Smart questions to ask before you take an opioid pain reliever
Alice (in Wonderland) spied a little glass box, and "she opened it and found in it a very small cake, on which the words 'EAT ME' were beautifully marked in currants." Without asking herself (or anyone else), "Should I eat this?" she gobbled it down and instantly grew to enormous proportions.
Unfortunately, millions of you in Pharmaland make a similar mistake when you take opioid pain meds prescribed by your doc without stopping to ask a few questions that might spare you problems of equally enormous proportions.
That's why the Food and Drug Administration recently issued a guide that gives you questions to ask BEFORE you agree to take opioid pain relievers. They include:
1. Why do I need this particular medication? Are there non-opioid pain meds that work?
2. For how long should I take this medication?
3. What if I have a history of addiction? If you've battled addiction to any substance - tobacco and alcohol included - you and your doc need to discuss how to proceed.
4. What are the risks associated with this pain reliever and how can I reduce them?
5. Will this drug interact with other medications and supplements I'm taking?
6. And finally, How should I store these? (Hint: The answer starts with "very safely.") Then ask about disposal of unused pills.
Also ask about talking with a pain specialist, but be aware that many don't take insurance. The FDA also recommends getting a prescription for naloxone, a drug that can reverse an opioid overdose, just in case.
Distributed by King Features Syndicate, Inc.
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