Pain Management: Ways to Manage Your Pain Without Opioids

Abstract

Pain is one of the leading reasons for primary care visits in the U.S. Opioids are a type of pain medication used for acute and chronic pain; side effects can include nausea, vomiting, constipation, physical dependence, addiction, and respiratory depression. Due to these side effects and recent increases in deaths from opioids, non-opioid medications for pain relief have become an essential part of both acute and chronic pain management. Different types of pain can be successfully treated based on the cause, so check with your doctor to determine the best treatment modality for you.