POLICE ASSOCIATION OF NOVA SCOTIA 89 best results. Any time you don't follow the directions of your prescription, or don't follow the doctor's or other healthcare professional's instructions, it's misuse and it could be harmful. Very harmful... even fatal. WHAT ARE SOME EXAMPLES OF OPIOID ANALGESICS MISUSE? • Using any opioid analgesic medication without your doctor's or other healthcare professional's okay. • Increasing the dosage or frequency of your prescription medication without checking with your doctor or other healthcare professional. • Using your prescription medications for conditions other than for which it was prescribed. • Combining your prescription analgesic with alcohol — or other medications containing alcohol. • Using your prescription medicine with other medications your doctor or other healthcare professional has told you to avoid or has not approved. • Allowing another person to use your prescription medication — even for medical reasons. WHAT ARE THE EFFECTS OF OPIOID ANALGESICS MISUSE? Prescription opioid analgesics affect the way the brain responds to pain. Since the brain controls important body functions, misuse can cause serious problems. • Taking a single dose that's too large can result in severe breathing difficulty and could be fatal. • Combining with other medications or alcohol can result in severe breathing difficulties or could be fatal. • Continuous overuse can lead to tolerance to prescription opioid analgesics. • Long-term misuse of prescription opioid analgesics can lead to physical dependence. These conditions or symptoms of withdrawal include diarrhea, vomiting, muscle and bone pain, insomnia, involuntary muscle spasms and general restlessness. • Long-term misuse may lead to addiction in some people. HOW CAN MISUSE OF PRESCRIPTION OPIOID ANALGESICS BE AVOIDED? Because prescription opioid analgesic misuse is often unintentional, it's important to know what steps you can take to avoid misusing your prescription medication: • Honestly answer all your doctor's or other healthcare professional's questions about your medical history, allergies and other medications, including over-the-counter medicines, that you currently take. • Ask your doctor or other healthcare professional about the expected effects and side effects. • Notify your doctor or other healthcare professional of any unexpected reactions. • Ask your doctor or other healthcare professional if you should avoid any foods, other prescription medications, or over-the-counter medications. • Always follow the directions on your prescription bottle or container. Never change the dose of medication or take the medication more often than prescribed unless directed by your doctor or other healthcare professional. • Never use your prescription medication to treat any illnesses, pain or injuries other than the one for which it was prescribed. • Never share your prescription medication with anyone. • Keep your prescription medication in a safe place where no one else can use it by mistake. Misuse of prescription opioid analgesics can have very serious consequences, including death. Whether or not the misuse is intentional, the end result can still be the same. You can die the very first time you misuse or abuse a prescription opioid analgesic. The good news is that if you carefully follow the directions on the container or bottle of your medicine and ask your doctor or other healthcare professional any questions you may have, the risk of negative effects from using prescription opioid analgesics is decreased. (...continued) (continued...)
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