Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS): Opioids

Opioids have pain-relieving properties as they can interact with the opioid receptors in your cells. Low doses of opioids relieve your pain and make you feel sleepy. However, higher doses of opioids can slow down breathing, increase the heart rate, and ultimately lead to death. Some of the examples of opioids include morphine, fentanyl, and tramadol. Non-medical or overuse of these medications may lead to dependence and other health problems.