Addiction to opium is the main problem with using the narcotic painkiller. Opium can help relieve severe cases of diarrhea as well as working as an analgesic. However, the alkaloid morphine in opium tends to become addictive. It activates cell membrane changes, which slows breathing as it relieves pain. Opium can be further processed to make heroin, which can become an even more destructive to an addict. The side effects of opium addiction can prove both dangerous and debilitating.
Need for Higher Doses
One side effect of opium addiction is the need for higher doses as the addict develops greater tolerance to the drug. If doses of opium gradually become increased, what was once effective to reduce pain and slow respiration can be multiplied tenfold without as much effect according to Dr. Joanne Lynn. Doses that might have stopped respiration and become lethal were reported in a 1997 New York Times article to cause no such effect.
Slowed Breathing
Opium can cause severely slowed breathing to the point of death if the user takes too much of the drug. Drugs.com states the amount of the narcotic taken should receive careful monitoring, but an addict may take the drug without monitoring and could accidentally take enough to stop her breathing. If an addict shares the drug with anyone who hasn't built up a tolerance, the new user could take the same dose as the addict and die because they have not built up a gradual immunity to the effects.
Asthmatic Attack
An opium addict may cause an asthmatic attack if she uses the drug without any medical supervision. Someone who has severe bronchial asthma should not use opium or the morphine derived from it. According to RxList, even if opium a medical professional has prescribed it, resuscitating equipment must be present in case an asthmatic attack occurs.
Losing Consciousness
Unmonitored use of opium by an addict could cause the addict to become confused, weak or even faint. Drugs.com states opium side effects include lowering your body temperature; causing a weakened pulse and making the addict's skin feel clammy. The addict will likely increase her dosage to get the most effect from the drug so that overdosing with loss of consciousness could then occur.
Withdrawal Difficulties
An addict may suffer withdrawal difficulties when reducing dosage, if she can't get more of the drug or if she decides to attempt to stop using it on her own. Just as gradual increases of the drug help the body tolerate opium's effects, MayoClinic.com says gradual decreasing of the drug over time will help diminish the nausea, sweats, sleeplessness, cramping and body aches likely to accompany withdrawal from the drug. Quickly stopping opium use is likely to make withdrawal symptoms severe.
