Notes to Slide Presenters: This presentation is for support staff to use with patients and their caregivers

at the time of opioid prescribing. It should take about 12 minutes,depending on time needed for answering questions.

Under the Creative Commons copyright license you may delete any slides, change their order, or modify content slightly to suit your needs. (The copyright acknowledgment must be retained.)

A separate version of the slides is available as a PDF to printand make a table-top flip-chart presentation if you prefer.Go to: http://opioids911.org/media/pdf/Op911-SafetyTeachingChart.pdf

A supporting handout is available at Opioids911.org that can be given to patients/caregivers as a take-home reminder of vital information in the slides.Go to: http://opioids911.org/media/pdf/Op911-PatientInstructions.pdf

There is a quiz at the end of these slides that can be used as a pre- or posttest to gauge patient/caregiver understanding of essential points.

As a final reminder, it is important that presenters keep in mind the healthcare literacy level of their audience. Even simple terms – eg, constipation, nausea, prescriber – may need added explanation for some patients and their caregivers.

AcknowledgmentsThis component of Opioids911-Safety was independently developed

with funding support provided in part by…

A sponsorship from King Pharmaceuticals® Inc.

An educational grant from Purdue Pharma L.P.

Publication Date First publication September 2010

Researcher/Writer Stewart B. Leavitt, MA, PhD

Medical Reviewers Edward Hesterlee, BS, PharmD, FACA; Seth I. Kaufman, MD;Lee A. Kral, PharmD, BCPS; James D. Toombs, MD;Winnie Dawson, MA, RN, BSN.

Research Sources Reference citations for resources used in developing Opioids911.org are available at: http://opioids911.org/researchsources.php

E-mail questions or comments to: Admin@Opioids911.org

©Copyright 2010, Opioids911-Safety from Pain Treatment Topics. Use for patient education is authorizedunder a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 Unported License. All rights reserved.

How to Safely Use Opioid

Pain Relievers

Always follow these important Safety Tips…

Never take an opioid pain reliever unless it isprescribed for you.

Take opioids only as directed. Do not take moreopioid or take it more often than is prescribed.

Do not use opioids with alcohol or any other drugsunless approved by your opioid prescriber.

Protect and lock up your opioids in a safe place at all times, and properly dispose of any leftover medicine.

Never share opioids with another person, it is illegal and dangerous.

Be prepared for opioid emergencies. Know signs of trouble andwhat to do in an emergency.

Read instructions that come with your opioid prescription. Contact your prescriber or pharmacist with any questions.

Opioid Safety Needs YOU!

Many Types of Opioids Are Available

Short-Acting Opioids – generally relieve pain for about4 hours and are prescribed to be taken every 3-4 hours.

Examples: codeine, hydrocodone, hydromorphone, morphine, oxycodone, oxymorphone, propoxyphene, tapentadol, tramadol; and fast-acting fentanyl tablets, film, or lozenges.

Long-Acting Opioids – are taken from 1 to 4 times per day as pills or applied as a patch that lasts several days or much longer.

Examples: methadone; long-acting formulations of hydromorphone, morphine, oxycodone, oxymorphone, tramadol; and patch formulations of buprenorphine and fentanyl.

Opioids are for moderate to severe pain. Some, like codeine and morphine, are made from the opium poppy plant. Others are made from chemicals but have pain-relieving actions similar to opium. Opioids can be short-acting or long-acting…

Even though opioids* havebeen safely used to treatpain for thousands of years,they also can be very dangerous medicines. People sometimesmisuse, abuse, or overdose onopioids and it can be fatal!

*Opioid medicines are sometimes wrongly called by the older term, “narcotics.”

Opioid Overmedication Signs Intoxicated behavior – confusion, slurred speech,

stumbling or trouble balancing. Feeling dizzy or faint. Feeling or acting drowsy, or nodding off to sleep. Unusual snoring, gasping, or snorting during sleep. Difficulty waking-up from sleep and becoming alert or

staying awake.

Call your Opioid Prescriber. U.S. residents also can call the National Poison

Hotline at 1-800-222-1222. Do NOT just go to sleep – you may not wake up!

