Opium

Generic name: Opium
Drug class: Opioids (narcotic analgesics)

Usage of Opium

Opium tincture is used to treat diarrhea. This medicine belongs to the group of medicines called narcotics.

When a narcotic is used for a long time, it may become habit-forming, causing mental or physical dependence. Physical dependence may lead to withdrawal side effects if treatment is stopped suddenly. However, severe withdrawal side effects can usually be prevented by gradually reducing the dose over a period of time before treatment is stopped completely.

This medicine is available only with your doctor's prescription.

Opium side effects

Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.

Check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur:

Incidence not known

Difficulty having a bowel movement (stool)

hives or welts

nausea

vomiting

Get emergency help immediately if any of the following symptoms of overdose occur:

Symptoms of overdose

Anxiety

blurred vision

blue lips and fingernails

chest pain or discomfort

chills

cold sweats

coma

confusion

constricted, pinpoint, or small pupils (black part of eye)

cool, clammy skin

coughing that sometimes produces a pink frothy sputum

depression

difficult, fast, or noisy breathing, sometimes with wheezing

difficult or troubled breathing

difficulty sleeping

disorientation

dizziness, faintness, or lightheadedness when getting up from a lying or sitting position suddenly

drowsiness to profound coma

fast heartbeat

hallucination

headache

increased hunger

increased sweating

irregular, fast or slow, or shallow breathing

lethargy

lightheadedness

mood or other mental changes

nervousness

nightmares

no blood pressure or pulse

no muscle tone or movement

not breathing

pale or blue lips, fingernails, or skin

seizures

shakiness

shortness of breath

slow or irregular heartbeat

slurred speech

stopping of heart

swelling in legs and ankles

unconsciousness

unusual tiredness or weakness

Some side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects. Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:

Incidence not known

Itching skin

redness of skin

skin rash

Other side effects not listed may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your healthcare professional.

Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Before taking Opium

In deciding to use a medicine, the risks of taking the medicine must be weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you and your doctor will make. For this medicine, the following should be considered:

Allergies

Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to this medicine or any other medicines. Also tell your health care professional if you have any other types of allergies, such as to foods, dyes, preservatives, or animals. For non-prescription products, read the label or package ingredients carefully.

Pediatric

Appropriate studies have not been performed on the relationship of age to the effects of opium tincture in the pediatric population. Use in children is not recommended.

Geriatric

Appropriate studies performed to date have not demonstrated geriatric-specific problems that would limit the usefulness of opium tincture in the elderly. However, elderly patients are more likely to have age-related liver, lung, or breathing problems which may require caution for patients receiving opium tincture.

Breast Feeding

There are no adequate studies in women for determining infant risk when using this medication during breastfeeding. Weigh the potential benefits against the potential risks before taking this medication while breastfeeding.

Interactions with Medicines

Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are taking this medicine, it is especially important that your healthcare professional know if you are taking any of the medicines listed below. The following interactions have been selected on the basis of their potential significance and are not necessarily all-inclusive.

Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is not recommended. Your doctor may decide not to treat you with this medication or change some of the other medicines you take.

Nalmefene

Naltrexone

Safinamide

Samidorphan

Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is usually not recommended, but may be required in some cases. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.

Alfentanil

Alprazolam

Amphetamine

Benzhydrocodone

Benzphetamine

Bromazepam

Bromopride

Buprenorphine

Butorphanol

Calcium Oxybate

Cannabidiol

Cannabis

Carbinoxamine

Cetirizine

Citalopram

Clobazam

Clonazepam

Clopidogrel

Codeine

Daridorexant

Dihydrocodeine

Doxylamine

Duloxetine

Escitalopram

Esketamine

Fenfluramine

Fentanyl

Flibanserin

Fluoxetine

Fluvoxamine

Gabapentin

Gabapentin Enacarbil

Gepirone

Granisetron

Hydrocodone

Hydromorphone

Hydroxyamphetamine

Ketamine

Lacosamide

Lasmiditan

Lemborexant

Levocetirizine

Levomilnacipran

Levorphanol

Lisdexamfetamine

Lithium

Lofexidine

Lorazepam

Loxapine

Magnesium Oxybate

Meclizine

Meperidine

Metaxalone

Methadone

Methamphetamine

Metoclopramide

Midazolam

Milnacipran

Mirtazapine

Morphine

Morphine Sulfate Liposome

Nalbuphine

Olanzapine

Ondansetron

Oxycodone

Oxymorphone

Ozanimod

Paroxetine

Pentazocine

Periciazine

Phenobarbital

Potassium Oxybate

Pregabalin

Primidone

Remifentanil

Remimazolam

Ropeginterferon Alfa-2b-njft

Scopolamine

Sertraline

Sodium Oxybate

Sufentanil

Topiramate

Tramadol

Trazodone

Vilazodone

Vortioxetine

Zolpidem

Zuranolone

Interactions with Food/Tobacco/Alcohol

Certain medicines should not be used at or around the time of eating food or eating certain types of food since interactions may occur. Using alcohol or tobacco with certain medicines may also cause interactions to occur. Discuss with your healthcare professional the use of your medicine with food, alcohol, or tobacco.

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How to use Opium

Take this medicine only as directed by your doctor. Do not take more of it, do not take it more often, and do not take it for a longer time than your doctor ordered. This is especially important for young children and for elderly patients, who are especially sensitive to the effects of Opium preparations. If too much is taken, this medicine may become habit-forming (causing mental or physical dependence) or lead to problems because of an overdose.

This medicine is to be taken by mouth even if it comes in a dropper bottle. The amount you should take is to be measured with the special dropper provided with your prescription and diluted with water just before you take each dose.

Dosing

The dose of this medicine will be different for different patients. Follow your doctor's orders or the directions on the label. The following information includes only the average doses of this medicine. If your dose is different, do not change it unless your doctor tells you to do so.

The amount of medicine that you take depends on the strength of the medicine. Also, the number of doses you take each day, the time allowed between doses, and the length of time you take the medicine depend on the medical problem for which you are using the medicine.

For oral dosage form (tincture):

For diarrhea:

Adults—0.6 milliliters (mL) four times a day.

Children—Use is not recommended.

Missed Dose

If you miss a dose of this medicine, take it as soon as possible. However, if it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not double doses.

Storage

Store the medicine in a closed container at room temperature, away from heat, moisture, and direct light. Keep from freezing.

Keep out of the reach of children.

Do not keep outdated medicine or medicine no longer needed.

Ask your healthcare professional how you should dispose of any medicine you do not use.

Keep the bottle tightly closed after use.

Warnings

It is very important that your doctor check your progress while you are taking this medicine. This will allow your doctor to see if the medicine is working properly and to decide if you should continue to take it.

This medicine will add to the effects of alcohol and other CNS depressants (medicines that can make you drowsy or less alert). Some examples of CNS depressants are antihistamines or medicine for allergies or colds; sedatives, tranquilizers, or sleeping medicine; other prescription pain medicine or narcotics; medicine for seizures or barbiturates; muscle relaxants; or anesthetics, including some dental anesthetics. Check with your doctor before taking any of the other medicines listed above while you are using this medicine.

This medicine may be habit-forming. If you feel that the medicine is not working as well, do not use more than your prescribed dose.

Do not change your dose or suddenly stop using this medicine without first checking with your doctor. Your doctor may want you to gradually reduce the amount you are using before stopping it completely. This may help prevent worsening of your condition and reduce the possibility of withdrawal symptoms, such as abdominal or stomach cramps, anxiety, fever, nausea, runny nose, sweating, tremors, or trouble with sleeping.

Disclaimer

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