Side effects of opioid medication can include:
- Constipation, the most common side effect
- Decreased breathing, the most serious side effect
- Sleepiness, tiredness, and/or dizziness
- Itching and/or sweating
- Nausea, vomiting, and/or dry mouth
- Slower reactions (physical and mental) that can reduce alertness or judgment
- Depression, feeling generally "low," feeling "high," and/or seeing or hearing things that aren't there
- Difficulty urinating
- Low levels of testosterone (a hormone); low levels can result in lower sex drive, energy, strength, or bone mass
- Altered taste, vision, heart rate, and/or blood pressure
- Shaking and/or twitching
- Becoming more sensitive to pain