Narcotic Analgesics For Pain Relief: Before Using

Narcotic Analgesics For Pain Relief - Systemic

Narcotic Analgesics For Pain Relief *** Before Using *** How to Use *** Fore Safe Use *** Side Effects *** Additional Information

Before Using

In deciding to using a medication, the chance of taking the drug must be weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you will make. For narcotic analgesics, the following must be considered

Allergic reaction

Tell your family doctor if you have any unusual or allergy to any of the narcotic analgesics. Also tell your health care professional if you are allergic to any other substances, such as foods, preservatives, or dyes.

Pregnancy care

Although studies on birth defects with narcotic analgesics have not been done in pregnant women, these medication have not been reported to cause birth defects. However, hydrocodone, hydromorphone and morphine causing birth defects in pets when given in very large doses. Buprenorphine and codeine did not cause birth defects in animal studies, but they causing other unwanted effects. Butorphanol, nalbuphine, pentazocine and propoxyphene did not cause birth defects in pets. There is no information about whether other narcotic analgesics cause birth defects in pets.

Too much use of a narcotic during pregnancy may cause the baby to become dependent on the drug. This may lead to withdrawal side effects after birth. Always some of these medication may cause breathing problems in the newborn infant if taken just before delivery.

Breast-feeding problem

Most narcotic analgesics have not been reported to cause problems in nursing babies. However, when the mother is taking large amounts of methadone - in a methadone maintenance program, the nursing baby may become dependent on the drug. Always butorphanol, codeine, meperidine, morphine, opium and propoxyphene pass into the breast milk.

Use for Children

Breathing problems may be especially likely to occur in child younger than 2 years of age. These children are usually more sensitive than adults to the effects of narcotic analgesics. Always unusual excitement or restlessness may be more likely to occur in child receiving these medication.

Elderly care

Elderly people are especially sensitive to the effects of narcotic analgesics. This may increase the risk of side effects, especially breathing problems, during treat.

Drug interactions

Although certain medication must not be using together at all, in other cases two various medication may be using together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your family doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are taking a narcotic analgesic, it is especially important that your health care professional know if you are taking any of the following:

Carbamazepine - Tegretol Propoxyphene may increase the blood levels of carbamazepine, which increases the risk of serious side effects

Central nervous system - CNS depressants
Monoamine oxidase - MAO inhibitor activity - isocarboxazid " Marplan ", phenelzine " Nardil ", procarbazine " Matulane ", tranylcypromine " Parnate " - taken currently or within the past 2 weeks
Tricyclic antidepressants - amitriptyline " Elavil ", amoxapine " Asendin ", clomipramine " Anafranil ", desipramine " Pertofrane ", doxepin " Sinequan ", imipramine " Tofranil ", nortriptyline " Aventyl ", protriptyline " Vivactil ", trimipramine " Surmontil " The risk of side effects may be increased; the combination of meperidine - Demerol and MAO inhibitors is especially dangerous

Naltrexone - Trexan Narcotics will not be effective in people taking naltrexone

Rifampin - Rifadin Rifampin decreases the effects of methadone and may cause withdrawal symptoms in people who are dependent on methadone

Zidovudine - AZT, Retrovir Morphine may increase the blood levels of zidovudine and increase the risk of serious side effects

Other Information for using

The presence of other medical problems may effect the use of narcotic analgesics. Make sure you tell your family doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:

Alcohol abuse, or history of,
Drug dependence, especially narcotic abuse, or history of,
Emotional problems The risk of side effects may be increased; also, withdrawal symptoms may occur if a narcotic you are dependent on is replaced by buprenorphine, butorphanol, nalbuphine, or pentazocine

Brain disease or head injury
Emphysema, asthma, or other chronic lung disease
Enlarged prostate or problems with urination
Gallbladder disease or gallstones Some of the side effects of narcotic analgesics can be dangerous if these conditions are present

Colitis
Heart disease
Kidney disease
Liver disease
Underactive thyroid The risk of side effects may be increased

Convulsions - seizures, history of Some of the narcotic analgesics can cause convulsions