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Article by: Saosan Asgar
According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, opioids are a class of medications containing narcotic heroin. There are prescriptions available for fentanyl and other synthetic opioids, as well as pain relievers such as oxycodone (OxyContin®), hydrocodone (Vicodin®), codeine, morphine, and others. They are the most commonly prescribed pain relievers for conditions such as headaches, broken ribs, and post-surgery pain, among others. However, there are some misconceptions about them. Almost every well-designed study comparing opioids to anti-inflammatory drugs like ibuprofen finds that the anti-inflammatory drugs are safer and more effective.
To understand how opioids work, we must first understand pain. Pain is our bodies' way of telling us that something is wrong and that we need to rest, recover, and seek treatment. Numerous chemical signals and receptors in our bodies cause pain, and different medications target various pain pathways.
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS) like ibuprofen, aspirin, naproxen, and acetaminophen (Tylenol) treat pain differently than opioids. Opioids function by binding to and activating opioid receptors found throughout the body. It suppresses pain signals and releases dopamine. Thus, in addition to pain relief, some people may feel relaxed, even euphoric. However opioids can impair cognition and even breathing in high doses.
The intriguing aspect of opioids is that opioid receptors can quickly adapt to them, causing the patient to experience withdrawal symptoms. People who are unaware that opioid withdrawal can happen just after a few doses may mistake the discomfort of withdrawal symptoms for opioid efficacy.
Opioids, by masking pain, can aggravate it. If they are not used with caution, they can lead to addiction. Addicts to opioids are frequently unaware that they are addicted. As a result, it is the doctor’s responsibility to exercise caution when prescribing opioids. Other options should be considered instead of opioids, like Tylenol, NSAIDS, muscle relaxants, and physical therapy. While ingesting opiates, one should make sure that their doctor has a plan in place to gradually wean them off of opioids. Finally, we should note that naloxone can treat an opioid overdose. When opioids are prescribed, a plan must always be in place.
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