Cautions
Pain medication needs to be handled with care and caution. Narcotics/opioids, if not taken exactly as prescribed,
can be highly addictive. What starts out as a blessing in pain relief can end up causing problems. Patients who take
narcotic/opioid drugs for pain exactly as their doctor directs do not often become addicted, however, if you have a
history of addiction, it is important to let your doctor know this before anything is prescribed. Some medications
are less addictive than others.
Move through the slideshow to learn some important cautions with narcotic analgesic medications.
Don't mix meds with alcohol
Mixing any pain medication with alcohol or other drugs, such as tranquilizers, can be very dangerous
Don't self-adjust doses
Do not change your medication or dosage on your own. If the medication doesn't seem to work or you're having problems, talk to your doctor. Ask for help
Don't quit meds on your own
Don't decide to quit taking a narcotic/opioid pain medication on your own. It can be dangerous to suddenly stop taking these meds. Please consult your doctor.
Don't take medications from a friend
Never use pain medications from a friend or off the street. Many pain medications contain fentanyl. Fentanyl can cause respiratory distress and death when taken in high doses or combined with other substances such as alcohol, heroin, or cocaine.
Do follow your doctors' orders
Take the right dose at the right time.
Do maintain good communication
Maintain good communications with your doctor and other health care providers. They are there to help you and can make professional suggestions in care.
