Chronic pain is a debilitating condition that affects millions of Americans.1,2 It can impact all different aspects of a person’s life, and has been linked to depression as  well as a higher risk of suicide and substance use and misuse.2 If you are a chronic pain patient and take an opioid to manage your symptoms, it’s important to know the facts. Read on to find out more about what to know when an opioid is part of your chronic pain treatment.

What are opioid pain medications and how do they work?

Opioids are a class of drugs that healthcare professionals prescribe to help manage moderate to severe pain.3 When you take an opioid pain medication, it travels through your bloodstream and attaches to the opioid receptors in your brain.4 This action helps block pain sensations.4 When used as directed, opioids can provide effective symptom relief.3 When misused, however, they may become addictive.3

What are the most common side effects of opioid pain medication?

Opioids are powerful narcotics.3 Common side effects of opioid medications include but may not be limited to:3

  • Sedation (drowsiness)
  • Dizziness
  • Nausea and/or vomiting
  • Constipation
  • Physical dependence (withdrawal symptoms may develop when the opioid is decreased or discontinued)
  • Tolerance (needing more of the opioid to achieve the same level of pain relief)
  • Respiratory depression (this can occur in healthy people—especially those taking higher opioid doses; people with COPD, asthma or other lung conditions may be even more susceptible)

Could it be opioid-induced respiratory depression?

Here’s what to look for:5

  • Unresponsiveness/unconsciousness
  • Shallow, slowed or stopped breathing
  • Pupils that are very small and/or do not respond to light (ie, “pinpoint” pupils)
  • Snoring or gurgling sounds coming from the mouth
  • Cold or clammy skin
  • Blue lips or fingernails

If you encounter someone experiencing opioid-induced respiratory depression, give the person naloxone (ie, Kloxxado® [naloxone HCl] nasal spray 8 mg or Narcan® [naloxone HCl] Nasal Spray 4 mg) and call 911 right away.6,7 

What should I ask my healthcare provider before taking an opioid?

If your healthcare provider has prescribed an opioid to help you manage your pain, it’s important to get as much information as you can about your treatment.3 Consider asking your healthcare provider the following questions:3

  • What are the risks and benefits of pain management with opioids?
  • Are there other therapies/treatments that can effectively manage my pain?
  • Will taking prescription opioids impact any of my other medical conditions?
  • Will this prescription opioid interact with any of my other medications or supplements?

You should also tell your healthcare provider if:3

  • You are pregnant or planning to become pregnant
  • You drink alcohol (and if so, how much)
  • You use marijuana/cannabis (prescription or recreational)
  • You use any street drugs
  • You or anyone in your family has a history of substance use or addiction to drugs or alcohol
  • You have any side effects after you start taking the medication

Tips for taking opioid pain medication responsibly

Opioid pain medications can be dangerous if they are not taken in a responsible way.8 Consider the following tips:

  • Take opioid pain medications as directed

    Be sure to take the medicine exactly as instructed by your healthcare provider.3 Double-check the instructions on the label every time you take a dose, and do not break, crush, chew or dissolve the medicine unless you are told to do so.3 Do not stop taking opioids without first consulting with your healthcare provider.8

  • Do not drive or use machinery

    Opioids may cause drowsiness.3 Avoid driving or using machinery that could cause injury to you or others, especially when you first start taking your medication.3

  • Keep intranasal naloxone on hand

    The properties of opioid medications that enable them to treat pain are associated with risks.4 Accidental opioid overdoses can and do happen.9 One way to reduce the likelihood of death is to keep an opioid overdose reversal medication like Kloxxado® on hand for use in an emergency.6

  • Use one pharmacy

    Using a single pharmacy isn’t just convenient—it might also help keep you safe.3 When you get all of your prescriptions at the same pharmacy, the pharmacist may be more likely to recognize potentially dangerous interactions among the medicines you take.3

  • Store opioid pain medication safely

    Store your medicine in a safe place (in a lockbox, if possible), out of sight from (and reach of) visitors, children and pets.8 Be sure to keep it in the original labeled container. Do not give away or sell your opioid pain medication.8 If someone steals your opioid pain medication or your prescription, report the theft to the police.8

  • Dispose of unused opioid pain medication responsibly

    If you have unused or unneeded opioid pain medication, ask your doctor or pharmacist how to safely dispose of it.8

What are the warning signs of opioid pain medication addiction?

Due to their high addiction potential, anyone who takes opioids for pain should know the warning signs of opioid addiction.10 They include:10

  • Regularly taking more opioid pain medication than you are supposed to
  • Taking someone else’s opioid pain medication
  • Taking opioid pain medication to get high
  • Experiencing mood swings, depression and/or anxiety
  • Needing too little or too much sleep
  • Having difficulty making decisions
  • Feeling high or sedated

If you feel you are becoming dependent on opioids or the dosage you were prescribed is no longer managing your pain symptoms, contact your healthcare provider right away.3 He or she will be able to help you get the help and care you need.

Kloxxado® is a registered trademark of Hikma Pharmaceutals USA Inc.

All other registered trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

Please see the Full Prescribing Information and Medication Guide for Kloxxado® for complete product details.

NOTE: This article was not written by a medical professional and is not intended to substitute for the guidance of a physician. These are not Hikma’s recommendations, but rather facts and data collected from various reliable medical sources. For a full list of resources and their attributing links, see below.

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References

  1. Dowell D, Ragan KR, Jones CM, Baldwin GT, Chou R. Prescribing Opioids for Pain—The New CDC Clinical Practice Guideline. N Engl J Med. 2022;387(22):2011-2013.
  2. Rikard SM, Strahan AE, Schmit KM, Guy, GP. Chronic Pain Among Adults—United States, 2019-2021. MMWR. 2023;72(15):379-385.
  3. Cleveland Clinic website. Available at: https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/drugs/21127-opioids. Accessed August 1, 2024.
  4. What are opioids and why are they dangerous? Mayo Clinic website. Available at: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/prescription-drug-abuse/expert-answers/what-are-opioids/faq-20381270. Accessed August 23, 2024.
  5. Opioid Overdose. Cleveland Clinic website. Available at: https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/24583-opioid-overdose. Accessed August 1, 2024.
  6. Kloxxado® (naloxone HCl) nasal spray 8 mg [prescribing information]. Columbus, OH: Hikma Specialty USA Inc.; 2021.
  7. Narcan® (Naloxone HCl) Nasal Spray 4 mg [fact sheet]. Plymouth Meeting, PA: Emergent Devices Inc.; 2024.
  8. Taking Opioids Responsibly for Your Safety and the Safety of Others/Patient Information Guide on Long-term Opioid Therapy for Chronic Pain. US Department of Veterans Affairs website. Available at: https://www.va.gov/PAINMANAGEMENT/docs/TakingOpioidsResponsibly20121017.pdf. Accessed August 23, 2024.
  9. For the First Time, We’re More Likely to Die From Accidental Opioid Overdose Than Motor Vehicle Crash. National Safety Council website. Available at: https://www.nsc.org/newsroom/for-the-first-time,-were-more-likely-to-die-from. Accessed August 23, 2024.
  10. Safe Opioid Use. Medline Plus website. Available at: https://medlineplus.gov/safeopioiduse.html. Accessed August 23, 2024.