For over a decade, acute and chronic back pain has been treated with opioid analgesics also known as opiates or narcotics (such as Percocet or Oxycontin), and nonopioid analgesic, including NSAID’s (such as Naproxen and Ibuprofen). On average, 182,727,272 opioid analgesic prescriptions are dispensed annually (Dal Pan, 2016). Unfortunately, each of which is accompanied by potentially serious adverse effects. Opioids serious side effects including respiratory depression, drowsiness, nausea, constipation, addiction, and ultimately death. Although constipation does not sound like a serious side effect, it does pose the potential for serious consequences. Because of the depressed peristalsis of the gastrointestinal tract or ileus the patient can develop constipation or …show more content…
If not treated or treated ineffectively, this could progress to impaction or perforation of the bowel which can be lethal. Another series of serious side effects and current epidemics across the world is drug tolerance and addiction. If opioid consumption continues for extended periods of time, such is with chronic pain, a tolerance can develop; requiring higher and higher dose to obtain the same effect. These combined factors, chronic use and tolerance, as well as the feelings of euphoria resulting from opioid ingestion and, or uncontrolled pain has the potential to lead to addiction; the physical and psychological need for a drug or substance. In a report released by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), between 2000 and 2014 prescription opioid induced overdose deaths have risen from 300,000 to 900,000 in the United States. Consistently outweighing those related to natural and semisynthetic opioids, synthetic opioids, methadone, and heroin (Dal Pan, 2016). On the other hand, nonopioid analgesics or NSAID’s like Naproxen or Ibuprofen tend to be the norm for treating mild to moderate nonspecific lower back pain due to anti-inflammatory properties and analgesic properties (Adams