The Great Opioid Side Effect Lottery
Opioids (‘strong painkillers’) can be really useful for a short time – after an injury or surgery. But longer term they aren’t much help. They only reduce pain for about 10 percent of people in the long term.
This means that 9 out of 10 people get no benefit long term. And they’ll still get the side effects.
Common opioid side effects
Feeling dizzy, sickness
Sweating
Confused, sleepy
Constipation
Weight gain
Dry mouth
Increased levels of pain
Sleep problems
Reduced sex drive, erectile dysfunction, infertility
Unable to pass urine
Immune system affected
Forget things / memory loss
Euphoria (feeling high)
Mood changes
Emotionally numb
Risk of falls and fractures