PainSAFE
Is it SAFE?
Is it SAFE to take opioid medications for pain?
Opioid medications are powerful painkillers used to treat both acute (short-term) and chronic (long-term) pain. When used properly, opioids are safe and can be extremely effective. It is very important to talk to your health care provider about all aspects of these medications (including risk factors and side effects) and follow his or her recommendations exactly. If you are worried about addiction or physical dependence, click here to read more about addiction and related issues.
Is it SAFE to adjust my dosage of opioid medications without talking to my doctor?
Some patients believe it is OK to take more or less of the medications they are prescribed. This is not the case. Always talk to your health care provider before adjusting your dosage. If you are not experiencing pain relief, or if you think the dosage is too high, you must make an appointment to discuss it before you take action.
Is it SAFE to share opioid medications?
It is never safe to share medications of any sort. People’s bodies are different, and what may be fine for you may not be fine for your friend or family member. Do not take the risk! Your pills are your responsibility. If your loved one is pressuring you to share your medications, urge him or her to see a health care provider.
Is it SAFE to cut opioid medications in half?
Medications are extremely complex. Unless your doctor tells you specifically that it is OK to cut your medications in half, DO NOT DO IT. Some pain medications are on “time-release” formulas, meaning they slowly give the body treatment over time. Cutting or crushing these pills will destroy the time-release function and cause the pill to either not work at all or deliver too much medication to the body at once. Either way, it’s a dangerous risk.
Is it SAFE to buy opioid medications online?
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) says that it is safe to buy your medications online as long as you ensure you are dealing with a reputable seller. Its web site advises patients make sure the site requires a prescription and has a pharmacist available for questions, buy only from licensed pharmacies located in the United States, and don’t provide personal information such as credit card numbers unless you are sure the site will protect them. More tips and advice can be found on the FDA web site.
Is it SAFE to drink alcohol while taking opioid medications?
It is extremely dangerous to drink alcohol while taking opioid medications. Alcohol increases the toxicity of painkillers. The combination can be deadly. If you are having difficulty not drinking while on opioid medications, be honest with your health care provider and ask him or her about alternatives.
Is it SAFE to mix opioid medications with other medications or street drugs?
Never, ever mix opioids with any medications or substances (even over-the-counter supplements!) without first checking with your health care provider. Some combinations – such as sedatives and opioids – can be deadly.
Is it SAFE to use opioid medications to fall asleep?
Opioid medications should only be used for the purpose they are prescribed. They are not meant to aid sleep disturbances and, if not taken properly, can actually suppress respiration during sleep. If you are having sleep problems, talk to your health care provider about alternative medications or treatments.
Is it SAFE to throw away medications I don’t use or that have expired?
Not always. The FDA has issued a comprehensive set of guidelines called How to Dispose of Unused Medicines that explains what you should do if you need to dispose of medications. Instructions include:
Is it SAFE to take expired medications?
Although expired medications generally do not lose their efficacy or become harmful on the exact date they expire, most providers still recommend that, to be on the SAFE side, patients refill their prescriptions and dispose of the remaining medications. If a patient continues to use a medication past its expiration, they may not be getting the treatment they need nor the treatment they think they’re getting.
Please note that some prescription drugs, including nitroglycerine, insulin and other liquid medications, degrade and lose their efficacy at a quicker rate than others. Medications that are stored in warm, humid conditions (such as a bathroom, a kitchen or a window ledge) are also found to degrade more quickly than those stored as directed on the label.
If you are having troubles paying for your prescription medications, it may be tempting to ignore the expiration date and continue taking them. Please talk to your pharmacist or health care provider before taking this risk. There are prescription drug payment plans available to help you get the treatments you need without putting yourself in harm’s way.
Opioid medications are powerful painkillers used to treat both acute (short-term) and chronic (long-term) pain. When used properly, opioids are safe and can be extremely effective. It is very important to talk to your health care provider about all aspects of these medications (including risk factors and side effects) and follow his or her recommendations exactly. If you are worried about addiction or physical dependence, click here to read more about addiction and related issues.
Is it SAFE to adjust my dosage of opioid medications without talking to my doctor?
