Resource Type: Publications

Opioids are a group of strong medicines that are used for managing pain. Opioids can be useful in managing strong or cancer-related pain.

Quetiapine belongs to a class of medications known as antipsychotics. It is used to treat conditions such as bipolar disorder, mania, schizophrenia, hard to treat depression and generalised anxiety disorder.

Zopiclone and zolpidem are medications that are sometimes collectively called the “Z drugs”. They are used for the short-term treatment of sleep problems.

Benzodiazepines are a group of medicines that work in the central nervous system to produce effects including anti-anxiety, sedation, sleep and anti-seizure. They may also be used when you receive an anaesthetic in hospital. They are usually only effective for the first few weeks of treatment.

Codeine is part of the family known as opioid analgesics. It is commonly found in pain relieving medicines with paracetamol, ibuprofen or aspirin. Codeine is converted to morphine in the body.