What are some of the commonly
abused prescription drugs?
Although many prescription drugs can be abused or misused, there
are three classes of prescription drugs that are most commonly abused:
- Opioids, which are most often prescribed to treat pain;
- CNS depressants, which are used to treat anxiety and sleep disorders;
- Stimulants, which are prescribed to treat the sleep disorder narcolepsy, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and obesity.
Opioids
What are opioids?Opioids are commonly prescribed because of their effective analgesic, or pain-relieving, properties. Medications that fall within this class - sometimes referred to as narcotics - include morphine, codeine, and related drugs. Morphine, for example, is often used before or after surgery to alleviate severe pain. Codeine, because it is less efficacious than morphine, is used for milder pain. Other examples of opioids that can be prescribed to alleviate pain include oxycodone (OxyContin), propoxyphene (Darvon), hydrocodone (Vicodin), and hydromorphone (Dilaudid), as well as meperidine (Demerol), which is used less often because of its side effects. In addition to their pain-relieving properties, some of these drugs - for example, codeine and diphenoxylate (Lomotil) - can be used to relieve coughs and diarrhea.
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Source: Office of Applied Studies, Substance
Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. |
How do opioids affect
the brain and body?
Opioids act by attaching to specific proteins called opioid receptors, which are found in the brain, spinal cord, and gastrointestinal tract. When these drugs attach to certain opioid receptors, they can block the transmission of pain messages to the brain. In addition, opioids can produce drowsiness, cause constipation, and, depending upon the amount of drug taken, depress respiration. Opioid drugs also can cause euphoria by affecting the brain regions that mediate what we perceive as pleasure.
What are the possible consequences
of opioid use and abuse?
Chronic use of opioids can result in tolerance for the drugs, which means that users must take higher doses to achieve the same initial effects. Long-term use also can lead to physical dependence and addiction - the body adapts to the presence of the drug, and withdrawal symptoms occur if use is reduced or stopped. Symptoms of withdrawal include restlessness, muscle and bone pain, insomnia, diarrhea, vomiting, cold flashes with goose bumps ("cold turkey"), and involuntary leg movements. Finally, taking a large single dose of an opioid could cause severe respiratory depression that can lead to death. Many studies have shown, however, that properly managed medical use of opioid analgesic drugs is safe and rarely causes clinical addiction, defined as compulsive, often uncontrollable use of drugs. Taken exactly as prescribed, opioids can be used to manage pain effectively.
Is it safe to use opioid drugs
with other medications?
Opioids are safe to use with other drugs only under a physician's supervision.
Typically, they should not be used with other substances that depress
the central nervous system, such as alcohol, antihistamines, barbiturates,
benzodiazepines, or general anesthetics, as such a combination increases
the risk of life-threatening respiratory depression.
The information contained in Advanced Pain Treatment’s website is intended as an educational aid only.
- It is not intended as medical advice for individual conditions or treatment.
- It is not a substitute for a medical exam, nor does it replace the need for services provided by medical professionals.
Talk to your doctor or pharmacist before taking any prescription or over the counter drugs (including any herbal medicines or supplements) or following any treatment or regimen. Only your doctor or pharmacist can provide you with advice on what is safe and effective for you.
Advanced Pain Treatment is not responsible for application of any information provided in its website. By use of this website user agrees to hold Advanced Pain Treatment harmless in any legal action regarding use, interpretation or application of this website’s information.
Visit National Library of Medicine Drug Information © 2005 National Library of Medicine (NLM) & National Institutes of Health (NIH)
