| As with other types of medication, different pain control options
may not all be suitable for you. If you have any of the following
conditions, or a history of them, please discuss them with your
doctor. All these factors should be taken into account when choosing
a safe and effective treatment.
Also, as certain analgesics may alter symptoms of illness or injury,
do not take any pain medication if you need to go to the hospital
for treatment or are waiting for emergency services to respond to
a call. Pain medications are likely to interact with other medications,
and may interfere which urgent care or emergency treatment.
- Acute Abdominal Conditions - Narcotic analgesics may
interfere with the diagnosis and treatment of these conditions.
- Alcohol or Drug Abuse - If you have a history of chemical
dependence, some of these medications may increase your risk of
acquiring a new chemical dependence. If your condition is current,
and untreated, you may be at an increased risk of dangerous and
potentially deadly drug interactions. Most medications are far
more dangerous in combination with other drugs than they are by
themselves. You should avoid mixing alcohol or drugs, of any kind
not suggested by your physician, with your prescription treatment.
- Allergies - If you have any medication of food allergies,
always inform your prescribing physician, or remind them when
you are given additional prescriptions. Allergic reactions to
medications are potentially dangerous, and your doctor can avoid
giving you other prescription drugs that are likely to cause the
same reaction.
- Asthma - If you have, or suspect you have, aspirin sensitive
asthma, your doctor may advise you to avoid treatment with NSAIDs.
Severe bronchospasm may result from these medications, a dangerous
and potentially deadly reaction. Individuals with asthma may want
to consider the possibility of sensitivity, and take any precautions
suggested by their doctors.
- Brain Disease or Mental Illness - Some medications prescribed
for chronic pain, particularly low dose antidepressants or anti-anxiety
treatments, may not be suitable treatments.
- Breathing Depression - Any analgesic classed as a central
nervous system depressant, or that may make you drowsy, runs the
risk of further depressing breathing in susceptible individuals.
This is particularly true of narcotic pain medications, and is
generally their most serious side effect.
- Headaches (Cluster or Migraine) - For individuals with
chronic vascular headaches like cluster headaches or migraine,
it's very important to determine a headache reduction strategy
with your doctor. While it's important that you have an effective
means of pain control available, the overuse of pain medication
can cause rebound headaches. In severe cases of medication rebound,
the risk of stroke may be increased in individuals with migraine.
Speak with your doctor about determining food triggers or intolerances,
trying a low dose antidepressant treatment to reduce frequency,
or trying acupuncture or another holistic therapy.
- Head Injuries - Narcotic pain medication can cause an
increase of pressure in the cerebral and spinal fluid. If a patient
has suffered a head injury, both the pressure increase and the
respiratory suppression can be exaggerated. Narcotics may interfere
with an accurate diagnosis or treatment of head injuries.
- Heart or Cardiovascular Disease - Certain pain treatments
may not be suitable for your condition, as they may have side
effects that interfere with your heart rhythm or blood pressure.
- Kidney or Liver Damage or Disease - Many medications
prescribed for pain control may put extra strain on damaged kidneys
or livers, or cause medication to build up in the body. Check
the warnings on all medications for possible side effects related
to the urinary tract or liver metabolism problems. Speak to your
doctor about minimizing these risks, and avoid taking two different
NSAIDs concurrently. You may end up with lower suggested doses,
or a dosing schedule which leaves more time between doses.
- Mental Depression - Certain central nervous system depressants
may worsen your condition, or may be likely to interact with medication
used to treat it. Check the possible side effects or drug interactions
of any medication which may make you drowsy.
- Prescription Medication Use - If you are using any ongoing
prescription treatment for a chronic or serious condition, be
sure to check if your treatment interacts with the pain control
option suggested for you. Drug interactions may be severe, sometimes
deadly, and may mimic other conditions requiring medical care
when it would be better to stop one of the medications. Many times
a dosing adjustment will prevent problems, but some prescriptions
should not be mixed at all. Occasionally even experienced doctors
and pharmacists can overlook a reaction or interaction, so you
should be sure that your prescribing physician has an accurate
and up-to-date list of all the medications you currently take.
A little bit of research on your own treatment could prevent unexpected
adverse reactions in the future.
- Seizure Disorder - Some medication prescribed to treat
chronic pain may interact with medication prescribed to treat
seizures, or lower the seizure threshold and increase your risk
for an attack. Be sure to check for this possible side effect
or for drug interactions every time your doctor suggests a new
prescription. If you take medication for chronic pain which may
also be used to control seizure, sudden withdrawal from your medication
or drug interactions with similar treatments, could cause a seizure
without any previous history of a disorder.
- Sleep Apnea - If you have breathing difficulties while
you sleep; if you stop breathing, struggle to breathe, or snore
chronically, you may need to carefully consider your pain control
options. Individuals with this condition are advised not to take
any medication which may make them drowsy in the evening or at
bedtime. This includes narcotics, muscle relaxants, and some types
of antidepressants. These central nervous system depressants may
worsen the problem, often caused by over relaxation of the upper
airway, and decrease the amount of deep sleep you get at night.
You may find yourself chronically tired during the day, and unable
to fully rest at night.
- Stomach or Gastrointestinal Bleeding - NSAIDs are known
to worsen, and in some cases to cause, this condition. If you
have ulcers, severe food intolerance, leaky gut, or are otherwise
at risk for gastrointestinal bleeding, you should minimze your
use of all NSAID medication. This category includes aspirin, acetaminophen,
ibuprofen, and certain medications used to treat arthritis, like
Celebrex or Vioxx. The use of two NSAIDs together increases the
risk, particularly with long-term simultaneous use. Never mix
these pain medications together, and if you must alternate between
them, make sure that one is out of your system before taking the
other. Remember that NSAIDs are commonly mixed with narcotics
for increased effectiveness.
- Surgery - If you will be undergoing any kind of surgery
or dental procedure, inform the doctor, dentist, or anesthesiologist
beforehand regarding any medication you take. If your medication
is a short-acting analgesic lasting only a few hours, you may
be asked not to take it that day. If you are using low dose antidepressants,
muscle relaxants, or benzodiazepines, you may be given different
instructions and should follow them closely. These medications
all run the risk of interacting adversely with certain drugs given
in surgery, and the medical staff will better be able to decide
on a safe treatment and dosage if they are well informed.
Additional Precautions: Whatever type of medication you
are taking, always read the labels and instructions concerning side
effects and possible drug interactions. This is especially important
if you must take more than one medication. Follow your doctor's
instructions about dosage and frequency of use closely.
If your medication lists drowsiness as a potential side effect,
become familiar with your reaction to the drug before engaging in
any potentially hazardous activity. You may not want to drive or
perform other tasks requiring careful attention while under the
effects of your prescription.
Always store medication in a cool, dark, and dry location to ensure
maximum shelf life. Store all medications out of the reach of children.
References:
This document is provided for information only; it is not intended
to diagnose symptoms, prescribe treatment, or to substitute for
consultation with a physician. While we have made every effort to
ensure that this information is accurate and extensive, only your
doctor can tell you if a medication, or drug combination, is safe
for you. Information intended for US residents only. |
