09/02/2026
💙 Why your GP Surgery might talk to you about reducing opioid pain medicines 💙
We understand that living with ongoing pain can be exhausting and frustrating, and many people have been prescribed strong painkillers (opioids) over the years to help cope.
If your GP Practice talks to you about reviewing or slowly reducing these medicines, it’s not because we don’t believe your pain — it’s because we want to keep you safe and well in the long term.
Across local GP practices, we now follow the same national guidance when reviewing long-term opioid medicines.
This helps ensure that everyone receives safe, consistent and evidence-based care, no matter which practice they are registered with.
Opioid medicines (such as morphine, codeine, tramadol and similar drugs) can be helpful for short-term pain, but when used for a long time they often:
• Stop working as well as they once did.
• Cause side effects such as tiredness, dizziness, constipation or poor concentration.
• Increase the risk of falls, dependency and other health problems.
For many people, reducing opioids gradually and safely can actually lead to:
✔️ Better energy and clearer thinking
✔️ Improved sleep and mood
✔️ Less reliance on medication
✔️ Better overall quality of life
These changes are never rushed. We work with you, and focus on the whole picture — including other ways of managing pain and supporting your wellbeing.
If you’re invited for a medication review, please see it as a chance to talk openly about what’s working, what isn’t, and how we can support you moving forward.
💬 We’re here to listen, support and help.
