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On September 22, Dr. W. Michael Hooten, an anesthesiologist and pain management expert at Mayo Clinic, hosted a live discussions about opioids. Public health experts call the Opioid Epidemic a serious public health issue. Learn more about:
- What are opioids and what do they do
- What are the concerns for use and misuse
- How do people become addicted
- What help is available to manage chronic pain
Additional opioid information from Mayo Clinic
Mayo Clinic Minute: Prescription drugs - the changing face of addiction
Mayo Clinic Minute: Facts on fentanyl
Mayo Clinic Minute: Avoid opioids for chronic pain
Mayo Clinic Minute: 2 reasons not to share pain pills
Mayo Clinic Minute: When are opioids OK to take?
Mayo Clinic Minute: What opioids do to your gut
Mayo Clinic Minute: How to stop popping painkillers
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in todays Obamacare society, Medicaid patients are not readily able to do the alternative rehabilitation strategies that dr hooten is suggesting.
Many Connect members ask:
"If I want to get off opioids, what is the best way to do it? Where can I go for help?"
What about genetic testing to find out what kind of pain meds will work. After surgery, my daughter was given Tramadol, only to find out she has liver enzyme complications...the Tramadol backed up, didn't process and created horrible side effects.
Why would a physician order opioids rather than trying non opioid meds first?
Today's chat with Dr. Hooten will be archived here, so you can share it with others or watch it again. This was the first in a series of 7 chats about opioids. Please join us again for these chats:
* Sept. 22 - Prescription drugs - the changing face of addiction
http://mayocl.in/2ddeyIn* Sept. 23 - Facts on fentanyl
* Sept. 26 - Avoid opioids for chronic pain
* Sept. 27 - 2 reasons not to share pain pills
* Sept. 28 - When are opioids OK to take?
* Sept. 29 - What opioids do to your gut
* Sept. 30 - How to stop popping painkillers
If your questions weren't answered today, we'll include them in the following chat.
Connect with other members talking about pain management right here on Connect https://connect.mayoclinic.org/group/pain/
Dana, good question. I believe Dr. Hooten talked about genetic testing earlier in the segment. The video archive will be available shortly.
Please - Marijuana study of 1000 opiate users. They can smoke. End conversation?
How many lives have been saved in Colorado?
I take 1/2 a tablet of Vicodin no more than once a day. Sometimes I need to take a whole tablet, but that may be once or twice in a year, and some days I can go weeks without taking any. I have chronic, acute back , sciatic pain. I have tried everything my doctor recommended. I have stayed at this 1/2 tablet for years, and it dulls it t that level, but doesn't take the pain away. That is ok! I am good with it dull, as I want to take the lowest does possible. I do not have an addictive personality, and am very aware of not taking more. Am I ok at this level?