Patient was educated on precautions to be exercised while taking opioid pain medications as follows:
- Opioid pain medications slow down the bowel movements heavily and leads to constipation. Increase intake of daily fiber can help the situation and promote regular bowel movements. Any signs and symptoms of intestinal obstruction and ileus, such as, intense bloating, constipation, abdominal pain, nausea, and vomiting must be immediately reported. Any lack of bowel movement in 3 days must be reported to the physician.
- Opioid pain medications produce an intense feeling of drowsiness and dizziness, as a side effect to modifying the pain perception of brain. Patients can also experience hallucinations and mood changes due to opioid pain medications use. Opioid pain medications must be avoided or used with extreme caution in individuals taking antidepressants and other psychotropic medications that have the potential to induce hallucinations and mood changes. Avoid driving or operating machinery until you know how opioid pain medications affects you.
- Opioid pain medications have the potential to increase the intracranial pressure. Maintain a close watch for signs of elevated intracranial pressure, such as, headache, vomiting, double vision, and confusion. Individuals with history of head injury, curvature of the spine, and intracranial lesions are at increased risk for elevated intracranial pressures. Report any such findings to your physician immediately for a change in plan of care to be considered.
- Watch out for any continuing or worsening pain, to report to your doctor immediately, so that, a change in plan could be considered.
