Nearly 17,000 Hertfordshire and west Essex residents are taking regular opioid-based medication to manage long-term pain despite it only working for 1 in 4 of them and putting them at risk of addiction.
Examples of strong doses of opioid medication being used to manage long term pain are Morphine and Oxycodone. Even those patients who gain some benefit from these will find that with long-term use, their pain is only reduced by 30%.
To raise awareness of the dangers of pain medication dependency, and alternative ways to manage long-term pain, top NHS doctors and pharmacists in Hertfordshire and West Essex have launched a campaign called ‘Pain Killers Don’t Exist’.
At the same time, the Integrated Care Board is continuing to work with doctors across Hertfordshire and west Essex to encourage them to reduce prescriptions of opioid pain medication where this is the right thing to do for individuals.
Living with persistent pain can be overwhelming and requires more than just medication. While painkillers can provide temporary relief, opioids can often cause more harm than good when used for an extended period.
After between three and six months of being on medication, your body would have healed or settled as much as it is going to and taking medication for longer runs the risk of you becoming unintentionally addicted. Other side effects can include personality changes, drowsiness and mood swings.
If you are worried or would like to discuss your current pain medication prescription and how to manages persistent pain more effectively, please book a pain review with a pharmacist or GP at your practice or speak to your local community pharmacist. Tapering or stopping your current prescription should only be done with management of a healthcare professional.
There are supportive resources available for people living with long-term pain on the ‘Painkillers Don’t Exist’ website. Physiotherapy, yoga and other pain management strategies for example can all be very beneficial.”
Log onto the ‘Painkillers Don’t Exist’ website to find out more about the side effects of pain medication, resources for long term pain management, and advice on how to talk to your GP about reviewing your medication.