Some patients believe it is OK to take more or less of the medications they are prescribed. This is not the case. Always talk to your health care provider before adjusting your dosage. If you are not experiencing pain relief, or if you think the dosage is too high, you must make an appointment to discuss it before you take action.
Is it SAFE to share opioid medications?
It is never safe to share medications of any sort. People’s bodies are different, and what may be fine for you may not be fine for your friend or family member. Do not take the risk! Your pills are your responsibility. If your loved one is pressuring you to share your medications, urge him or her to see a health care provider.
Is it SAFE to cut opioid medications in half?
Medications are extremely complex. Unless your doctor tells you specifically that it is OK to cut your medications in half, DO NOT DO IT. Some pain medications are on “time-release” formulas, meaning they slowly give the body treatment over time. Cutting or crushing these pills will destroy the time-release function and cause the pill to either not work at all or deliver too much medication to the body at once. Either way, it’s a dangerous risk.
Is it SAFE to buy opioid medications online?
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) says that it is safe to buy your medications online as long as you ensure you are dealing with a reputable seller. Its web site advises patients make sure the site requires a prescription and has a pharmacist available for questions, buy only from licensed pharmacies located in the United States, and don’t provide personal information such as credit card numbers unless you are sure the site will protect them. More tips and advice can be found on the FDA web site.
Is it SAFE to drink alcohol while taking opioid medications?
It is extremely dangerous to drink alcohol while taking opioid medications. Alcohol increases the toxicity of painkillers. The combination can be deadly. If you are having difficulty not drinking while on opioid medications, be honest with your health care provider and ask him or her about alternatives.
Is it SAFE to mix opioid medications with other medications or street drugs?
Never, ever mix opioids with any medications or substances (even over-the-counter supplements!) without first checking with your health care provider. Some combinations – such as sedatives and opioids – can be deadly.
Is it SAFE to use opioid medications to fall asleep?
Opioid medications should only be used for the purpose they are prescribed. They are not meant to aid sleep disturbances and, if not taken properly, can actually suppress respiration during sleep. If you are having sleep problems, talk to your health care provider about alternative medications or treatments.
Is it SAFE to throw away medications I don’t use or that have expired?
Not always. The FDA has issued a comprehensive set of guidelines called How to Dispose of Unused Medicines that explains what you should do if you need to dispose of medications. Instructions include:
- Follow any specific disposal instructions on the drug label or patient information that accompanies the medication. Do not flush prescription drugs down the toilet unless this information specifically instructs you to do so.
- If no instructions are given, throw the drugs in the household trash, but first:
- Take them out of their original containers and mix them with an undesirable substance, such as used coffee grounds or kitty litter. The medication will be less appealing to children and pets, and unrecognizable to people who may intentionally go through your trash.
- Put them in a sealable bag, empty can, or other container to prevent the medication from leaking or breaking out of a garbage bag.
- Take advantage of community drug take-back programs that allow the public to bring unused drugs to a central location for proper disposal. Call your city or county government's household trash and recycling service to see if a take-back program is available in your community.
- Before throwing out a medicine container, scratch out all identifying information on the prescription label to make it unreadable. This will help protect your identity and the privacy of your personal health information.
- Do not give medications to friends. Doctors prescribe drugs based on a person's specific symptoms and medical history. A drug that works for you could be dangerous for someone else.
- When in doubt about proper disposal, talk to your pharmacist.
Is it SAFE to take expired medications?
Although expired medications generally do not lose their efficacy or become harmful on the exact date they expire, most providers still recommend that, to be on the SAFE side, patients refill their prescriptions and dispose of the remaining medications. If a patient continues to use a medication past its expiration, they may not be getting the treatment they need nor the treatment they think they’re getting.
Please note that some prescription drugs, including nitroglycerine, insulin and other liquid medications, degrade and lose their efficacy at a quicker rate than others. Medications that are stored in warm, humid conditions (such as a bathroom, a kitchen or a window ledge) are also found to degrade more quickly than those stored as directed on the label.
If you are having troubles paying for your prescription medications, it may be tempting to ignore the expiration date and continue taking them. Please talk to your pharmacist or health care provider before taking this risk. There are prescription drug payment plans available to help you get the treatments you need without putting yourself in harm’s way.