The opioid epidemic has made one thing very clear: opiate pain relievers are not as safe as many people once thought them to be. These medications can be really helpful for pain relief. In some cases, they may even be the best choice for pain management. However, you need to be very careful to use them responsibly. If you have been prescribed opiates for pain management, make sure you follow these tips for responsible use.

Only take the opiate medication when needed. 

Opiates are not usually prescribed as a solo remedy for pain. Usually, a doctor will also prescribe an NSAID pain reliever like ibuprofen or naproxen. Whenever possible, you should use the NSAID. These NSAID medications are not addictive, and they are less likely than opiates to cause serious side effects. Your doctor may also recommend some other pain relief measures, like icing the sore area or performing self-massage. When you are able to keep your pain at bay with whatever other measures or medications your doctor has prescribed, do so. Only use the opiate medications when your other pain relief protocols are not giving you sufficient relief.

Never take more than is prescribed.

Sometimes patients will take the amount of pain reliever their doctor recommends, think it is not working, and then take more. But the more you take, the more your tolerance will grow. This can easily send you down the slippery slope towards addiction. So, you must be careful to never take more opiates than your doctor prescribed. If you take the full recommended dose and are still in pain, then turn to other tactics to get rid of that lingering pain. Take some CBD or turmeric. (Check with your doctor to ensure supplements like this are safe for you.)

Wait as long as possible between doses.

Your doctor may tell you to take your medication every 8-12 hours, or every 4-6 hours — depending on the specific medication you have been prescribed. Try to space your doses out as much as possible. For instance, if you can manage to make it 6 hours between doses, that is better than taking the medication every 4 hours. The more you space out your doses, the less likely you are to experience addiction.

For additional tips, talk to your doctor or pharmacist. Opiates can be very helpful for pain relief, but you do need to use them wisely.