Prescription drugs are medications that doctors have prescribed to treat specific medical conditions. They can be used to relieve symptoms such as pain, fever, nausea, anxiety, depression, insomnia, seizures, asthma, cancer, diabetes, heart disease, arthritis, migraine headaches, and many other health problems.
Psychoactive prescription drugs, such as painkillers and sleeping pills, can cause mental health problems when misused.
Any prescription medication can be abused, but the properties and effects of some prescriptions enhance both the risk for abuse, as well as the potential for harmful and long-term health consequences.
Amphetamines are stimulant drugs. Amphetamines increase heart rate and blood pressure. Stimulants are often abused because they make people feel energetic, active, and awake.
Ephedrine is a sympathomimetic amine. Ephedrine stimulates the sympathetic nervous system. Sympathomimetics are chemical compounds that mimic the actions of naturally occurring neurotransmitters.
Methylphenidate is a psychostimulant. It is also known as Ritalin. Methylphenidate effects brain parts that control attention, learning, memory, and mood.
Anabolic steroids are synthetic versions of male hormones produced in the testicles. They are used to enhance athletic performance. Anabolic steroids are also used illegally to build muscle mass and improve appearance.
Antidepressants are medicines that relieve depression. The most common antidepressants are selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors. Other antidepressants include monoamine oxidase inhibitors, tricyclics, and atypical antipsychotics.
Opioids are natural, highly effective painkillers. Opioids are used to treat pain or relieve coughs or diarrhoea. Opioids attach to opioid receptors in the central nervous system (the brain and the spinal cord), preventing the brain from receiving pain messages.
The most common opioids are codeine, hydrocodone, oxycodone, fentanyl, methadone, morphine, and tapentadol.
Tapentadol is a synthetic opioid analgesic. It is a centrally acting analgesic. Tapentadol produces its effects by activating both μ-opioid receptor and norepinephrine reuptake inhibition mechanisms. NRI means that it blocks the action of noradrenaline at nerve endings.
Tramadol is a synthetic analgesic and anti-inflammatory agent. Tramadol is an opioid analgesic that does not have the same side effect profile as other opioids. Tramadol relieves pain without causing drowsiness or addiction.
Barbiturates are sedative/hypnotics. Barbiturates slow down mental processes and cause sleepiness. They can be prescribed for insomnia, anxiety, panic attacks, seizures, and migraines.
Benzodiazepines are tranquilizers. Benzodiazepines relax muscles and reduce anxiety. These medications include alprazolam , clonazepam , chlordiazepoxide , lorazepam , oxazepam , temazepam , triazolam.
Buprenorphine is a narcotic agonist-antagonist. Buprenorphine is used to help people quit heroin.
Chloral Hydrate is hypnotic. Chloral Hydrate induces sleep. This medication is sometimes used to prevent daytime drowsiness associated with alcohol withdrawal.
Diphenhydramine is a histamine H1 antagonist. Diphenhydramine is used to relieve allergy symptoms such as sneezing, itching, watery eyes, and a stuffy nose.
Hydroxyzine is a tricyclic antidepressant. Hydroxyzine is used to treat anxiety, depression, and sleeping problems.
Lorazepam is a benzodiazepine anxiolytic. Lorazepam is used to treat anxiety disorders and insomnia. Lorazepam reduces anxiety and improves sleep quality.
Midazolam is a short-acting benzodiazepine. Midazolam is used to induce general anaesthesia during surgery.
Codeine is a cough suppressant. Codeine is similar to morphine. Both codeine and morphine are opiate narcotics. Opiates are natural products found in poppy seeds, poppies, and opium.
Antipsychotics are medicines that relieve symptoms of schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and other mental illnesses. These medications include chlorpromazine, haloperidol, olanzapine, quetiapine, risperidone, ziprasidone, clozapine, thioridazine, perphenazine, fluphenazine, and paliperidone.
Prescription-only medicines must be prescribed by a qualified health professional. This may be a GP, hospital doctor, dentist, nurse, pharmacist, optometrist, physiotherapist or podiatrist.
Producing and distributing these medications without a license will lead to prosecution. Buying and consuming these drugs without having a prescription is also illegal and can lead to two years in prison.