Opioid Overdose Emergency Person cannot be aroused or wakened, or is

unable to talk if awakened. Any trouble breathing – such as being short of

breath, slow or shallow breathing, or stopped breathing. Gurgling noises coming from mouth or throat. Body is limp, seems lifeless. Face is pale, clammy. Fingernails or lips turned blue/purple. Slow or unusual heartbeat or stopped heartbeat.

Call emergency medical services right away! If a child or pet ever swallows an opioid that was

not prescribed for them, it is always an emergency. Caregivers should know rescue procedures, like CPR.

Opioid Overmedication or Overdose Can Happen From…

Taking too much opioid medicine or taking it too often.

Drinking any alcohol (beer, wine, orhard liquor) while taking opioids.

Taking opioids with ‘street drugs.’

Someone else, like a family member or child (or a pet), swallowing your opioid medicine.

Opioid Overmedication or Overdose

Also Can Happen When… First starting opioids or increasing the dose. Changing to a new opioid.

Starting other medicines that may increasethe amount opioid in the body (called a“drug interaction”).

Always watch for signs of overmedication or overdose – if in doubt, call for help.

It can take some time, even days, for overmedication or overdose to appear.

Taking Opioids Safely… Never chew, cut, crush, or dissolve opioid

tablets, or open opioid capsules, unless youare specifically instructed to do so.

Opioid patches must never be cut or folded, and they need to stick to the skin completely. Always remove the old patch before putting on a new one,

unless instructed otherwise.

Never expose patches to heat from hot baths or saunas, heat lamps or pads, electric blankets, or other heat sources.

If you are prescribed an opioid liquid, ask the pharmacist for a device to accurately measure each dose.

Do not drive or operate machinery until you know how opioids will affect you.

Opioids Can Have Side Effects… The most common are:

Constipation due to opioids may not go away, so youshould ask your opioid prescriber about how to treat it.

Nausea may last several days, and there is medicinethat can help with this.

Sedation — feeling mildly tired or groggy — may last a few days after starting opioids or when the dose is increased.

Less common: Itching, dry skin, confusion, muscle twitching, dry mouth,

sweating, fatigue, weakness, mild headaches – all are usually temporary. Addiction and allergy to opioids are rare.

At any time, difficulty breathing or staying awake could be signs of serious trouble – call for help.

Preventing Opioid Problems Read all instructions that come with your

opioid prescription.

Only one healthcare provider shouldprescribe opioid pain relievers for you.

Have all medicine prescriptions filled atthe same pharmacy.

Always take opioids exactly as prescribed andavoid alcohol and street drugs.

Inform all healthcare providers of all medicines you use.

Involve your caregivers so they can help look after you.

Take good care of your opioid medicine – ruined, lost, or stolen opioids might not be replaced until time for a refill.

Safeguard Your Opioids Never store opioids in a bathroom or kitchen

cabinet or on a countertop.

Best – keep your opioids in a locked drawer,cabinet, or lockbox at all times.

Never share your opioids with anyone else– it is against the law & may harm them.

Flush away leftover opioids in the toilet, neverkeep unused opioids in your home. Note: other medicines are not disposed of this way.

Ask your opioid prescriber or pharmacist about disposal.

Remember: persons you least suspect may be looking for opioids to steal for their own use or to sell.

Opioid Dependence – is Not Addiction Opioids naturally may cause physical dependence

(tolerance & withdrawal)… Tolerance – your body becomes used to the opioids

and they may not offer the same amount of pain relief.

Withdrawal – you may feel ill if the opioids are suddenlydecreased or stopped.

This is not addiction, which is using opioids for theirmood-altering effects and being unable to stop using them.

Persons who use opioids only as instructed by their healthcare providers for pain rarely become addicted.

To treat your pain effectively, your opioid prescriber must know if you, or a blood relative, has had problems with substance abuse or addiction in the past.

Opioid Withdrawal – Signs/Symptoms

Muscle and joint aches. Stomach cramps. Rapid breathing. Racing heartbeat. Repeated yawning. Runny nose and eyes. Enlarged (dilated) pupils. Drooling. Goose bumps. Trouble sleeping.

Irritable, restless. Diarrhea. Vomiting. Tremors or shakes. Heavy sweating. Loss of appetite. Craving for opioid. Confusion. Chills. Hot flashes.

