What are opioids? Benefits and risks

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Opioids are a group of drugs that are particularly effective for pain relief in cancer patients. However, patients should be cautious when using opioid pain relievers for a long time. So what are the benefits and risks of this drug?

1. Mechanism of action of opioid drugs

Opioids belong to a group of prescription drugs, prescribed by doctors to help relieve pain during trauma, surgery, or in patients with cancer. In addition, some cough medicines also contain opioids. When taking opioid pain relievers, the body will bind to opioid receptors that are concentrated in the central nervous system, peripheral and gastrointestinal tract... Accordingly, opioid drugs act to help reduces the body's pain response by reducing pain signal transmission to the brain and increasing the body's pain threshold.
MORE: How do pain relievers work?

2. Classification of opioid analgesics

Opioid drugs are divided into 2 groups:
Group of natural origin extracted from opium such as opium, morphine, codeine Group of drugs of synthetic origin such as hydrocodone, heroin, fentanyl, tramadol... In which, drug group mild pain-relieving opioids such as codeine, tramadol,... and strong opioid analgesics such as: morphine,...
MORE: Side effects of pain relievers

3. Side effects when using opioid drugs

When using opioid drugs, side effects may occur in some patients as follows:
Drowsiness (people who drive, operate machinery... should not drink). Dizziness, nausea. Respiratory depression Constipation Causes euphoria, hallucinations... MORE: Acute poisoning and opioids overdose

4. Risks of using opioid drugs

4.1. Drug tolerance Opioid drugs have an effective analgesic effect but will gradually decrease over time, so to achieve the therapeutic effect, the dose must be increased.
4.2. Dependence on drugs After a long time of using for pain relief, the patient is at risk of having to depend on the drug. When stopping use may appear signs such as insomnia, vomiting, trembling hands and feet, ... So to avoid being completely dependent on the drug, the doctor will give the patient another pain reliever, Reduce the dose of opioids gradually until the body is not dependent on the drug, symptoms of insomnia, tremors when quitting smoking do not appear.

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4.3. Addiction Opioid drugs bring hallucinations to users. If used for a long time, it will make you addicted, urge you to use it to satisfy your cravings, regardless of the harm even if you use too much. To avoid the risk of harm when using it. In the group of opioid drugs, patients need to follow the doctor's instructions and prescriptions, do not increase the dose or stop taking it on their own to avoid possible harm.

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This article is written for readers from Sài Gòn, Hà Nội, Hồ Chí Minh, Phú Quốc, Nha Trang, Hạ Long, Hải Phòng, Đà Nẵng.