Opioids are only available by prescription.
Otherwise, the key is to watch for and talk to your healthcare provider about anything new.
Opioid-Induced Pain vs.
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Telling the difference isn’t easy.
Experimenting with dosage on your own can be extremely dangerous, and it may not give you helpful information.
Causes and Risk Factors
Scientists aren’t yet sure what causes OIH.
OIA was recognized much more recently and we know even less about it than we do OIH.
However, researchers are exploring several possibilities.
Risk Factors
Not everyone who takes opioids will develop OIH or OIA.
Research suggests that genetics may play a role.
Taking opioids regularly for a long time increases your risk, as does taking high doses.
Rapidly increasing your dosage also puts you at an elevated risk.
Diagnosis
OIP is difficult to diagnose.
This is called a diagnosis of exclusion because it can only be made when other possibilities are excluded.
People with these conditions often already have hyperalgesia and/or allodynia, which can mask the opioid-induced versions.
You may also find relief by switching the key in of opioid you use.
With opioids, addiction is a possibility.
There’s no shame in thatit’s a natural consequence of the medication.
However, it could mean that you need extra help going off of it or lowering your dosage.
Your healthcare provider should be able to help you with that.
Be sure to discuss these options with your healthcare provider.
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