Drug acting on opioid receptors to alter pain, with risks including sedation, dependence and respiratory depression.
Understanding the approach
Opioids act on receptors involved in pain transmission and perception. Examples include morphine, oxycodone and several other analgesics. Their potency does not make them the best choice for persistent low back pain or chronic sciatica.
Indications and assessment
Prescribing considers pain type, previous options, fall and respiratory risks, and other substances used. Goals should include function rather than pain intensity alone. NICE advises against opioids for chronic low back pain and chronic sciatica.
Benefits, limitations and precautions
Risks include drowsiness, constipation, physical dependence, opioid use disorder and overdose. Alcohol, benzodiazepines and other sedating medicines can increase respiratory depression. Physical dependence and a use disorder are not the same thing. Abrupt reduction after regular use can cause withdrawal and worsen the situation.
Place in the care pathway
The prescriber and pharmacist arrange safety, follow-up and any dose reduction. TAGMED may contribute to a complementary physical-care strategy without promising medication discontinuation. Slow breathing, inability to wake someone or bluish coloration requires calling emergency services.
Goals should be practical: walking farther, returning to a chosen activity or reducing symptoms that interfere with sleep. Improvement immediately after a session does not establish lasting benefit. Follow-up compares function with the starting point, records adverse effects and considers progress between appointments. An inadequate response should prompt a review of the clinical explanation or proposed approach, rather than an automatic extension of the same treatment.
Before starting, describe the outcome you want, treatments already tried and difficulties encountered. Ask how the response will be measured and when another option would be preferable. Available reports complement the discussion without replacing your current experience, priorities or preferences.
Ask the prescriber or pharmacist about overdose prevention and whether having naloxone available is appropriate for your circumstances.
Frequently asked questions
Does an opioid cure the cause?
It mainly modifies pain without removing nerve compression.
Can I drive?
Drowsiness and impaired alertness can make driving unsafe.
Should I stop when physical care begins?
No. Any change must be coordinated with the prescriber.
What does naloxone do?
It can temporarily reverse an opioid overdose; emergency assistance is still required.
Can tablets be shared?
No. Prescriptions are individual, and sharing can cause serious poisoning.
Conceptual diagram of clinical reasoning; not an anatomical drawing to scale.
Role of TAGMED care
This entry describes a medical or specialist option; it does not mean the intervention is performed at TAGMED. The clinic can discuss how its conservative services might fit into coordinated care, considering prescribed treatment, reports and specialist restrictions. Medication should not be stopped or changed on the basis of this page.
Medical references
- Health Canada. About opioids.
- NICE. Low back pain and sciatica in over 16s: assessment and management (NG59).
References document the topic; their inclusion does not imply endorsement of TAGMED services by those organizations.
Educational information from The Spine Page. This entry does not replace an individual assessment. Documentary version: October 12, 2026. Sylvain Desforges, B.Sc., D.O., N.D., osteopath and naturopath.
TAGMED clinic contact details
For non-urgent consultations and information about available services.
Clinique TAGMED — Terrebonne
1150, rue Lévis, Suite 200
Terrebonne (Québec) J6W 5S6
450‑704‑4447
Clinique TAGMED — Montréal
1140, avenue Beaumont
Mont-Royal (Québec) H3P 3E5
1‑877‑672‑9060