Using Opioids for Pain Relief
Important information:
Your child’s health care provider has recommended a strong medicine called an opioid to help manage your child’s pain. These medicines are also called narcotics. Some examples of opioids are morphine, oxycodone and Dilaudid®. They may be given through an IV or taken by mouth. It is very important that your child takes these medicines as prescribed by your healthcare provider.
An opioid is prescribed for severe pain. An opioid may be given during or after surgery, and sometimes at home for pain management.
The most common side effects of opioid medicines are:
Your child should take the medicine with food to prevent nausea. To prevent constipation, children and teens need to drink plenty of fluids, and may need to take a stool softener. If your child is having any side effects from the pain medicine, tell a member of their healthcare team.
Will my child become addicted to their pain medicine?
Here are words that healthcare providers use when talking about opioid pain medicines:
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Addiction is when the person is focused on using the medicine for the feeling they get in their head (sometimes called a “high”) from the pain medicine, not for pain relief.
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Physical dependence is a normal body response that can occur with opioid medicine and many other substances. For example, people can have physical dependence on caffeine. Some signs of physical dependence are tremors, increased sweating, hot and cold flashes. Physical dependence can occur after a few weeks or sometimes in a few days after taking the opioid medicine. Physical dependence is not the same thing as addiction.
The risks of taking opioids include physical and psychological addiction. Your child’s healthcare provider carefully considers the risks and benefits before recommending an opioid for your child. Prescription drug abuse is increasing and is a serious problem.
It is important that you only give the medicine as prescribed, for the reason it was prescribed, and for the number of days prescribed by your child’s healthcare provider
Instructions for safety:
Do not share or allow anyone other than your child to use the prescribed opioid medicine. There is a risk of addiction when someone takes an opioid for any reason other than the reason it was prescribed.
It is important to store opioid medicines out of the reach of children and preferably locked.
What if my child has been taking opioid medicine for a long time?
If your child has been taking opioid medicine for a long time and you suddenly stop giving the pain medicine, they could have withdrawal symptoms. These symptoms include sweating, tremors, diarrhea, irritability and sleep problems. To prevent withdrawal, your healthcare provider will slowly lower the dose of pain medicine over a few days so that your child’s body can adjust to the lower dose. Sometimes it can take a few weeks to adjust.
What happens when my child no longer needs the opioid pain medicine?
It is important to dispose of opioid medicines correctly. This will lower the risk of someone else taking the medicine. Most states offer locations for the safe disposal of these medicines. These are called prescription drug take-back boxes. CHOP offers boxes at the Main Hospital and King of Prussia for narcotic disposal. There are also community-based drug take-back locations and events in each state. Search for a drug take-back program near you online. Return the medicine in its original container with all personal information crossed out.
If these disposal options are not readily available, opioid medicines can be flushed down the toilet.
If you have questions or concerns about this information, or if you want to discuss your child’s pain management options, please contact your healthcare team.
Reviewed March 2024 by Keara Bradley, CRNP, Michele Bythrow, CRNP, Maureen Scollon-McCarthy, CRNP