Approx.
million Americans suffer from back pain every year. Continuous pain
can disturb your daily routine.
Most of the people (suffering from mild
pain) prefer to take over-the-counter painkillers or treat it with home
remedies such as using a hot water bottle or ice pack bag on the affected area.
If you have more severe pain, you should consult your doctor immediately. Your
doctor may prescribe an opioid pain reliever like oxycodone (OxyContin),
morphine, hydrocodone (Hysingla ER), or codeine.
Side Effects Of Painkillers
These drugs offer temporary relief and are
quite strong. Taking opioids for a long time can lead to potential side
effects. Here are some of the problems that you might face with long-term use
of opioids.
- Tolerance – It is a
stage when your body gets so used to the drug and you need to take more
dose of that medicine to get relief from pain.
- Physical
dependence - It is a constant need by your body for the
drug, even if you don’t have any pain. Stopping the drug leads to
withdrawal symptoms like chills, trouble sleeping, nausea, vomiting, and
diarrhea.
- Acetaminophen
overdose: Taking too much of an opioid with
acetaminophen can damage your liver and lead to organ failure.
- Addiction – Addiction is craving for the drug and not able to stop
yourself from taking it. Some people get so addicted that they start
trying different-different ways to get opioids such as seeing multiple
doctors and lying to doctor about their pain to get painkillers.
Taking too much of these drugs could be
deadly. Approx. 90 Americans die due to opioid overdose every day.
How To Avoid Addiction
One of the best ways to avoid drug
addiction is to try non-medication pain relief methods. The pain relief methods
include yoga, tai chi, exercise, mind-body techniques, heat and ice, and more.
You can also prefer taking non-opioid painkillers such as NSAIDs (Motrin,
Advil). If you're still in pain, it's better to consult with your doctor. Your
doctor can help you get the best relief and avoid complications. Your healthcare
provider may prescribe a low dose of painkillers to you. Just make sure that
you follow your doctor’s prescription. These painkillers are quite expensive so
don’t forget to use free prescription cards to buy painkillers.
