When it's time to stop using the opioid medication

Opioids are powerful painkillers. Despite the risks associated with opioid use — including high rates of abuse, addiction and accidental overdose — they may still be the best option in certain situations, such as for acute, short-term pain.

Your doctor may prescribe opioids to help you get through a few days of severe pain after surgery or a traumatic injury. Opioid medications also play an important role in treating cancer-related pain and, rarely, chronic, noncancer pain when other treatments haven't worked.

If you've taken opioids for less than two weeks, you should be able to simply stop these medications as soon as your prescribed course of pills runs out, if not before. Ask your doctor if you're not sure when you can stop your medications.

If you've taken opioid medications for more than two weeks, you may need to stop using these medications as soon as possible to prevent serious consequences. Common signs that it's time to get off opioids include serious side effects, reduced pain relief from the same dose of medications over time (tolerance), or behaviors that raise concerns about misuse, abuse or addiction.

Don't try to go cold turkey on your own. Opioid withdrawal can be dangerous, and symptoms can be severe. When it's time for you to stop taking opioids, ask for your doctor's help to develop a medication withdrawal plan (called a taper) that gradually reduces the amount of medication you take. Depending on the type and dose of the drug you've been taking and how long you've been taking the drug, it may take weeks or even months to gradually and safely reduce your dose and get off your opioid medication.

Stopping opioids can be difficult, but you can do it. You're much more likely to succeed if you partner with your doctor and your health care team, plan your taper schedule, manage your symptoms, and learn alternative ways to cope with pain.