Pain-relief medication
Pain-relief medicines can help manage short (acute) or long-term (chronic) pain. Some need a prescription from your doctor. You can buy others over the counter from a pharmacy.
Opioid medicines and pain
Strong pain medicines are a necessary part of life for many people. But prescription pain medicines, including a group known as opioids, come with risks, such as dependency and side effects. You should always take them with care.
Talk to your doctor about the best ways to manage your pain. They can advise if opioids are right for you.
Warning:
Know your medicines
Taking opioid medicines safely
Opioids are prescribed in the short term to relieve severe pain following surgery or an injury. They also help people manage pain caused by cancer and terminal illness.
Are you taking opioids?
If your medicines contain any of these active ingredients, they are categorised as opioids. Click on the link to learn more about the active ingredient.
Get the facts
Chronic Pain
About 1 in 8 Australians have chronic pain — pain that lasts beyond the normal healing time, of about 3 to 6 months, after injury or illness.
What are opioids?
Learn more about how opioids work and the risks and benefits of taking opioids. Know when to see your doctor and what to do in the case of an overdose.
Explore your options
Other ways to manage pain
Your doctor can help you explore other ways to manage your chronic pain, such as physiotherapy, relaxation and exercise, as well as medication.
Can medicines be addictive?
Some medicines can be addictive. You can become dependent on a medicine. Find out the difference. Learn how to avoid becoming addicted to medicines.
Resources and support
These organisations provide further specialist information and support services:
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Alcohol and Drug Foundation (Opens in new tab) — Find alcohol and drug support services in your area
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Chronic Pain Australia (Opens in new tab) — Information for people living with chronic pain
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Musculoskeletal Health Australia (Opens in new tab) — An A-Z guide to musculoskeletal pain management
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Painaustralia (Opens in new tab) — Improving the quality of life of people with pain
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painHEALTH (Opens in new tab) — Info, tips and personal stories to help with musculoskeletal pain
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Palliative Care Australia (Opens in new tab) — Support for people with pain during palliative care
- Queensland Government (Opens in new tab) — Personal experience videos with young people living with pain
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Reach for the facts (Opens in new tab) — Learn about opioid dependency and get support
- Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) (Opens in new tab) — Learn about recent changes to opioid prescriptions
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Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) (Opens in new tab) — For information on prescription opioids
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THIS WAY UP (Opens in new tab) — Access a free online chronic-pain management course
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Your Room (Opens in new tab) — An initiative by NSW Health and St Vincent's Alcohol and Drug Information Service — information on opioid-related harm and support services in NSW
Find out how we develop and review our content.
Last reviewed: April 2025
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Top results
Opioid Analgesic Stewardship in Acute Pain Clinical Care Standard | Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care
The Opioid Analgesic Stewardship in Acute Pain Clinical Care Standard describes the care that patients can expect when prescribed opioid analgesics for acute pain in acute settings
Opioid withdrawal management | SA Health
Opioid withdrawal management - appropriate processes for the management of opioid withdrawal.
FPM Opioid Calculator | ANZCA
The Opioid Equianalgesic Calculator is designed to support specialist and general medical practitioners, medical students, nurses, and allied health professionals involved in the care of patients with persistent pain. Developed by the Faculty of Pain Medicine, Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists (FPM ANZCA), this essential clinical tool simplifies the calculation of equianalgesia, expressed as the total oral morphine equivalent daily dose (oMEDD).
Opioids | SA Health
Information on opioids for clinicians, includes treatment options as well as opioid misuse
Opioids and chronic pain | ANZCA
Opioids are a class of medicines taken to help reduce pain. They work on the central nervous system to slow down nerve signals between the brain and the body.
Prescription opioids hub | Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA)
Find information on safe and effective prescribing and use of opioids.
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Understand how opioids work in your brain to relieve pain and produce euphoria. Learn about different types, dependency risks, overdose prevention, and treatment approaches.
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