| For many years, I was treated with opioids for migraine pain. To an extent they worked, and I used them for many years, until I became addicted to them and they were doing me more harm than good. Luckily, with help, I was able to get off them, which is one of the reasons I am an advocate for more natural remedies for migraines.
Opioids alleviate pain by reducing pain signalling which goes on between the nerves, and by reducing the release of the pain-related neurotransmitters or chemicals in the brain. Unfortunately, in many instances, opioids create more problems than the simple treatment of your migraines. Some of the issues we face with opioid use including the following: Side Effects. There can be various side effects which vary from person-to-person. Sometimes these side effects are even more distressing to us than the migraine we are effectively trying to help. Here are just some of the side effects:
Other possible side effects can include mind fogginess, mood disturbances (e.g., anxiety and depression), sexual dysfunction, abdominal cramps, and even dry mouth. Medication Overuse. Using these types of medicines can lead to what is called “medication overuse headache.” This is caused by over-use of these acute pain-relieving medications (and even over-the-counter medicines) for 10 to 15 days per month for approximately three months. This type of headache is more commonly referred to as a “rebound headache” or “drug-induced headache” (which I am very familiar with in my own experience). These generally resolve themselves once you stop taking the drugs, but if you have chronic migraines, unfortunately, it often seems the cycle goes on and on and you are stuck in that cycle, and find yourself relying more and more heavily on the opioids. When It Becomes Chronic Migraine. Opioids can trigger a transformation from acute to chronic migraine. A chronic migraine is one which occurs for at least 15 days a month and for a period of at least three months. In turn, this means that your migraines will occur more often and they will become more difficult to manage. Dependence. As I found in my own migraine experience, when you use opioids consistently and chronically for your headaches, there is a risk of becoming tolerant to the medication. This can even develop in as little as two weeks of continued use. In turn, this means that you will need to take more of your medication to achieve the same relief. Eventually, this tolerance can lead to dependence, at which point you need the opioids to function, and if you don’t take them, you develop withdrawal symptoms. Withdrawal will usually start about 12 hours after stopping the medication, and can last from two to three days. However, if you have been using this prescription medication for a long time and have built up a tolerance and dependence, you should seek the assistance of your physician to help taper you off these drugs. It should be noted that opioid withdrawal can be serious. Some symptoms of withdrawal may include:
Opioid Use Disorder If you do use opioids for your migraines regularly, you are at risk of developing what the medical industry calls opioid disorder. A couple of examples of this type of disorder include a person craving opioids, that person is unsuccessful in trying to cut back on their use of the medication, and they spend a lot of time recovering from the effects of opioids. These people can also find themselves cutting back on important activities, and not meeting obligations due to the use of these medications. As you can tell, this is a debilitating disorder and can be difficult to overcome. For help, you should consult your physician. In hindsight, I consider myself very lucky and lessed to have had the support of a doctor who strictly controlled my narcotic use while I was still in that cycle of dependence to opioids. As I have shared before, I was then blessed to have been accepted into a local hospital’s counseling and treatment program, where they successfully got me off my medications. It has revolutionalized my life, and has allowed me to follow the more natural and holistic approach to treating my migraines. So, while it may feel very depressing and hopeless to you if you find yourself in this vicious cycle, I am here to encourage you and tell you that there is light at the end of the tunnel, and you can have a more pain-free and migraine-free life. Check out my eBook which gives a lot of insight into more natural pain relief. ==>CLICK HERE<== |
5 Reasons to Avoid Opioids for Migraines
