"definitely effective against serious pain.  however the side-effect warnings are serious too.  this drug suppresses breathing and i was scared the first time i took a single pill.  kept &#039;forgetting&#039; to breathe.  ever since, i&#039;ve used a pill splitter to split the pill in half and this has proven a manageable dose.  i hardly ever take these, though, because i don&#039;t want to become habituated."