Short-Acting Opioids: Types, Side Effects, And Dangers

Prescription opioids are generally sorted into two categories based on how quickly they take effect and how long their pain-relieving properties last, short-acting and long-acting opioids. Both are prescribed for moderate to severe pain, but they target that pain in fundamentally different ways depending on whether the pain is intermittent or constant.

Short-acting opioids are designed for fast, on-demand relief, taking effect within 20 to 30 minutes and lasting four to six hours. They are typically prescribed for pain that comes and goes rather than persistent, around-the-clock pain, and include commonly recognized medications like oxycodone, hydrocodone, morphine, and codeine.

What Are Short-Acting Opioids?

Short-acting opioids are those opioids that take effect almost immediately but for which the effects are more short-lived. An individual will feel the effects of one of these opioids for no more than four to six hours and oftentimes less.

Short-acting opioids are meant to be taken as needed and are often prescribed for pain that tends to come and go or flare-up at certain times. The effects of these opioids kick in pretty quickly as they are made to deliver fast relief.

Types Of Short-Acting Opioids

Short-acting opioids are available in multiple forms but the most common you will see by far are tablets and capsules.

Commonly prescribed short-acting opioids include:

• oxycodone (OxyFast)
• oxycodone/acetaminophen (Percocet, Endocet, Tylox)
• oxymorphone (Opana)
• morphine
• hydrocodone/acetaminophen (Vicodin, Lortab)
• hydromorphone (Dilaudid)
• codeine/acetaminophen (Tylenol with codeine)

The effects of short-acting opioids should kick in within about 20-30 minutes. Individuals should expect the effects to last between four and six hours and should reach a peak in effects at around the three-hour mark.

Side Effects Of Short-Acting Opioids

While short-acting opioids are very useful for their pain-relieving properties, this benefit does not come without a price in the form of unpleasant side effects.

Side effects of short-acting opioids include:

• constipation
• nausea
• itching
• vomiting
• trouble urinating
• slow breathing
• sleepiness
• mental fog

While the possible side effects of short-acting opioids are unpleasant, it is still generally considered that the benefits outweigh the risks for those with chronic pain or severe pain.

Dangers Of Short-Acting Opioids

Between short-acting opioids and long-acting opioids it is the short-acting ones which tend to get abused more. Research has shown that, in general, patients tend to prefer the short-acting opioids as well. Yet a person can build up a tolerance to short-acting opioids very quickly and will require higher and more frequent doses to reach their desired effects.

However, a physician is very unlikely to increase a dose or refill a prescription to opioids of any kind without reason. Because of this, some individuals unfortunately find themselves having to turn to illegal drugs, like heroin, in order to maintain their new sense of normalcy. This presents a whole new set of problems as they no longer have their physician to monitor their safe use of opioids.

Opioid Addiction Treatment Options

Short-acting opioids carry a high potential for addiction, in part because their fast-acting nature makes them more immediately rewarding, and in part because tolerance builds quickly, leading people to take higher and more frequent doses over time. When a physician won’t increase a prescription, some people turn to illicit opioids like heroin to fill the gap, which introduces a far more dangerous and unpredictable set of risks. Medically supervised detox is the recommended first step for anyone who has developed a dependence on short-acting opioids, managing withdrawal symptoms safely and reducing the risk of relapse.

Following detox, medication-assisted treatment using buprenorphine or methadone can reduce cravings and stabilize recovery, while behavioral therapy and inpatient or outpatient rehab programs address the underlying patterns driving opioid misuse.