1. Help Save a Life: It Might Be Yours!
Opioid Overdose Awareness Campaign
Prepared by: Vai Alandikar
• What are opioids?
§ Opioids are very strong painkiller medications.
§ They are used to treat pain that cannot be controlled by regular means.
• What is an overdose?
§ Overdose is a medical term that describes too much opioid medication in your body.
§ It can happen to any patient that takes opioids.
• Why does an overdose occur?
§ Overdose can happen at any time and for many reasons. It could be a result of taking two things
at once with opioid medications.
§ For example:
i. Taking opioids and being a hot Jacuzzi/sauna or having an alcoholic drink can cause an
overdose.
ii. It could be because your body changes how it processes the medication.
iii. It could be because of combining other medications with opioids like a benzodiazepine.
• Does taking opioids make me a junkie or an addict?
§ No. If you are taking opioids for legitimate reasons, it DOES NOT make you a junkie or an
addict.
§ Opioids are great drugs that provide pain relief to a lot of legitimate sufferers of pain. There is a
very small chance of addiction in these patients, and most people don’t suffer from it.
§ If by chance addiction happens, it can be treated like any other disease.
• What can happen in an opioid overdose?
§ You could lose body control, pass out, stop breathing, or die.
• What can I do to prevent or treat an overdose?
§ To prevent an overdose, you should follow all directions given with the medication. If you have
any questions, call your doctor or pharmacist and they can help you.
§ To treat an overdose, a rescue drug called naloxone is available at the pharmacy.
i. It is very easy to use and most insurances cover it.
ii. There is a new injectable version, called Evzio, available at $0 copay (for most
insurances).
• I don’t feel comfortable. Should I stop taking my medications?
§ You should not stop or start taking medications without talking to your doctor or pharmacist
first.
• At Benzer Pharmacy, we take extra care with opioid medications and work closely with your
doctor to ensure your safety and address any concerns you may have.
References:
§ Boyer EW. Management of opioid analgesic overdose. N Engl J Med. 2012;367(2):146-55.
§ Understanding the Epidemic. CDC. Available at: https://www.cdc.gov/drugoverdose/epidemic/. Accessed 8/25/16
§ Evzio Label and Package Insert. Available at:
http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2014/205787Orig1s000lbl.pdf. Accessed 8/25/16
For any questions or concerns, please call us:
2812 W. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
Tampa, FL 33607
813-443-4796