The most frequently used route of drug administration is oral administration because it is the most convenient and economical. However, prescription drugs can also be administrated in other ways, including:
A variety of prescription drugs are often abused. Some of them are listed below.
Prescription Drugs Addiction is a serious problem that requires immediate attention. Call us on 0800 999 1083 to discuss treatment options.
According to specialists, there are three levels of severity of addiction: mild, moderate, and severe. Mild addiction means you’re using a prescription drug recreationally but don’t have any physical or psychological problems related to the drug. Moderate addiction means you’ve been using a prescription drug regularly for several months or years, and you might be experiencing some physical or psychological issues. Severe addiction means you’ve been abusing prescription drugs for an extended time, and you’re likely suffering from serious health problems.
It’s important to understand that drug addiction doesn’t happen overnight. It takes time for a person to become addicted to a substance.
To minimise the risk of becoming addicted to prescription drugs, it’s essential to follow these guidelines:
Don’t mix legal and illegal substances or alcohol with prescription drugs. Mixing different types of drugs can cause serious health problems.
Don’t use prescription drugs recreationally. Prescription drugs are meant to be used only under medical supervision. Recreational use could result in severe injury or death.
It’s also helpful to talk to your doctor about alternative treatments. There are non-pharmaceutical options that may be just as effective at relieving pain or treating illness.
Prescription Drugs Addiction is a serious problem that requires immediate attention. Call us on 0800 999 1083 to discuss treatment options.
When a person becomes physically and/or psychologically dependent on their medications, they are diagnosed with prescription drug addiction. Not all Prescription drugs create the same level of physical and psychological dependency.
There are specific signs and symptoms that can determine whether or not addiction is present. Some of the most common indicators include:
Don’t go through the process of recovery alone. Treatment providers can answer your questions. Get in touch with one today.
Call 0800 999 1083 today!
Addiction to prescription drugs can have severe physical symptoms. Here are some examples:
Abruptly stopping or reducing the amount of prescription medication can result in unpleasant side effects. In some cases, people who suddenly stop taking their prescriptions will experience withdrawal symptoms, including:
The psychological effects of prescription drugs include:
Behavioural symptoms of prescription drug misuse include:
Prescription Drugs Addiction is a serious problem that requires immediate attention. Call us on 0800 999 1083 to discuss treatment options.
The exact reasons someone develops a dependency on prescription drugs depend on their circumstances and the drug they’re taking. However, several known factors may influence people to misuse prescription drugs.
Some factors that may contribute to Prescription Drugs Addiction include:
Genetic factors also play an important role in how quickly a person develops a dependency on prescription drugs. In addition, genetics affects whether a person is predisposed to develop a problem with prescription drugs.
These are some genetic factors that contribute to prescription drug addiction:
Polymorphisms are changes in DNA that occur naturally in the human population. These polymorphisms affect how genes work and what they do. Some polymorphisms make people more susceptible to certain diseases, while others make people more likely to take certain medicines and become addicted to them.
Some heritable traits are more common among addicts than others. These are characteristics passed down through families. They include personality traits such as impulsivity and aggression.
A family history of drug addiction is also a contributing factor for someone developing a prescription drug addiction. If you’re exposed to drug-seeking behaviour, especially at an early age, you might feel it’s ok to engage in prescription drug abuse.
Your environment can also affect the risk of you developing a prescription drug addiction. Sone of these factors include:
People who live in areas with high unemployment rates, poverty, crime, violence, and other unfavourable circumstances are more likely to abuse drugs and develop an addiction.
Stressful events such as divorce, the death of a loved one, financial problems, relationship difficulties, or moving away from home can trigger episodes of prescription drug abuse. Early childhood trauma has also been linked to developing drug addiction later on.
As with other drugs, you might feel influenced by your friends to experiment with prescription drugs. The attitude of “everyone is doing it” and “you only live once” might make you forget the dangers of prescription drug use and feel like taking these drugs to fit in.
People who suffer from depression or anxiety disorders are more likely to abuse prescription drugs. In fact, these two conditions often coexist.
