Some may not
know why addiction to opiates is so strong and why people continue to use
despite the negative attention they draw and negative effects its use has on
their many aspects of life.
The analgesic (painkiller) effects of opioids are a function of reduced
perception of pain, decreased reaction to pain and an increase in tolerance to
pain.
Side effects of Opioids include but are
not limited to euphoria, constipation, sedation, respiratory depression and
more effects.
Repeated doses of opiates at no specific
frequency or time (as everyone is different) can lead to drug tolerance. Essentially, there is decrease in
pharmacologic response following repeated or prolonged drug administration.
This essentially means the patient has to
take higher dosages to achieve an effect which is in all likelihood far above
the current level of tolerance. I will not go into the in-depth pharmacokinetics
of tolerance but I will help you to understand the behavioral effects
associated with opioid tolerance.
At some point the body becomes physical
and mentally addicted. This is a point at which not only will the body not have
the same analgesic relief it did on a previous low dose, but now if the patient
stops the medication he or she may experience flu like symptoms including rhinorrhea,
body aches, chills, sweats, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting to name a few. Often
time individuals do not want to stop using drugs because of this horrible withdrawal
syndrome. You can count on being out of
work a few days with these symptoms.
Opiates principally act on the central and peripheral
nervous system and the gastrointestinal tract and so much of the side effects
surround these symptoms and do the withdrawal symptoms.
At this day and age we are losing so many young and old
patients losing their lives from opioids. Opioids have been easy to obtain as
more pills than ever are being prescribed. With increasing street prices seen
for such medicines as hydrocodone. Many have begun to seek and use heroin as it
is quite a bit cheaper, however laced with bad and deadly other substances.
The ultimate goal is to get your loved one to find a
practice and doctor first, stop using drugs and initiate treatment. Certain
Steps are important as addiction surrounds and involves social, work and home
life. Patients need to see a therapist, get rid of all paraphernalia and get
rid of any phone numbers or reminders of the past practices.
The initial goal is to change the behavior of the patient
(get used to living normal) but long term the goal is not to be on any treatment
and able to remain opioid drug free without any crutch. Here is some anecdotal l
information we have found from patients.
