What are opioids?

Opioids are medicines taken to help reduce pain. They work on the central nervous system to slow down messages (nerve signals) between the brain and the body. Like all medicines, opioids can also produce side effects. These can range from constipation to more severe side effects like slowed heart rate or breathing.

Types of opioids

The word ‘opioid’ comes from the opium poppy plant, which is where these medicines originated. These days, however, opioids are made in a laboratory, like many modern medicines.

Commonly used opioid medicines contain active ingredients such as buprenorphine, codeine, fentanyl, hydromorphone, methadone, morphine, oxycodone, tapentadol and tramadol.

There are many different ways that opioid medicines can be taken, including tablets or pills, injections or patches on the skin.

Opioid strength

All opioids come in varying strengths. A health care provider might refer to an ‘oral morphine equivalent daily dose’ (OMEDD). A doctor or pharmacist can help calculate this.