Depression causes you to feel sad and blue. Anxiety causes you to worry excessively. Both of these feelings can make it difficult for you to cope with everyday stressors.
When you’re depressed or anxious, you may feel hopeless. This feeling can make you think that nothing good will ever happen again. It’s possible that you’ll become desperate enough to turn to prescription drugs and alcohol to help you deal with your problems.
The risk of developing an addiction to prescription drugs increases when you take them on a regular basis and over a prolonged period of time.
You’re also more likely to develop an addiction if:
People who abuse prescription drugs tend to suffer from conditions like insomnia, anxiety, depression, and headaches. These conditions can make it harder for people to function normally.
The health risks associated with prescription drugs addiction are similar to those associated with other types of addictive substances. The following are some dangers and effects of prescription drug addiction and abuse.
Heart attacks and strokes are more common among people who abuse prescription drugs than among people who do not. In addition, people who abuse prescription drugs are at greater risk of having heart problems caused by diabetes.
Liver disease is one of the most serious side effects of prescription drug abuse. It can lead to severe damage to the liver and even death.
People who abuse prescription drugs are more likely to develop lung diseases such as pneumonia.
Kidneys help remove waste products from your body. If your kidneys stop working properly, it can be fatal.
Depression is another problem associated with prescription drug abuse, very common among people who abuse these types of drugs.
Memory loss is another problem associated with the chronic use of prescription drugs. Taking prescription drugs may lead to brain damage and cognitive impairment, including memory loss.
Prescription Drugs Addiction is a serious problem that requires immediate attention. Call us on 0800 999 1083 to discuss treatment options.
Overdosing on a prescription drug means taking too much of that drug, with severe consequences as a result. Overdoses can happen accidentally or intentionally. Overdosing on prescription drugs can be fatal.
Symptoms of an overdose vary depending on which prescription drug was used. Symptoms of overdose usually begin within hours after taking the prescription drug and can last for days.
Signs of an overdose can include:
If you’re experiencing any of these symptoms, please call 999 immediately.
The following list shows how certain drugs can interact with each other.
Mixing various types of prescription drugs, combining prescription drugs with other illicit substances, or taking prescription drugs with alcohol, will increase your risks of a fatal overdose.
People who abuse prescription drugs are also at an increased risk of suicide. Some studies show that prescription drug abusers are three times more likely to commit suicide than non-abusers.
Suicide rates are the highest among young adults between the ages of 15 and 24 years old.
The following factors increase the likelihood of suicide among people who abuse prescription medications:
If you’re having suicidal thoughts please call 0800 999 1083. Your life is worth living and there is help available for your addiction.
Mental health problems are often co-occurring disorders with prescription drug addiction. This happens when there is a mental health condition that occurs alongside prescription medications’ abuse.
Both conditions influence each other and it’s not always easy to understand which began first. These conditions include depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, post-traumatic stress disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, eating disorders, personality disorders, and others. Many of these conditions are treatable and should be addressed alongside prescription drug addiction.
A Dual diagnosis refers to a combination of mental illness and substance abuse. People who have dual diagnoses have different treatment needs.
People who have a dual diagnosis sometimes turn to prescription drugs to cope with their problems. They may take prescription medications to relieve their stress, anxiety and depression. Taking prescription drugs without medical supervision is risky behaviour and though it may feel helpful in the beginning, there are health issues that may develop from that self-medication. Self-medicating with prescription drugs will also contribute to worsening your mental health problems in the long run.
Taking prescription drugs without medical supervision can lead to serious complications including death. It can cause you to lose control over how much you take. When this happens, you may start taking more than recommended and when you take too much, you may experience withdrawal symptoms. You won’t be able to function normally without these drugs, once you’ve developed an addiction to them.
Prescription Drugs Addiction is a serious problem that requires immediate attention. Call us on 0800 999 1083 to discuss treatment options.
A teen’s brain is still developing. Teens are less likely than adults to know how much they should take of a particular drug. That’s why it’s important for parents to monitor teens’ prescriptions and check their pillboxes regularly.
There are no easy ways to tell if your child has an addiction to prescription drugs. However, there are some warning signs that could indicate that your child is addicted to these substances. Some of these signs include:
1) Your child is missing school frequently due to being unable to cope with the physical or emotional effects of their substance abuse.
