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Opioid medication basics

Written by: Joanne Zeis
Reviewed by: Kevin Zacharoff, M.D., November 2007

Opioid medication basics

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1	What Are Opioid Medications?

2	How Do Opioids Work?

3	Who Takes Opioids, and How Frequently Are They Prescribed?

4	What Are the Different Ways That Opioids Are Taken, and How Fast Do They Work?

5	What Is the Difference Between Short-Acting (IR) and Long-Acting (SR) Opioids?

6	How Does My Doctor Choose Which Opioid Medication to Prescribe For Me?

7	Frequently-Asked Questions -- Part 1

8	Frequently-Asked Questions -- Part 2

Learning Goals

In this lesson, you will learn answers to the following questions about opioid medications:

What are opioid medications?
How do they work?
Who takes them?
How often are they prescribed?
What are the different kinds of opioids?
What is the difference between a generic medication and a brand-name medication?