The Problems Related To Prescribed Opioid Dosing

By Edward Sanders


An epidemic of opioid misuse, overdose and abuse is something everyone should be aware. There is a strong initiative to reduce prescribing high doses of these strong pain killers, and with a very good reason. With high rate of accidental overdosing and addictions, the question of appropriate opioid dosing became more important.

Strong painkillers are needed when you have to manage intensive pains. They can easily cause addiction, or lead to several other issues. Without finding the accurate diagnosis first, and without finding underlying causes of existing pains, there is a high possibility that these prescribed doses would not be quite appropriate.

There might be hidden causes for chronic pains as well. Without identifying them first, prescribed doses might not be enough to meet patient's expectations. In fact, these expectations might be quite unrealistic. The goal is to reduce pain, not to remove it completely, and some patients might expect something else. If they try to double their doses by themselves, it might be dangerous. You have to warn them about this.

These medications are successfully used for reducing pain related to numerous acute and sub-acute medical conditions. If the doses are accurate, and used accordingly, during shorter periods of time or only occasionally, there will be no significant problems. Chronic pains, and long-term therapies are something different. They may lead to addiction, or severe health issues. Finding alternative therapies is highly advisable.

Strong pain killers are often prescribed for various musculoskeletal conditions, for example, for low back sprain. The biggest problem with this type of therapy is that its only purpose is to decrease the pain intensity. Thanks to the fact it doesn't improve the factual health condition, and the effect of medications get reduced over time, this often lead to dosage escalating.

Strong painkillers can be great for reducing pain instantly, if they are used in a short term. After some time, their effect is expected to decrease, because most patient will develop some level of tolerance. Dose escalation may cause various health issues, including addiction. There are several examples of accidental overdoses, and that is something to become worried about.

As with any other strong medicament, there is no dose that could be considered as absolutely safe for anyone. There are several factors that should be included in calculating the accurate dose for every single patient. Intensive use and high doses over longer period of time may cause unwanted consequences, and this might include addiction as well. Carefully calculate the appropriate dosage and warn your patients about all risks involved.

Opioids are in fact really strong painkillers, and can be used for reducing pain in various medical conditions. Even so, when there is a chance these painkillers will be used for longer periods of time, it is advisable to find alternatives. Their sole purpose is reducing the pain, they cannot cure your illness, they can only make your life easier for a while. Misuse can endanger your life.




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