, and COX-2 inhibitors. It is essential to realize that opioid use, especially long-term, carries the risk of overuse and dependence. A healthcare provider should monitor the use of opioids carefully.
6 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.James A, Williams J.Basic opioid pharmacology — an update.Br J Pain. 2020;14(2):115-121. doi:10.1177/2049463720911986National Institutes of Health.Opioids – digital media kit.Anesthesia, Pain Management & Surgery.What are opioids?Birkinshaw H, Friedrich CM, Cole P, et al.Antidepressants for pain management in adults with chronic pain: a network meta‐analysis.Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2023;2023(5):CD014682. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD014682.pub2Li CT, Watson JC.Anticonvulsants in the treatment of pain. In: Deer T, Pope J, Lamer T, Provenzano D, eds.Deer’s treatment of pain.Springer, Cham. 2019:149-161. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-12281-2_19National Institute on Drug Abuse.Prescription opioid use is a risk factor for heroin use.Additional ReadingAmerican Chronic Pain Association. APCA Medications and Chronic Pain: Supplement.Garner-Nix, Jacqueline. Principles of Opioid Use in Non-Cancer Pain.Canadian Medical Association Journal.National Institute on Drug Abuse. NIDA InfoFacts: Prescription and Over-the-Counter Medications.The Merck Manuals Online Medical Library. Pain: Treatment.
6 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.James A, Williams J.Basic opioid pharmacology — an update.Br J Pain. 2020;14(2):115-121. doi:10.1177/2049463720911986National Institutes of Health.Opioids – digital media kit.Anesthesia, Pain Management & Surgery.What are opioids?Birkinshaw H, Friedrich CM, Cole P, et al.Antidepressants for pain management in adults with chronic pain: a network meta‐analysis.Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2023;2023(5):CD014682. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD014682.pub2Li CT, Watson JC.Anticonvulsants in the treatment of pain. In: Deer T, Pope J, Lamer T, Provenzano D, eds.Deer’s treatment of pain.Springer, Cham. 2019:149-161. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-12281-2_19National Institute on Drug Abuse.Prescription opioid use is a risk factor for heroin use.Additional ReadingAmerican Chronic Pain Association. APCA Medications and Chronic Pain: Supplement.Garner-Nix, Jacqueline. Principles of Opioid Use in Non-Cancer Pain.Canadian Medical Association Journal.National Institute on Drug Abuse. NIDA InfoFacts: Prescription and Over-the-Counter Medications.The Merck Manuals Online Medical Library. Pain: Treatment.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
James A, Williams J.Basic opioid pharmacology — an update.Br J Pain. 2020;14(2):115-121. doi:10.1177/2049463720911986National Institutes of Health.Opioids – digital media kit.Anesthesia, Pain Management & Surgery.What are opioids?Birkinshaw H, Friedrich CM, Cole P, et al.Antidepressants for pain management in adults with chronic pain: a network meta‐analysis.Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2023;2023(5):CD014682. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD014682.pub2Li CT, Watson JC.Anticonvulsants in the treatment of pain. In: Deer T, Pope J, Lamer T, Provenzano D, eds.Deer’s treatment of pain.Springer, Cham. 2019:149-161. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-12281-2_19National Institute on Drug Abuse.Prescription opioid use is a risk factor for heroin use.
James A, Williams J.Basic opioid pharmacology — an update.Br J Pain. 2020;14(2):115-121. doi:10.1177/2049463720911986
National Institutes of Health.Opioids – digital media kit.
Anesthesia, Pain Management & Surgery.What are opioids?
Birkinshaw H, Friedrich CM, Cole P, et al.Antidepressants for pain management in adults with chronic pain: a network meta‐analysis.Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2023;2023(5):CD014682. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD014682.pub2
Li CT, Watson JC.Anticonvulsants in the treatment of pain. In: Deer T, Pope J, Lamer T, Provenzano D, eds.Deer’s treatment of pain.Springer, Cham. 2019:149-161. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-12281-2_19
National Institute on Drug Abuse.Prescription opioid use is a risk factor for heroin use.
American Chronic Pain Association. APCA Medications and Chronic Pain: Supplement.Garner-Nix, Jacqueline. Principles of Opioid Use in Non-Cancer Pain.Canadian Medical Association Journal.National Institute on Drug Abuse. NIDA InfoFacts: Prescription and Over-the-Counter Medications.The Merck Manuals Online Medical Library. Pain: Treatment.
American Chronic Pain Association. APCA Medications and Chronic Pain: Supplement.
Garner-Nix, Jacqueline. Principles of Opioid Use in Non-Cancer Pain.Canadian Medical Association Journal.
National Institute on Drug Abuse. NIDA InfoFacts: Prescription and Over-the-Counter Medications.
The Merck Manuals Online Medical Library. Pain: Treatment.
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