Recognizing and Relieving Pain

FAQ and Resources

Questions

Resources

QUESTIONS

How should I throw away prescription drugs?

The Food and Drug Administration has guidelines for the safe disposal of unused, unneeded, or expired prescription medicines.

  • Follow any specific disposal instructions on the drug label or patient information that comes with the medicine.
  • Do not flush prescription drugs down the toilet. Only do this if the label specifically instructs you to do so.
  • Use community drug take-back programs that allow the public to bring unused drugs to a central location for proper disposal. Call your city or county government’s household trash and recycling services (see blue pages in phone book) or call 1-888-INFO FDA, or check online at https://takebackday.dea.gov
  • If your pharmacist says it is safe to throw medicines away in the trash, take them out of their bottles and mix them with coffee grounds or kitty litter. Put the mixture inside a sealable bag, then place it in the trash.

How can I tell if a person who cannot speak is in pain?

You can tell by watching their behaviors, expressions and body movements.

Will some pain never go away?

Chronic pain may not go away completely, but it can be managed so that the person you care for can be as active as possible.

How can I tell if a pain medicine worked or not?

After a person takes a pain medicine, wait 30 minutes and then ask him or her if the pain has lessened. Have them rate their pain (scale of 0 to 10) and compare with the number just before you gave the medicine. Also, watch to see if any behaviors, expressions or body movements that indicated pain before are gone.

Remember some people do not show their true pain in their behaviors, expressions or body movements. Listen to what the person says about their pain.

Should I wait until our next doctor’s appointment if I think the pain medicine is not working?

No. Do not wait to call the doctor if you feel that the person you are caring for is having too much pain. Use the pain scales, what the person tells you, and their behaviors and expressions to tell this to the doctor.

RESOURCES

Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP)

The principal purpose of ONDCP is to establish policies, priorities, and objectives for the Nation’s drug control program. Includes drug facts and information about prescription drug abuse prevention.

visit: www.whitehouse.gov/ondcp/

Institute for Safe Medication Practices (ISMP)

The nation’s only nonprofit organization devoted entirely to medication error prevention and safe medication use.

visit: www.ismp.org

Food and Drug Administration (FDA)

The FDA is an agency within the Department of Health and Human Services. The website offers a wide range of information about drug safety and availability.

visit: www.fda.gov

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