Opioids are a type of medication that manage pain by reducing the intensity of the pain signals that are sent to the brain. They are most often prescribed for pain caused by acute injuries or to address pain after surgery. For instance, it is common to receive a short-term prescription of an opioid medication like hydrocodone after oral surgery.
Every year, millions of individuals suffer from conditions that cause chronic pain. Chronic pain can severely affect your ability to participate in work or in recreational activities. It can have a severe effect on your general outlook.
Long-term use of opioids to control chronic pain can lead to complications that include addiction and tolerance. However, there are currently no analgesic medications that have the high pain killing properties of opioid medications without the potential for abuse. Because of these factors, it is important to carefully plan and monitor the use of opioid medicines and take an integrated approach to pain management.