Opioids can be an effective means of pain control. However, their use can also put you at risk for drug dependence and addiction.
If you need to take opioid medications to manage chronic pain from herniated discs or other conditions, our team at New Tampa Interventional Pain & Sports Medicine can provide guidance to help you use them safely.
Pain management specialist Jose De La Torre, MD, also provides comprehensive care if you’ve already found yourself in trouble with opioid abuse. Dr. De La Torre offers Suboxone® therapy to help you overcome opioid addiction and can customize a pain management plan to prevent additional issues with addiction.
Opioids are a class of drugs that can effectively relieve and prevent chronic pain. These prescription drugs include:
There are also illegal types of opioids such as heroin.
Opioids can cause side effects, including drowsiness, mental fog, and can also slow your breathing. Taking too high a dose of an opioid medication can lead to an overdose and accidental death.
Taking prescription opioids to manage your pain can increase your risk for dependence and addiction. Opioid dependence occurs when you experience withdrawal symptoms from not taking the medication.
When you develop an addiction to opioids, it causes changes in your brain that make you obsess about getting the drug, even if it involves reckless or illegal behavior.
Recovery from an opioid addiction is often difficult because of the severity of withdrawal effects that occur when you stop using the medication. These withdrawals can lead people deeper into their addiction, as can the reckless behaviors addicts display when under the influence of opioids.
To reduce your risk for dependence or addiction to opioids, our team at New Tampa Interventional Pain & Sports Medicine provides resources to help you manage pain and use your medications properly.
Whenever you need to take medications, especially opioids and other pain relievers, it's essential that you follow your doctor’s orders. You should also:
Always follow the directions printed on your prescription bottle for taking your medications. Be sure to ask your doctor or pharmacist what you should do if you miss a dose, and never take extra doses of medications, even if you still have pain.
For your safety, never chew, crush, break, or dissolve opioid medications. Take your medications whole with a full glass of water and if recommended, food.
If you experience any side effects after taking your medications, call our office immediately. Dr. De La Torre can evaluate your treatment plan to determine if changes are needed.
A common side effect of opioids is drowsiness. It’s important that you don’t drive or operate any heavy machinery when taking your medications. This is especially true when you start a new medication since you won’t know what to expect.
Using the same pharmacy for all of your prescription fills offers benefits like conflict alerts if any of the medications you’re taking could cause a negative interaction.
Once you’re finished your course of treatment and no longer need opioids, be sure to dispose of them properly. You can ask our team for referrals to safely get rid of the medicine or speak with your pharmacist about any mail-back programs that are available.
If you have concerns about your use or abuse of opioids, call New Tampa Interventional Pain & Sports Medicine, or book a consultation online today.
