Safe Alternatives to Opioid Meds

Understand your options for treating pain.

Opioids aren’t the only way to treat pain. And they may not even be the best way. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), opioids should be used only when necessary. And they should be taken for three days or less in most cases. There is no proof that opioids are helpful in treating pain when used long-term.

When used for moderate to severe pain for short periods, opioids are usually safe. Long-term use of these medications is usually only prescribed for patients with cancer or for end-of-life care.

Ask your doctor if opioid medications are your only choice for pain management. There are other medicines for pain relief that are much safer. They have fewer side effects and are much less risky. They may even be better at relieving pain than opioids.

If your doctor does prescribe opioids for pain, discuss the following:

• Tell your doctor if you, or anyone in your family, have a history of substance misuse or addiction.
• Let the doctor know if you suffer from respiratory issues such as sleep apnea.
• Discuss your pain-management goal and when you should expect to feel better. Also talk about whether there are any problems taking the opioid with other medications.
• Talk about all the risks and benefits.
• Ask about non-opioid options, including things like physical therapy and exercise.

Other pain-relief options include:

• Over-the-counter (OTC) pain relievers, such as ibuprofen (Motrin^®), acetaminophen (Tylenol^®) and naproxen (Aleve^®)
• Prescription anti-inflammatory medicines, such as celecoxib (Celebrex^®), diclofenac (Voltaren^®) and etodolac (Lodine^®)
• Other prescription medicines used to treat nerve pain, such as gabapentin (Neurontin^®) and pregabalin (Lyrica^®)
• Injections, such as cortisone
• Topical (applied to the skin) pain relievers
• Chiropractic, exercise therapy, or physical therapy
• Some antidepressants
• Acupuncture and massage
• Cognitive behavioral therapy (learning to deal with pain)
• Weight loss

With any medication, always know what you’re taking, the dosage, how often to take it and whether it has any side effects or risks. If you are prescribed opioid medications, ALWAYS follow your provider’s directions exactly. Misuse of opioids can easily lead to dependence and addiction. It can also lead to overdose or even death.

By Laura Grathwol, Contributing Writer

Sources

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Know your options. Accessed October 15, 2017.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Nonopioid treatments for chronic pain. Accessed October 15, 2017.

Last Updated March 19, 2018