Opioids are powerful narcotics. They are often morphine, or a derivative of the drug, marketed under a brand name. Common brand names of opioids prescribed for back pain include OxyContin, Percocet, and Vicodin. However, there is a long list of other opioid brand names.
According to a just-published report by the CDC, prescription drug abuse is the fastest growing drug problem in the United States. Opioids can be highly addictive, especially in patients with a history of drug or alcohol dependency, anxiety, depression, or mental illness. A whopping 35 percent of patients who take prescription opioids will develop an addiction or abuse problem, according to researchers at the Center for Health Research in Danville, PA.
Opioids may also confer a multitude of side effects, the most common of which are constipation, nausea, vomiting, dizziness, sedation, and difficulty breathing.
Painkillers, including opioids, merely mask pain. They fail to address the underlying root cause. Unlike painkillers, chiropractic seeks to uncover the root cause of back pain and focuses on correcting it. And research shows that chiropractic provides as much relief as pain medication with none of the side effects!
If you are suffering from back pain, we encourage you to try chiropractic and to avoid opioid pain medications. We are happy to serve our patients in Roanoke, Virigina, and to help them achieve health and wellness through chiropractic. Call us today to make an appointment.
Information provided by Optimal Health University, a professional service of PreventiCare Publishing.
