Opioid Medicines – Part B: Opioid Patient Information Handout

Updated: 2019/03/15 (PDF version)

Information for Patients and Families

You have been prescribed an opioid medicine for the treatment of pain or for another condition.

Talk to the health professional who prescribed your opioid, or your pharmacist if you:

• Have questions about your opioid medicine.
• Do not understand the instructions for using the opioid medicine given to you.
• Develop side effects or your condition worsens.

Serious warnings

• Opioid overdose can lead to death. Overdose is more likely to happen at higher doses, or if you take opioids with alcohol or with other sedating drugs (such as sleeping pills, anxiety medication, anti-depressants, muscle relaxants).
• Addiction may occur, even when opioids are used as prescribed.
• Physical dependence can occur when opioids are used every day. This can make it hard to stop using them.
• Life-threatening breathing problems or reduced blood pressure may occur with opioid use. Talk to the health professional who prescribed your opioid about whether any health conditions you have may increase your risk.
• Your pain may worsen with long-term opioid use or at higher doses. You may not feel pain relief with further increases in your dose. Talk to the health professional who prescribed your opioid if this happens to you, as a lower dose or change in treatment may be required.
• Withdrawal symptoms, such as widespread pain, irritability, agitation, flu-like symptoms and trouble sleeping, are common when you stop or reduce the use of opioids.
• Babies born to mothers taking opioids may develop life-threatening withdrawal symptoms.
• Use only as directed. Crushing, cutting breaking, chewing or dissolving opioids before consuming them can cause serious harm, including death.

Signs of overdose

• hallucinations
• confusion
• difficulty walking
• extreme drowsiness/dizziness
• slow or unusual breathing
• unable to be woken up
• cold and clammy skin

Call 911 or your local emergency response provider right away if you suspect an opioid overdose or think you may have taken too much.^{Footnote *}

Possible side effects

• reduced physical and or/mental abilities, depression
• drowsiness, dizziness, risks of falls/fractures
• heart palpitations, irregular heartbeat
• problems sleeping, may cause or worsen sleep apnea
• vision problems, headache
• low sex drive, erectile dysfunction, infertility
• severe constipation, nausea, vomiting

Your opioids may be fatal to others

• Never give your opioid medicine to anyone.
• Store opioids (including used patches) in a secure place to prevent theft, problematic use or accidental exposure.
• Keep opioids out of sight and reach of children and pets. Taking even one dose by accident can be fatal.
• Never throw opioids (including used patches) into household trash where children and pets may find them.
• Return expired, unused or used opioids (including patches) to a pharmacy for proper disposal.

This handout is a summary and will not tell you everything about opioid medicines.

More information about the opioid you have been prescribed (or naloxone) can be found online in the Product Monograph.