A breast injury can prove extremely painful. During the injury, damage to breast tissues breaks open blood vessels and damages the structure of the breast, leading to a inflammation, swelling and pain. In extreme cases, breast injury can even lead...
Opiates are drugs derived from the plant opiate. Common examples of opiates are heroin, narcotic painkillers and morphine. Many people become addicted to opiates after being prescribed narcotic painkillers following an injury. Typically, opiate...
An impacted bowel, sometimes called a fecal impaction, happens when a large ball of dry, hard stool gets stuck in the rectum, according to MedlinePlus. The blockage of stool can become so hard that it can't be eliminated and blocks the intestine....
Addiction to prescription pain medicines is a growing problem in the United States. The National Institute on Drug Abuse, or NIDA, lists the following painkillers among the most frequently abused medications: Vicodin, OxyContin, Stadol, Demerol,...
Narcotic painkillers, central nervous system depressants, such as sedatives and tranquilizers and stimulants are some of types of prescription drugs that can become addictive. Although these drugs are usually prescribed to treat chronic pain,...
Oxycodone and oxycodone/APAP are each prescription-only narcotic painkillers, listed as schedule II controlled substances in the United States. Although they contain a common active ingredient and a similar name, medications labeled as...
Taking unknown prescription drugs may start in the teenage years because of experimentation. Children may experiment as early as age 12. These drugs are available quicker and easier then "street" drugs, such as marijuana and heroin,...
Those going through detoxification from opium addiction or coming down from using narcotic painkillers containing the alkaloid morphine are likely to experience withdrawal symptoms. These symptoms may be graded from less severe drug craving and...
All narcotics are derived from opium and are called either opiates or opioids. Narcotic painkillers used in today's medicine consist of the opioid family, and are legally available through prescription from a doctor. The most common of these...
The spinal column is composed of vertebrae and disks, which are between the vertebrae. Spinal disks act as shock absorbers for the spine and allow flexibility in the spinal column during movement. At times, a disk may be herniated, which means...
Medications typically follow a common route from research to development, from clinical studies to controlled release. For many drugs, once patent protection expires, the next step takes them from behind the pharmacist's counter to...
While there are many over-the-counter and prescription medications to treat acne, you may prefer a more natural approach. Several herbs can help clear mild to moderate acne, though severe cases are best treated by a dermatologist. Check with your...
Just because a substance was obtained legally or has a legitimate medical use does not mean that it cannot be abused. When not used properly, use of prescription drugs can lead to major health problems, addiction and death. Prescription drugs can...
The most common form of arthritis is osteoarthritis. The degenerative condition affects cartilage surrounding joints---commonly in the hands, back, hips and neck. Cartilage slowly wears away and breaks down resulting in pain, stiffness and...
People use nutritional supplements to increase the dietary intake of a particular vitamin, mineral or other nutrient to avoid deficiencies, reduce risks of diseases or manage conditions. People use prescription drugs to treat diseases, disorders...
Hip and leg pain occur for different reasons. For instance, if an injury has occurred to the leg, pain typically results. If the pain is related to the nerves, it may involve both the hip and leg as a result of possible pressure on nerves and...
Mixed sleep apnea is a sleep disorder that has symptoms of two varieties of sleep apnea. Essentially, this condition begins as a long-standing case of obstructive sleep apnea that triggers issues with the central nervous system. Causes for mixed...
The abuse of drugs has serious consequences that may be fatal. MedlinePlus, a website of the National Institutes of Health, states that every year 40 million serious illnesses and injuries result from drug abuse in the U.S., resulting in health...
Physicians prescribe oxycodone for severe post-operative pain or to those patients who have a positive history using a narcotic analgesic. The United States Food and Drug Administration classes oxycodone as a Schedule II controlled substance...
Vicodin and caffeine are both used in pain control. Caffeine is widely available in foods, beverages and energy drinks, but vicodin is available only by prescription. If you have been prescribed vicodin, tell your doctor about your typical...
Muscle spasms are involuntary, often painful contractions of muscles throughout the body, especially those of the back and the limbs. They can arise from a variety of causes, among them fatigue, dehydration, electrolyte disturbances, vascular...
The bones of the spinal column--the vertebrae--protect nerves that run from the brain down the back. The vertebrae are separated by rubbery disks that cushion the bones. Strain or injury can push the disks out of place--a condition called...
Itchy skin is irritating and can lead to scratching that can damage your skin. Most of the time, itchy skin is not a serious problem, and it usually goes away on its own with time. Several home remedies and other treatments can help to reduce the...
Methadone, which is a synthetic narcotic, brings relief from the dependence and withdrawal of narcotics to well over 100,000 people in the US. It is generally associated with heroin users, but they're not the only people who benefit from this...
Addiction to painkillers typically involves emotional, psychological and physical dependence. The most obvious symptom of painkiller addiction, according to research at the Mayo Clinic, is the need to use the drugs despite the consequences. There...
Demerol, or meperidine hydrochloride, was originally approved in 1942 and belongs to a class of prescription drugs known as narcotic analgesics that are used to relieve moderate to severe pain. This drug also may be given as a pre-operative...
One of the most commonly prescribed and effective narcotic painkillers, hydrocodone (brand name Vicodin) carries many side effects. Most often, these effects may be managed with an over-the-counter symptom reliever. Pay close attention, however,...
Almost all drugs have effects beyond their intended action. This is because most drugs have more than one action in the body and patients can react unpredictability to a given drug. There are two kinds of effects---side effects and adverse...
Dry mouth, also called xerostomia, is a common side effect of certain drugs. The condition is characterized by decrease in saliva with difficulty tasting, chewing and swallowing dry foods. Some people with dry mouth may be sensitive to salty,...