PainSAFE
Six Steps to SAFEty
If you are currently taking a prescribed opioid medication to treat pain, then you have a responsibility to take the medication correctly to ensure your safety and the safety of those around you. We have developed six important steps to follow:
1. Never take a prescription painkiller unless it is prescribed to you. Everyone responds differently to pain medications. What is safe for one person may not be safe for another.
2. Do not take pain medicine with alcohol. Never mix the two; it is a dangerous combination that can be deadly. Alcohol increases the toxicity of pain medication.
3. Do not take more doses than prescribed. Even after the effects of pain medicine seem to have worn off, it can still depress the respiratory system. The body must develop a tolerance to the respiratory depressant
effects before the dose can be increased. If you are still experiencing pain, talk to your health care provider!
4. Use of other sedative or anti-anxiety medications can be dangerous. Combining pain medicines with other sedative drugs can increase the toxicity of the pain medication. Only take other medications if
directed by your health care provider.
5. Avoid using prescription painkillers to fall to sleep. Prescription pain medications can suppress respiration during sleep. Speak to your health care provider about safe methods to manage pain during sleep.
6. Lock up prescription painkillers. If you have opioid medication in your home, you have a responsibility to protect your children, family and the general public from misuse. Prescription pain medicine can kill if consumed by people for whom it was not prescribed.
1. Never take a prescription painkiller unless it is prescribed to you. Everyone responds differently to pain medications. What is safe for one person may not be safe for another.
2. Do not take pain medicine with alcohol. Never mix the two; it is a dangerous combination that can be deadly. Alcohol increases the toxicity of pain medication.
3. Do not take more doses than prescribed. Even after the effects of pain medicine seem to have worn off, it can still depress the respiratory system. The body must develop a tolerance to the respiratory depressant
effects before the dose can be increased. If you are still experiencing pain, talk to your health care provider!
4. Use of other sedative or anti-anxiety medications can be dangerous. Combining pain medicines with other sedative drugs can increase the toxicity of the pain medication. Only take other medications if
directed by your health care provider.
5. Avoid using prescription painkillers to fall to sleep. Prescription pain medications can suppress respiration during sleep. Speak to your health care provider about safe methods to manage pain during sleep.
6. Lock up prescription painkillers. If you have opioid medication in your home, you have a responsibility to protect your children, family and the general public from misuse. Prescription pain medicine can kill if consumed by people for whom it was not prescribed.