Questions to ask the doctor or pharmacist

If you’re a carer for someone living with pain or someone who takes pain medication, it’s important to find out if their medicines contain opioids. Opioids are powerful medicines. Strong and effective when used as directed by the doctor (see factsheet 1). But, they can come with a risk of harm including side-effects or even dependence (see factsheet 2).

The doctor or pharmacist should be happy to answer any questions you may have about opioids.

Below are some suggestions to help you during these conversations. Feel free to add more if you or the person you care for have other questions.

List of the factsheets available from Carers Australia

• Factsheet 1: How do I know if the person I’m caring for is taking opioid medicines?
• Factsheet 2: How can I support the person I’m caring for with taking their opioid medicines?
• Factsheet 3: How can I identify if a person I’m caring for is not using their opioid medicines safely?
• Factsheet 4: Will the person I’m caring for still have access to opioid medicines?
• Factsheet 5: How can I help someone living with pain?

More resources that may help carers of people taking pain medicines can be found on these websites

• Carers Gateway
• Carer Help
  • Question Prompt List,
  • Handling Medications.
• NPS MedicineWise,
• Pain Australia,
• National Pain Week,
• Australian Pain Management Association,
• Chronic Pain Australia,
• Palliative Care Australia (Questions PDF),
• HealthDirect (Question Builder).
• Think Patient Think Carer (NSW Health PDF).

Download resources