Prescription Painkillers:

Prescription painkillers are numbing medications that medical professionals prescribe to treat severe pain, usually after surgery. They are often referred to as opioids.

Oxycodone, Demerol, Percocet, Vicodin, Codeine, Hydrocodone, and Morphine.

The appearance of these prescription pain medications varies depending on the brand and dosage. They come in a variety of tablet and pill forms.

Prescription painkillers are abused orally, crushed and sniffed, or dissolved in water and injected.

Prescription painkillers are used to manage moderate to severe physical discomfort. They are typically taken after undergoing surgery but can be used to soothe other bodily aches. Prescription painkillers can additionally cause feelings of euphoria and relaxation. Despite the temporary relief they may provide, prescription painkillers can have lethal side-effects.

Prescription painkillers are not often regarded to be as harmful as other drugs that are sold illicitly, but they can be incredibly dangerous and addictive. Prescription painkiller use can lead to suppressed breathing and organ damage. They are especially damaging when mixed with alcohol because combining the two boosts the risk of respiratory failure. This destructive mixture can also cause mental health issues such as anxiety and depression to develop.

Continuous misuse can lead to drug addiction and health problems, including:

• Liver damage
• Muscle spasms
• Severe constipation
• Kidney failure
• Respiratory failure
• Cardiovascular issues

Repeated opioid abuse can cause the brain to become dependent on drugs. Signs of a prescription painkiller addiction include:

Psychological Symptoms

• Mood changes
• Defensiveness
• Lack of energy
• Irregular sleeping habits

Physical Signs

• Weight loss
• Nausea
• Slow movements
• Digestive problems

An overdose occurs when an individual’s body cannot metabolize the substance fast enough to avoid the unintended side effects. During an overdose, prescription pills affect the part of the brain that controls breathing. Often, breathing stops completely. Oxygen starvation eventually stops vital organs.

• Dizziness
• Clammy skin
• Slowed heart rate
• Bluish nails, skin, or lips
• Vomiting
• Gurgling sounds
• Erratic breathing
• Unconsciousness

In the case of an overdose, one should call 911 for help and if possible, administer naloxone, an over-the-counter medicine designed to reverse opioid overdoses. In many cases, multiple doses may be necessary. Because of the severe damage that painkillers can have on the body, it is important to seek immediate medical attention, even if naloxone is successful at reversing the overdose.

Prescription Painkiller Detox

Because prescription painkillers take a tremendous toll on physical health, medically-monitored detox is strongly recommended before beginning any other form of addiction treatment. During the detoxification process, toxic substances are eliminated from the body, allowing it to begin to heal. Due to the strong physical dependence caused by long-term abuse, it is important that individuals detox under the supervision of a healthcare professional. This will insure the individual’s safety and comfort during this challenging process.

WITHDRAWAL SYMPTOMS

• Nausea
• Irritation
• Muscle aches
• Intense cravings
• Chills
• Insomnia
• Hot flushes
• Abdominal cramps

Recovering from addiction is more than just abstaining from pills. It is important that after the body has been stabilized, individuals continue onto a rehabilitation program that will help them uncover the cause of their addiction, address their emotions and behaviors, and learn how to maintain their sobriety through drug counseling. The most common treatment options are inpatient (residential), outpatient, and medication-assisted treatment programs.