The consumer news abounds with tragic deaths from the side effects of narcotic and sedative medications, including celebrities like Michael Jackson, Anna Nicole Smith and Heath Ledger. Understanding the respiratory depression effects of narcotics can assists consumers in the safe use of pain medications.
Definition of Narcotic Medications
Narcotic medications fall under the class of pain medications or chemical compounds called opium, opium derivative or semisynthetic substitutes. The widespread use of the term "narcotic" indicates drugs with morphine-like effects. The generic names of common medications producing morphine-like effects include codeine, dextropropoxyphene, fentanyl, heroin, morphine sulfate, hydrocodone, hydromorphone, meperidine, methadone and oxycontin. Some brand names familiar to consumers are Demerol, Duragesic, Percodan, OxyContin and Vicodan. Narcotic intake encompasses taking the medications via oral, under-the-tongue, skin patch, intramuscular injection or intravenous injection routes.
History of Narcotics
Opium may have been used early in biblical times in the Mediterranean region with the ingestion of milky fluid from the poppy, Papaver somniferum, according to the U.S. Justice Department. The government control of the distribution of narcotics dates to 1906 when Congress banned the importation of opium as documented in the Food and Drug Administration Milestones. In 1914, the United States implemented the Harrison Narcotics Act to regulate the use of narcotics under the Food and Drug Administration. By 1973, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration website describes President Richard Nixon's creation of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration. Later, the narcotic law became the Controlled Substances Act.
Benefits of Narcotics
Narcotics dull the senses and relieve pain. Narcotic medications assist with the treatment of acute soreness from surgery, traumatic wounds, infections, fractures and other acute maladies. For chronic health diseases,narcotics alleviate the pain of conditions like arthritis, back pain, joint pain, neuropathy, fibromyalgia and cancer.
Side Effects of Narcotics
"Patients and doctors may not fully appreciate the potential danger of these drugs, particularly when they are taken in combination with other sedating drugs or alcohol" reported Dr. David Juurlink in 2009 in the "Canadian Medical Association Journal."
In addition to decreasing pain with the ingestion of narcotics, the drugs work on neurological sites in the brain that control breathing and awareness. Large doses of narcotic drugs cause respiratory depression or slowing and cessation of breathing. Death ensues if breathing is not restored. Ingesting alcohol, depression drugs or tranquilizer drugs along with narcotics compounds the respiratory depression. The individual experiencing narcotic overload exhibits other signs and symptoms of confusion, convulsions, cold clammy skin and pinpoint pupils. If taken for prolonged intervals, all narcotic medications produce addiction. Addiction to the drug causes an increase in the dosage to achieve the same pain-relieving effect.
Safe Use of Narcotic Medication
The individual on pain medication creates a safe situation by taking precautions such as describing her medications to providers at every health care encounter; being familiar with the key safety characteristics of each narcotic medication prescribed by a physician; placing medications safely out of the reach of children; disposing of unneeded or outdated medication in a timely fashion; being aware of the added effect of alcohol and other medications when taking narcotics; knowing overdose signs of slow or troubled breathing, excessive sleepiness or lethargy, disorientation, incapacity to speak or walk naturally or dizziness.
If a person exhibits signs of overdose, call 911 or obtain assistance of emergency services.
References
- Canadian Medical Association Journal: Prescribing of Opioid Analgesics and Related Mortality Before and After the Introduction of Long-acting Oxycodone
- Center for Disease Control and Prevention: National Center for Health Statistics
- Food and Drug Administration: Milestones in U.S. Food and Drug Law History
- U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration: Narcotics
- U.S. Justice Department:Chapter 4 Narcotics.
