What are opioids?

Opioids are medicines taken to help reduce pain. They work on the central nervous system to slow down nerve signals between the brain and the body. This can reduce feelings of pain. Like all medicines, opioids can also produce adverse effects (sometimes called ‘side effects’), ranging from effects that are uncomfortable such as constipation to dangerous slowing down of a person’s breathing.

The word ‘opioid’ comes from these medicines originally coming from opium poppy plant, but these days opioids are also commonly made in or a laboratory, like many modern medicines

Commonly used opioid medicines contain active ingredients such as buprenorphine, codeine, fentanyl, hydromorphone, methadone, morphine, oxycodone, tapentadol and tramadol.

These medicines can be taken in many different ways, including as tablets or pills, injection or patches on the skin.

Opioid strength
All opioids come in varying strengths. You may hear a health care provider refer to an ‘oral morphine equivalent daily dose’ (OMEDD). A doctor or pharmacist can help calculate this.