Be careful with opioids!
In 2023, opioids were prescribed to 637,000 people in the Netherlands. Opioids are powerful painkillers. The number of prescriptions of such drugs has increased twenty-fold in 15 years. Opioids have great benefits for patients with acute severe pain, but also have major drawbacks. There is a risk of becoming dependent on them. At the pharmacy, we can help you taper off these medications.
What are opioids and why be careful?
There are several types of opioids. Consider oxycodone, oramorph, fentanyl, buprenorphine, and hydromorphone. A major disadvantage of opioids is the risk that your body will become accustomed to them and that you will need more and more to achieve the same effect. Using opioids too often can lead to serious side effects and even addiction.
We can offer advice on how to quit safely and guide you through this process. Please note that it is important to first make a quit plan with your doctor and pharmacy. When you stop using opioids, you may experience symptoms. For this, also see stopping strong painkillers.
How to recognize "addiction to opioids"?
- The painkillers don't help as much
- You need a painkiller more and more often.
- You wake up in the morning or at night already in pain.
- The pain gets worse when you work hard or are active.
- The pain you had before gets worse.
- For example, in the case of painkillers for headaches:
- You suffer from migraines more often or more often.
- You suffer from tension headaches more often or more often.
- In addition to headaches, you may also suffer from fatigue, nausea, irritability, restlessness, anxiety, gloom or difficulty keeping your attention anywhere.
More to know?
Just ask us at the pharmacy.