Lee Hoover, R.N., B.S.N. Pain management is a major focus in patient care.
Pain medications are either non-opioids or opioids.
Opioids, also known as narcotics, are morphine and morphine like drugs. These medications have a ceiling effect meaning that there is just so much of the medication that individual can take before it is no longer effective for that individual. Therefore, if after two years of taking 1500 mg. Opioids, such as Morphine, Codeine, Fentanyl, Dilaudid, Demerol, Darvon, Percocet, Lortab, Vicodin, and Methadone, work in the body by binding to receptor sites in the central nervous system to alter an individual's perception and emotional response to pain. Opioids do not have a ceiling effect, meaning that, as an individual becomes tolerant to a dosage of an opioid, the dosage can be increased to maintain pain management.