Opioid withdrawal is much like a bad case of the flu. Everyone does not experience all of the effects, at all times, or to the same extent. Withdrawal can be prevented, or treated if it does occur. Talk to your opioid prescriber or pharmacist.

Withdrawal may occur if you suddenly reduce the opioid dose or stop taking opioid medicines, or if there is a drug interaction.

©Copyright 2010, Opioids911-Safety from Pain Treatment Topics. Use for patient education is authorizedunder a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 Unported License. All rights reserved.

Remember… Never take an opioid pain reliever unless it is prescribed

for you.

Always take opioids as directed. Do not take moreor take it more often than is prescribed.

Do not use opioids with alcohol or other drugs or medicinesunless your opioid prescriber approves.

Protect and lock up your opioids in a safe place, and properly dispose of leftover medicine.

Never share opioids with another person, it is illegal and dangerous.

Be prepared for opioid emergencies. Know signs of trouble and what to do.

Contact your opioid prescriber with any questions.

Visit Opioids911.org for more information.

How Much Do You Know About Opioid Safety?1. Where should opioids always be stored?

a) In a convenient place, like a cabinet or countertop.

b) In an out-of-the-way place and locked up is best.

c) Neither of the above.

2. When is it okay to share your opioids with another person?a) If they need it to relieve pain.

b) If they have their own prescription for the same opioid.

c) It is never okay to share opioid medicine and is against the law.

3. What should be done with leftover opioid medicine?a) Flush it down the toilet.

b) Save it in case you need it again.

c) Throw it in the trash.

4. Which of the following suggest that a person may be overmedicated with opioids?a) Itchy eyes and runny nose.

b) Muscle or joint aches and pains.

c) Confusion, slurred speech, acting mildly intoxicated.

How Much Do You Know? (continued)5. What should be done if opioid overmedication is suspected?

a) Take a nap to sleep off the effects.

b) Call the opioid prescriber or National Poison Hotline for advice.

c) Skip the next scheduled dose of opioid medicine.

6. Which of the following are signs of opioid overdose?a) Trouble breathing or unable to wake up from sleep.

b) Feeling nervous and depressed.

c) Neither of the above.

7. If opioid overdose is suspected, what should be done?a) The person should be put in a cold shower or bath.

b) Make the person comfortable and let them sleep it off.

c) Call emergency services immediately.

8. Which of the following may bring about opioid overmedication or overdose?a) Increasing the opioid dose or starting a new opioid medicine.

b) Starting other medicines while taking opioid pain relievers.

c) Both of the above.

9. What are the 3 most common opioid side effects?a) Constipation, nausea, and sedation.

b) Enlarged or dilated pupils in the eyes, runny nose, dry skin.

c) Loss of appetite, stomach cramps, hot flashes.

How Much Do You Know? (continued)10. Which of the following is true about addiction?

a) It is easy to become addicted to opioid medicines.

b) Needing a higher opioid dose to relieve pain is a sign of addiction.

c) Neither of the above.

11. What should be done if a child or pet swallows your opioid medicine?a) Watch them closely for awhile to see how they react.

b) Call for help immediately.

c) Splash them with cold water to keep them awake.

12. Which statement is true?a) Opioid pain relievers should be prescribed by only one healthcare provider.

b) Opioid prescriptions should always be filled at the same pharmacy.

c) Both of the above.

13. Can alcohol be used while taking opioid pain relievers?a) An occasional beer or glass of wine is okay.

b) It can be dangerous to mix any alcohol with opioids.

c) Only if the alcohol is taken between opioid doses.

14. Is it safe to drive a car while taking opioid medicines?a) Not until opioid affects are known and the prescriber says it is okay.

b) Yes, as long as the opioids are not mixed with alcohol.

c) Driving during the day is okay but not at night.

How Much Do You Know? – Answer KeyCorrect Answers Are…

1b, 2c, 3a, 4c, 5b, 6a, 7c, 8c, 9a, 10c, 11b, 12c, 13b, 14a

Note to Healthcare Provider:

Other than having face validity to assess a general understanding of key points presented in the

various questions, this quiz has not been otherwise field-tested to determine clinical validity or

reliability in different populations of patients. No assurances can be made that a high

performance on the quiz will result in desired behaviors regarding opioid safety.