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Myths (Wrong)
- Opioid pain medications should be saved and used only when pain is severe
- Morphine will stop breathing
- If Opioid pain medication is stopped they will go through severe withdrawal
- If someone in hospice takes opioid pain medications they will become addicted
- An individual will develop tolerance to pain medications and they will stop working
- Morphine means death is near
Facts (Correct)
- Pain medication should be given on a regular basis to keep ease pain and to avoid unnecessary suffering
- When used as prescribed, opioids relieve discomfort and are carefully monitored by you hospice team
- Most people in hospice care will continue to need some dose of opioids so withdrawal from suddenly stopping is unlikely to occur
- Addiction is the compulsive use of drugs for their psychological effects. Use for pain at this stage of life is not addictive
- Tolerance may develop slowly over time. If needed, the dose can be adjusted safely to continue to provide comfort
- Morphine is used to treat pain and shortness of breath, It is used to improve comfort, not to cause death
