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MYTHS ABOUT OPIOIDS AND PAIN
Myth:
Respiratory depression is a frequent and dangerous side effect of Opioids.
Fact:
According to the Federal Agency for Health Care Policy and Research
" Patients on long term opioid therapy usually develop tolerance over time to the respiratory depressant effects of these agents" Studies show that patients with advanced malignancies show no evidence of respiratory failure even at very high dosages of oral morphine.
Note:
Respiratory depression however remains a hazard in non-compliant patients, particularly when they take high dosages and mix their medications with other illegal or legal drugs or alcohol.
Myth:
Opiate addiction is a common problem in patients treated with opiates for moderate to severe pain.
Fact:
Addiction risk is low, estimated to be about 6-10 % of all the treated patients and is rare in cancer and even AIDS patients. The majority of this small group has been found to have a strong family history of drug or alcohol addiction or suffer from psychiatric problems.
Myth:
Opiates cause unmanageable side effects such as constipation and nausea.
Fact:
Constipation can be easily controlled with appropriate stool softeners and a proper diet.
Nausea us rarely if ever a problem, it usually disappears over a short time.
Myth:
Sedation and mental confusion are a common side effect of opioids.
Facts:
When proper dosages are administered these rare side effects quickly disappear.
Myth:
Long acting opiates such as Oxycontin or Avinza are more dangerous than short acting opioids such as roxicodone or Lorcet
Fact:
There is no evidence either way; They are both equally dangerous in the hand of an abuser and equally safe in the hand of a responsible supervised pain patients. Long acting are preferred by drug abusers because they have higher milligrams per pill and high resale value.
Controlled release Opioids are more convenient for the patient and preferred by doctors because they maintain steadier levels of analgesia. Unfortunately because of bad press and high prices long acting opioids are being used less often.
Myth:
Blood levels of Opiates correlate with the amount of medication that the patient is taking.
Fact
There is no exact correlation between plasma levels and analgesia control in
a given patient.
Myth:
Children do not feel pain to the same degree as adults.
Fact:
Not only do they feel the same pain but also children can be traumatized to be more sensitive to pain for the rest of their lives if pain is not treated. Example: Circumcisions without analgesia.
Other Myths:
All people are created equal when it comes to pain perception.
Non-cancer pain cannot be as severe as cancer pain.
A normal MRI means that you cant have real back pain
An abnormal MRI showing a herniated disk means that that person has pain.
It's not safe to drive while taking properly prescribed Opiate medications.
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