PAINKILLER OVERDOSE

If you are currently taking an opioid pain medication, here's what you need to know to use it safely and effectively
Older Americans are at high risk of running into trouble for several reasons,
For one, they're more likely to suffer chronic pain and to be prescribed an opioid drug for it. 
Second, the body's ability to clear drugs from the system declines with age, so a safe dose for younger people can be an overdose for older patients.  
The danger is compounded when people are taking several different drugs that have to be cleared through the liver or kidneys - such as medications for heart disease or diabetes - as many older people do. "Adding opioid pain medications to a stew of other drugs is a very risky venture.
One challenge with opioid painkillers is the exceedingly narrow line between benefit and harm h
some chronic pain patients can benefit from low doses of opioids,

Start low and go slow
older adults should start with half or even one-quarter of a standard dose.
the irony is that despite decades of prescribing , researchers still know little about the actual risks and benefits of taking .
we know that people develop tolerance over time, which means you need a bigger and bigger dose.

Tell you doctor about other meds you take
One of the biggest risk factors for overdose and death from opiates is mixing them with alcohol
or other medications. the combination of benzodiazepines (sometimes prescribed for anxiety or insomnia) and opioids is especially hazardous.

Follow up frequently
To monitor how you're doing,your doctor may need to see you frequently, in some cases monthly. Your doctor may also order a urine test to measure opiate levels in your system.
Doctors need a lot of expertise in prescribing and monitoring patients on these drugs. 

Be realistic
 Don't expect any medication to be a magic bullet. Most only ease pain, and all of them have risks. often pain management doctors can't eliminate the pain. But can help people with chronic pain live their lives as fully as possible.Everything comes down to how you are functioning. if your pain medication helps you function, great. If it's making you groggy and you're still in a lot of pain, you need to come off the medication. 

Keep medication safe.
Opioid pain relievers are a frequent target of thieves, who then sell them on the street. 
Store pain killers in their original packaging in a locked cabinet or lock-box, and keep track of how many you've taken.

In conclusion 
What we've learned is that throwing medication at chronic pain isn't going to make it go away.
There are clear risks to using these drugs. Even non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, or NSAID, can be hazardous.
Lastly, learn to live with a certain amount of pain, accept it and try to live as full a life as you can. 
Restrict NSAID use to more severe cases of pain, stick to the lowest effective dose for the shortest time possible.