context: var s_context; s_context= s_context || {}; s_context['wb.modimp'] = 'vidfloat'; if(webmd.useragent && webmd.useragent.ua.type === 'desktop'){ webmd.ads2.disable Initial Load(); webmd.ads2.disable Ads Init = true; $(function() { webmd.p.pim.increment(); $('.responsive-video-container').insert After('.module-social-share-container'); require(['video2/1/responsive-player/video-loader'], function(video Loader) { video Loader.init({ autoplay: webmd.useragent.ua.type === 'desktop' && ! !s_sensitive, chron ID: $('article embeded_module[type=video][align=top]:eq(0)').attr('chronic_id'), continuous Play: true, cp Options: { flyout: true }, display Ads: true, mode: 'in-article', sticky: true }) }); }); } else { $(function(){ $('.responsive-video-container').remove(); }); } When you have a mild headache or muscle ache, an over-the-counter pain reliever is usually enough to make you feel better. But if your pain is more severe, your doctor might recommend something stronger -- a prescription opioid. Opioids are a type of narcotic pain medication. They can have serious side effects if you don't use them correctly. For people who have an opioid addiction, their problem often started with a prescription. If you need to take opioids to control your pain, here are some ways to make sure you're taking them as safely as possible. Opioid drugs bind to opioid receptors in the brain, spinal cord, and other areas of the body. They tell your brain you're not in pain. They are used to treat moderate to severe pain that may not respond well to other pain medications. Opioid drugs include: Codeine (only available in generic form) Fentanyl ( Actiq, Duragesic, Fentora, Abstral, Onsolis) Hydrocodone ( Hysingla, Zohydro ER) Hydrocodone/acetaminophen ( Lorcet, Lortab, Norco, Vicodin) Hydromorphone ( Dilaudid, Exalgo) Meperidine ( Demerol) Methadone ( Dolophine, Methadose) Morphine ( Kadian, MS Contin, Morphabond) Oxycodone ( Oxy Contin, Oxaydo) Oxycodone and acetaminophen ( Percocet, Roxicet) Oxycodone and naloxone Your doctor can prescribe most of these drugs to take by mouth. Fentanyl is available in a patch. A patch allows the medication to be absorbed through the skin. You'll need a prescription from your doctor before you start taking opioids. The doctor can adjust the dose as needed to help control pain. You may receive around-the-clock doses to manage pain throughout the day and night. And your doctor may prescribe opioids to be taken "as needed" in case you have "breakthrough" pain -- a flare of pain that you get despite round-the-clock doses. While you're on opioid pain medications, check in with your doctor regularly. Your doctor will need to know: How your pain is responding to the drug Whether you're having any side effects Whether you have any potential interactions or medical conditions that could make you more likely to have side effects, such as sleep apnea, alcohol use, or kidney problems Whether you're taking the drug properly Never change or stop taking any opioid medicine without first checking with your doctor. If a pain medication isn't working as well as it should, your doctor may switch you to a different dose -- or add on or try another drug. When you're ready to stop taking opioids, your doctor may help wean you off them slowly -- if you have taken them for a long time -- to give your body time to adjust. Otherwise, you may have withdrawal symptoms. One of the reasons why your doctor needs to manage pain medications so closely is that they can cause side effects, such as: Constipation Drowsiness Nausea and vomiting The drugs lubiprostone ( Amitiza), methylnaltrexone ( Relistor), naldemedine ( Symproic), and naloxegol ( Movantik) are approved to treat constipation due to opioid use in those with chronic pain. Opioids can be dangerous if you take them with alcohol, or with certain drugs such as: Some antidepressants Some antibiotics Sleeping pills Continue Reading Below Make sure your doctor knows all of the other medicines you're taking. That includes: Prescription drugs Over-the-counter drugs Herbal supplements After taking opioid pain medication for a while, you might find that you need more and more of the drug to achieve the same effect in easing pain. This is called tolerance. It's not the same as addiction, which involves a compulsive use of a drug. When you use opioid medication over an extended period of time, you can have dependence. This can happen when your body becomes so used to the drug that if you abruptly stop taking it, you get withdrawal symptoms such as: Diarrhea, nausea, and vomiting Muscle pain Anxiety Irritability You can also get a serious addiction to opioid pain medications. People who are addicted compulsively seek out the pain medications. Their behavior usually leads to negative consequences in their personal lives or workplace. They might take someone else's pills or buy them off the street, which is especially dangerous since those drugs are often laced with lethal amounts of fentanyl. If you are having a problem with addiction, you need to see your doctor or an addiction specialist. Opioids can make a dramatic difference to people with moderate to severe pain. These drugs can be an effective therapy -- as long as you use them safely and follow your doctor's instructions carefully.