Prescription drugs provide enormous benefits for people who need relief from pain or emotional disorders. A huge risk from abusing prescription drugs includes dependency because the constant ingestion of drugs affects the brain chemistry. Like other abused drugs, the brain continues to want more of the substances it has received regularly. Addiction ruins people's lives because they begin to think nothing else except getting their drug dosage. It may lead to doctor shopping to acquire more prescription medication or buying illicit drugs.
Opioid Effects
Opioids usually help prevent postsurgical pain, manage acute or chronic pain and even relieve such symptoms as coughing and diarrhea, the National Institute on Drug Abuse explains. Side effects such as drowsiness, constipation or depressed respiration may occur over the short period. Abusing the medication leads to dependence and addiction. Severe respiratory problems or death can follow a single large dose. Opioids may lead to feelings of euphoria, confusion, unconsciousness or coma. Increased risk of choking, slowed breathing rate or stopped breathing and loss of menstrual periods or fertility may develop from abusing opioid painkillers, MayoClinic.com notes. Opioids include oxycodone, hydrocodone, propoxyphene, meperidine, morphine, codeine, fentanyl and methadone.
Abused Depressants
Depressants affect the central nervous system to help relieve anxiety, tension, stress, panic attacks and sleep disorder. The drugs may accompany use of anesthesia to calm patients. Depressants can cause drowsiness, dizziness or sedation in the beginning for people using the prescription drugs. The effects may wear off, but users have a risk of physical dependence and addiction. Seizure can occur from abuse when people try to reduce or stop using the drug. Memory problems and abnormal body temperature can result from depressants. An overdose on these drugs can lead to coma or death. Depressants include barbiturates, such as mephobarbital and pentobarbital sodium. Abuse may also occur with prescribed benzodiazepines, including diazepam, alprazolam, hydrochloide, lorazepam and estazolam.
Misused Stimulants
Doctors prescribe stimulants to treat depression, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder or ADHD and narcolepsy. The drugs can cause increased heart rate or respiration, elevated blood pressure, sleep disorders and suppressed appetite. Stimulants can also become physically and emotionally addictive. Abuse can lead to high body temperature or irregular heartbeats and increased heart rate or blood pressure. Users may have feelings of exhilaration or increased mental alertness. However, people may become hostile or paranoid when taking large doses of the drug during short periods. Tremors, seizures, hallucinations and increased risk of stroke and cardiovascular failure may result from abuse of stimulants. Stimulants include dextroamphetamine and methylphenidate.
