210723 Can I get addicted to pain medicine?

Anyone can become addicted to prescription pain medicines. Never take more medicine than the doctor prescribes. Read more about opioids and prescription pain medicines in the Pain and Older Adults booklet. 

Why is a medicine I’ve taken for years no longer working

As you age, changes in your body can affect how well medicines work. For example, the body may become less able to absorb the medicine. Older adults often have multiple medical conditions or take several medications at the same time, which can also affect how medicines work. And as an illness worsens, the medicines used to treat it might not be as effective as they once were. Talk to your doctor if you think your medicine is not working as well as it should be.

Why do I need to pay attention to the active ingredients in my medications

Learn which active ingredients are in the prescription drugs, OTC medicines, and supplements you take so that you don’t take more than one that contains the same active ingredient. For example, if your cough syrup contains acetaminophen, don’t take it at the same time as a pain reliever that also contains that ingredient. Taking more than one medication or supplement with the same active ingredient could damage your liver or lead to other serious health problems.