Narcotic painkillers

Examples

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Brand Name	Generic Name
Vicodin	hydrocodone

Hydrocodone is available as tablets, capsules, or syrups. It is sometimes combined with other medicines such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen.

Brand Name	Generic Name
Methadose	methadone

Methadone is available as pills or as a liquid that you swallow. It is also given as a shot.

Generic Name

morphine

Morphine is available as pills or as rectal suppositories. It is also given as a shot or intravenously. Pills such as MS Contin supply a controlled release of morphine.

Brand Name	Generic Name
Percodan	oxycodone

Oxycodone is available as pills, controlled-release tablets, or a liquid that you swallow. It is sometimes combined with acetaminophen or aspirin.

Narcotic drugs are also called narcotics or opioids.

How It Works

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Narcotic painkillers act upon specific receptors in the brain and spinal cord to ease pain and reduce your emotional response to pain.

Why It Is Used

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Narcotic painkillers are used to ease pain caused by surgery, accident or injury, or chronic illness such as cancer.

Methadone also is used to treat addiction to opiates, such as heroin.

Hydrocodone also is used to control coughing.

How Well It Works

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These drugs effectively manage pain.¹

As a treatment for opiate addiction, methadone is effective in reducing withdrawal symptoms.

Hydrocodone effectively controls cough.

Side Effects

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Narcotic painkillers cause many side effects, including:

• Drowsiness.
• Lightheadedness.
• Weakness and fatigue.
• Feelings of elation (euphoria).
• Dry mouth.
• Difficulty urinating.
• Difficulty breathing.
• Constipation, which may be severe.
  • Talk to your doctor about using laxatives to prevent constipation.
  • You can prevent constipation at home. Make sure you drink enough fluids. Most adults should drink between 8 and 10 glasses of water or noncaffeinated beverages each day. Include fruits, vegetables, and fiber in your diet each day.
• Skin reactions, such as irritation, itching, or hives.

Narcotic drugs affect breathing and should be used with caution by older adults and people who have lung disease, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) or asthma. A narcotic can cause your body to expect the drug daily if used for more than a week or so. This is called drug dependency. Dependency is not the same as addiction, which is a behavioral disorder marked by craving a drug.

See Drug Reference for a full list of side effects. (Drug Reference is not available in all systems.)

What To Think About

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Narcotics may affect your balance, coordination, and your ability to think. Do not drive or operate any type of equipment if you are taking a narcotic painkiller.

Do not drink alcohol or use other drugs while you are taking a narcotic painkiller.

Narcotics can interact with many other drugs. Make sure that your doctor knows all the drugs you are taking.

Narcotics should be used with caution after a head injury.

Narcotics should be used during pregnancy only if the benefits to the mother outweigh the risks to the fetus. These drugs can pass through your body in breast milk and should not be used while you are breast-feeding.

Sometimes a narcotic painkiller is combined with acetaminophen (such as Tylenol) or aspirin. If that is true in your case, do not take more acetaminophen or aspirin unless your doctor tells you to.

Complete the new medication information form (PDF) (What is a PDF document?) to help you understand this medication.

References

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Citations

1. National Cancer Institute (2007). Pain (PDQ)—Health Professional Version. Available online: http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/pdq/supportivecare/pain/healthprofessional.

Credits

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Author	Shannon Erstad, MBA/MPH
Editor	Kathleen M. Ariss, MS
Associate Editor	Pat Truman, MATC
Primary Medical Reviewer	Anne C. Poinier, MD - Internal Medicine
Specialist Medical Reviewer	Michael Seth Rabin, MD - Medical Oncology
Last Updated	October 30, 2007