Everything You Need to Know About Prescription Opioids

Every year, millions of Americans are harmed by drugs. Alcohol, marijuana, and painkillers are among the most often misused drugs.

You probably connect the latter with illegal narcotics like heroin and fentanyl when you think of them later. Even though these drugs are highly hazardous, they account for just half of all opioid-related incidents.

Despite being controlled, prescription medicines have been claimed to be the primary cause of approximately 40% of all opioid-related deaths.

Defined Prescription Opioids

Prescription opioids, like their illicit cousins, are produced in part from the poppy seed, which grows in Central and South America as well as Asia. The most commonly prescribed painkillers, such as Vicodin, are semi-synthetic, as opposed to synthetic opioids like fentanyl, which are completely man-made. This means that both lab-created components and natural opium extraction are used in the manufacturing process.

Oxycodone, methadone, codeine, morphine, buprenorphine, hydrocodone, and meperidine are some of the most often prescribed opioids. Prescription opioids are most often used for pain treatment. They may also be used to treat chronic diarrhea and coughing. The issues emerge when the patient gets addicted to the medication because she is addicted to the euphoric feeling it may provide. Repeated usage may lead to full-fledged addiction, increasing the risk of misuse and lethal overdose.

What Are the Effects of Prescription Painkillers?

To comprehend the complexities of opiate addiction, you must first study the molecular processes that occur in the body after the drug is ingested. Once ingested, the chemical travels through the person's circulation until it reaches the spinal cord and brain. When the opioids reach those two sites, they bind to active opioid receptors and block pain signals while allowing dopamine chemicals to be released. The user then feels an unrivaled exhilaration, which may lead to addiction.

Prescription Opioid Side Effects

Even if the patient's usage is well managed, they may suffer mild to severe adverse effects. When opioid addiction is prevalent, they become more deadly.

The following are some of the most frequent negative side effects:

• Nausea/vomiting 

• Skin sensitivity, redness, or itching 

• Sweating excessively 

• Depression

• Slowed breathing 

• Disorientation 

• Drowsiness & poor energy 

• Low testosterone levels 

• Constipation 

• Dry mouth

Prescription Opioid Addiction

Prescription medicines are extremely addictive, and dependence may quickly develop if usage is not carefully managed. When a person has moderate to severe withdrawal symptoms, he may find it difficult to cope. As a result, despite being aware of the harmful consequences, he continues to use the drug.

As the victim's tolerance grows, he or she begins to raise daily dosages or experiment with new medications. Overdoses are very dangerous as a result of this, and it is responsible for more than half of all prescription opioid-related fatalities.

Developing a Prescription Opioid Addiction: Risk Factors

Prescription medications should be handled with great care by anybody who comes into contact with them. The following are some of the most frequent signs that someone is developing an addiction:

• Prescriptions that overlap

When a person begins to seek several prescriptions from different pharmacies and clinicians, it is a clear indication of addiction.

• Psychiatric Conditions

People who have their mental health in jeopardy are more likely to develop an addiction to prescription opioids.

• Drug Abuse History

Pre-existing exposure to drugs as a child or adolescent raises the risk of substance abuse as an adult.

• Excessive Doses

The greater the recommended dose, the more likely you are to develop a tolerance rapidly and have more severe withdrawal symptoms.

• Earnings & Location

Prescription painkiller misuse is more common among those who reside in rural regions or have a poor income.

Prescription Opioid Addiction Treatment

Once an addiction has been formed, counseling is the safest and most effective method to heal. Opioid addicts may choose from a variety of treatment alternatives to meet their unique requirements, interests, and lifestyles.

More severe drug abuse problems often need assistance. Because the patient may experience severe and even life-threatening withdrawal symptoms, detox is the usual first step in the procedure. The user is directed to ongoing treatment after a system reset. There are also many support groups and 12-Step programs available to help in recovery.

If you or a loved one is addicted to prescription opioids, you should get treatment right once. You may do a quick Google search for “best rehab for prescription painkillers in Virginia,” for example. Consult your physician after you've narrowed down your options, and be hospitalized as quickly as possible. Getting therapy as soon as possible improves your chances of making a full recovery.