When Alice (in Wonderland) spied a little glass box, “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 FDA has issued a guide that gives you questions to ask before you agree to take opioid pain relievers. They include:
- “Why do I need this particular medication? Are there non-opioid pain meds that work?”
- “How long should I take this medication for?”
- “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.
- “What are the risks associated with this pain reliever and how can I reduce them?”
- “Will this drug interact with other medications and supplements I’m taking?”
- “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 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.
Medically reviewed in January 2019.
