What is an opioid pain medication?

Opioids are a class of drugs that are usually prescribed to relieve pain. It is helpful to reduce moderate to severe pain. Opioids are pain medicines used for short-term relief of severe pain following surgery or an injury. This type of medications are usually safe when taken for a short duration and as prescribed by a doctor, but they can be highly addictive because they can make people feel very relaxed and high, which is why it is often misused or abused. Reduce your risk of serious side effects by avoiding alcohol, sedative medicines and illegal drugs if you take prescription opioids.