New Guidelines Proposed for Helping Manage Opioid Use

There’s been a good deal of attention given to the opioid abuse epidemic that is currently occurring within the United States. The concern is that opioids are being misused, and as a result of this, many are finding that instead of finding a solution to pain like the medication is intended to provide, premature death or more health problems are created.

 

Opioids have been overprescribed in the past, it is safe to say. Now that more physicians are aware of the potential for misusing this type of medication, the potential for misuse has been lessened. It still exists, though. This is why guidelines are being put into place to help those that need opioids for chronic pain to stay as safe as possible while taking this potentially dangerous drug.

 

When a patient taking opioids begins to show signs of troubling behavior, doctors and others involved in the individual’s life need to be able to recognize these potential issues and take steps to help to keep them safe.

 

The first step for researchers was to identify the warning signs that there might be an issue at hand. This could mean that the pain medication was being misused purposefully, or it might just be a sign that there was a greater need for assistance when it comes to managing one’s health and medications. Some of these warning signs included missing doctor’s appointments, using opioids for reasons other than pain, using too much of the medication or using it at a faster rate than what is prescribed, aggressiveness toward doctors or caregivers, frequent requests for refills or an increase in dosages, or mixing opioids with alcohol or other drugs.

 

Guidelines to spot and help those misusing opioid medications can save lives.

 

If these warning signs appear, doctors can know that they may need to take steps to help ensure that their patient is being safe. However, doctors don’t always see all of these things. What they miss, family members at home might see. If you see any of these signs in a loved one, it is smart to get in touch with a doctor for further guidance.

 

Having a loved one that suffers from chronic pain is never easy. Having someone that you love also suffer from an opioid addiction or fall into ill health because they are not using their medication correctly is also a difficult situation to be in as a family. If these are concerns that you and your family have, then it’s important to speak with a physician that is familiar with your loved one’s health history. There may be other things that can help your mom or dad in their senior years alone with pain management, such as the right senior care for their unique needs.

 

In-home care is not always the best choice, but a professional caregiver should have thorough training when it comes to helping your loved one manage their medications. If you believe that your mom or dad would benefit from this, then looking into senior care of this sort may be something that will benefit your parent and your family as a whole.

The post New Guidelines Proposed for Helping Manage Opioid Use appeared first on Paradise In-Home Care.