Prescription Drug Information
Painkillers
Opioids are narcotic painkillers and are commonly prescribed for pain relief.
These drugs have become so prevalent that more than 4 million Americans are
current non-medical users of these prescription drugs. There were significant
increases in the lifetime prevalence of use from 2003 to 2004 in several
categories of pain relievers among those aged 18 to 25.
Among the
compounds that fall within this class are morphine, codeine, and related
medications. Morphine is often used before or after surgery to alleviate severe
pain. Codeine is used for milder pain. Other examples of opioids that can be
prescribed to alleviate pain include oxycodone (OxyContin—an oral,
controlled release form of the drug); propoxyphene (Darvon); hydrocodone
(Vicodin); hydromorphone (Dilaudid); and meperidine (Demerol), which is used
less often because of side effects.
Even doctor-approved long-term use
can lead to physical dependence—the body adapts to the presence of the
substance and withdrawal symptoms occur if use is reduced abruptly. This can
also include tolerance, which means that higher doses of a medication must be
taken to obtain the same initial effects. Note that physical dependence is not
necessarily the same as addiction—physical dependence can occur even with
appropriate long-term use of opioid and other medications. Addiction, as noted
earlier, is defined as compulsive, often uncontrollable drug use in spite of
negative consequences.
The effects of prescription painkillers can be
similar to heroin, as they are all in the same opiod class of drug. Withdrawal
symptoms from opiates include restlessness, muscle and bone pain, insomnia,
diarrhea, vomiting, cold flashes with goose bumps ("cold turkey"), and
involuntary leg movements. Long-term use of opioids can lead to physical
dependence and addiction. Taking a large single dose of an opioid could cause
severe respiratory depression that can lead to death.
Sedatives and Tranquilizers
There are an estimated 1.6 million non-medical users of
tranquilizers and another 300,000 users of sedatives in the United States.
These represent two fo the top for categories of prescription drug abuse.
Sedatives and tranquilizers fall under the category of CNS depressants, which
slow normal bodily function.
Commonly-prescribed sedatives and
tranquilizers include barbiturates, such as mephobarbital (Mebaral) and
pentobarbital sodium (Nembutal), and benzodiazepines, like as diazepam
(Valium), chlordiazepoxide HCl (Librium), and alprazolam (Xanax). There are
also more sedating benzodiazepines, such as triazolam (Halcion) and estazolam
(ProSom).
During the first few days of taking a prescribed CNS
depressant, a person usually feels sleepy and uncoordinated, but as the body
becomes accustomed to the effects of the drug, these feelings begin to
disappear. If one uses these drugs long term, the body will develop tolerance
for the drugs, and larger doses will be needed to achieve the same initial
effects. Continued use can lead to physical dependence due to their high
potential for abuse and - when use is reduced or stopped -
withdrawal.
Although withdrawal from benzodiazepines can be problematic,
it is rarely life threatening, whereas withdrawal from prolonged use of other
CNS depressants can have life-threatening complications. Therefore, someone who
is thinking about discontinuing CNS depressant therapy or who is suffering
withdrawal from a CNS depressant should speak with a physician or seek medical
treatment.
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