<h3>What are opioids?</h3> <p>Opioids, sometimes called narcotics, are a type of drug. They include strong prescription <a href="https://medlineplus.gov/painrelievers.html">pain relievers</a> such as oxycodone, hydrocodone, fentanyl, and tramadol. The illegal drug <a href="https://medlineplus.gov/heroin.html">heroin</a> is also an opioid.</p> <p>A health care provider may give you a prescription opioid to reduce pain after you have had a major injury or surgery. You may get them if you have severe pain from health conditions like cancer. Some providers prescribe them for <a href="https://medlineplus.gov/chronicpain.html">chronic pain</a>.</p> <p>Prescription opioids used for pain relief are generally safe when taken for a short time and as prescribed by your provider. However, people who take opioids are at risk for <a href="opioidmisuseandaddiction.html" tid="6431">opioid use disorder (OUD)</a> and <a href="https://medlineplus.gov/opioidoverdose.html">overdose</a>. These risks increase when opioids are misused. <a href="https://medlineplus.gov/prescriptiondrugmisuse.html">Misuse</a> can include taking more than your prescribed dose or taking it more often, using it to get high, or taking someone else's opioids.</p> <h3>How do I know if I need to take opioid medicines?</h3> <p>First, you need to talk with your provider about whether you need to take opioids. You should discuss:</p><ul> <li>Whether there are other medicines or <a href="https://medlineplus.gov/nondrugpainmanagement.html">therapies</a> that might treat your pain</li> <li>The risks and benefits of taking opioids</li> <li>Your medical history and if you or anyone in your family has a history of substance misuse, a <a href="https://medlineplus.gov/druguseandaddiction.html">drug addiction</a>, or <a href="alcoholusedisorderaud.html" tid="120">alcohol use disorder (AUD)</a></li> <li>Any other medicines and supplements you are taking</li> <li>How much alcohol you drink</li> <li>If you are pregnant or planning to become pregnant</li> </ul> <h3>What do I need to know if I am going to take opioid medicines?</h3> <p>If you and your provider decide that you need to take opioids, make sure that you understand:</p><ul> <li>How to take the medicine - how much and how often.</li> <li>How long you will need to take the medicine.</li> <li>What the possible side effects are.</li> <li>How you should stop the medicines when you no longer need them. If you have been taking opioids for a while, it can be dangerous to just stop suddenly. You may need to get off the medicines slowly.</li> <li>What the warning signs of addiction are, so you can watch for them. They include:</li> <ul> <li>Regularly taking more medicine than you are supposed to</li> <li>Taking someone else's opioids</li> <li>Taking the medicine to get high</li> <li>Mood swings, depression, and/or anxiety</li> <li>Needing too much or too little sleep</li> <li>Trouble making decisions</li> <li>Feeling high or sedated</li> </ul> </ul> <p>If you have a high risk for an overdose, you will want to get naloxone from a pharmacy and carry it with with you wherever you go. Naloxone is a medicine that can reverse the effects of an opioid overdose.</p> <h3>How can I take my opioid medicine safely?</h3> <p>You should always be careful when taking any medicine, but you need to take extra care when taking opioids:</p><ul> <li>Take your medicine exactly as prescribed - do not take extra doses.</li> <li>Check the instructions every time you take a dose.</li> <li>Do not break, chew, crush, or dissolve opioid pills.</li> <li>Opioids can cause drowsiness. Do not drive or use any machinery that may injure you, especially when you first start the medicine.</li> <li>Contact your provider if you have side effects.</li> <li>If you can, use the same pharmacy for all your medicines. The pharmacy's computer system will alert the pharmacist if you are taking two or more medicines that could cause a dangerous interaction.</li> </ul> <h3>How can I safely store and dispose opioid medicines?</h3> <p>It is important to store and dispose of opioid medicines properly:</p><ul> <li><strong>Store your opioids and other medicines in a safe place.</strong> If you have children at home, it's a good idea to store your medicines in a lockbox. Even one accidental dose of an opioid pain medicine meant for an adult can cause a fatal overdose in a child. Also, someone who lives with you or visits your house may look for and steal your opioid medicines to take or sell them.</li> <li><strong>If you travel, carry the current bottle of opioids with you for safety.</strong> This will help you answer any questions about your medicine.</li> <li><strong>Dispose of your unused medicine properly.</strong> If you have unused opioid medicines at the end of your treatment, you can get rid of them by:</li> <ul> <li>Finding a local drug take-back program</li> <li>Finding a pharmacy mail-back program</li> <li>In some cases, flushing them down the toilet - check the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) web site to find out which ones you can flush away</li> </ul> <li><strong>Never sell or share your medicines.</strong> Your prescription is for you. Your health care provider considers many factors when prescribing opioids. What's safe for you might lead to an overdose for someone else.</li> <li><strong>If someone steals your opioid medicines or prescription, report the theft to the police.</strong></li> </ul>