Opioids Help Many Arthritis Patients With Pain Management

Opioids (opioid analgesics) are used to treat pain, including arthritis pain. About 4.3 million Americans take opioids on a regular basis -- a number that was derived from a random-dialed telephone survey that included 19,150 adults from February 1998 to September 2006. The most commonly used opioids included hydrocodone plus acetaminophen (Vicodin, Lortab), tramadol (Ultram), propoxyphene with acetaminophen (Darvocet), and hydrocodone.

Of the people surveyed, back pain (20%) and arthritis (13%) were among the reasons given for using opioids. Only 5% of opioid users gave a reason that was unrelated to pain. Another interesting statistic -- 21% of regular opioid users took 10 or more other medications or supplements. NSAIDs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) were among other drugs commonly used, as well as medications to treat opioid side effects such as laxatives, proton pump inhbitors (acid blockers), and antidepressants. Regular opioid users appeared to have more health problems overall -- as they took more medications for cardiovascular disease and diabetes. Since many people depend on opioids for pain management -- the survey highlights the importance of safe use and concerns over misuse of opioids.

Related Resources:

• The Facts of Analgesics (Painkillers)
• 10 Things You Should Know About Analgesics
• 10 Things You Should Know About Darvocet
• Extended-Release Opioids Relieve Osteoarthritis Pain
• When Are Pain Medications Appropriate for Arthritis Patients?

_{Photo by Sharon Dominick (iStockphoto)}