2) Your child is showing signs of withdrawal when they stop taking the substance.
3) Your child is spending money on illegal activities instead of going to school or doing homework.
4) Your child is lying about their behaviour.
5) Your child is using more of the substance than was prescribed.
6) Your child prefers to use the substance alone or with friends who also use it.
7) Your child is using the substance without telling you.
8) Your child is using multiple types of prescription drugs.
9) Your child is using a higher dose than was prescribed.
If you notice any of these changes in your child, you should discuss them with your child’s physician. In addition to monitoring your child’s prescriptions, you should also have conversations with them about the dangers of abusing prescription medications.
Prescription Drugs Addiction is a serious problem that requires immediate attention. Call us on 0800 999 1083 to discuss treatment options.
If you think you have a problem with prescription drugs, it’s important to seek professional help right away. The earlier you get help, the easier it will be to treat the problem.
Prescription Drugs Addiction is a serious problem that requires immediate attention. Call us on 0800 999 1083 to discuss treatment options.
There are many different types of treatment available for those who have developed a dependency on prescription drugs. Some of these treatment options include:
The aim of detox is to free the patient from the effects of prescribed medications.
When you quit prescription drugs, you’re going to experience withdrawal symptoms. During detoxification, the patient goes through various stages of withdrawal. You’ll likely feel irritable, anxious, restless, and depressed. Some people even report having hallucinations. This is because the body is trying to rid itself of the toxins that were created while you were abusing these drugs.
It is recommended that you undertake prescription drugs detox at a 24h medically supervised inpatient rehab facility. They will be able to monitor your withdrawal symptoms closely and act accordingly. They will also be able to provide you with some medications that can help alleviate the effects of going through prescription drugs detox and reduce cravings.
Don’t go through the process of recovery alone. Treatment providers can answer your questions. Get in touch with one today.
Call 0800 999 1083 today!
Medication-assisted treatments are used to treat prescription drug dependence, especially prescription drugs dependence. These treatments work by providing patients with a steady supply of medication to relieve withdrawal symptoms and cravings. In addition, they may reduce tolerance to the effects of prescription drug abuse.
Depending on which type of prescription drug addiction is being treated, there are other several medications that can help manage the challenges of the recovery process.
Some commonly used medications include:
Methadone is one of the most common forms of medication-assisted treatment. Methadone works by binding to opiate receptors in the brain. As a result, it blocks the euphoric effects of opioids without causing the same level of sedation. Because of its long half-life, methadone does not cause users to experience the “high” associated with other opiates. However, there are still risks involved with using methadone. For example, because it binds to opiate receptors, it can interfere with the body’s natural production of endorphins.
Buprenorphine is another form of medication-assisted treatment. Like methadone, buprenorphine works by blocking the effects of opioids. Unlike methadone, however, it has a shorter half-life. This makes it easier to manage than methadone. The downside to buprenorphine is that it must be administered sublingually. Therefore, it cannot be taken orally like methadone.
Treatment for prescription drugs addiction begins when the individual seeks help. The most important thing to remember is that recovery is possible. There is hope!
Inpatient care involves staying at a facility for several weeks or months. During this period, patients receive individual counselling, group therapy, and educational classes. Unlike outpatient programs, inpatient facilities offer 24-hour supervision.
Advantages of inpatient care include:
Outpatient care allows patients to continue living at home during treatment. The advantage of this type of program is that it provides the patient with a familiar environment where they feel secure. Patients often find themselves feeling less stressed when they’re surrounded by friends and family.
In addition, outpatient programs allow patients to continue working, which is especially useful if they rely on their income for their living expenses.
Disadvantages include:
The goal of therapy is to teach patients how to cope with triggers and cravings. Therapists can work with patients to identify what situations could lead them to relapse.
Most therapists will focus on two main areas:
1) Identifying and understanding the underlying causes of the addiction
2) Teaching patients coping skills to deal with cravings and triggers
Some of the therapies available to treat prescription drug abuse include:
Counselling is used to help patients learn about the causes of their addictions as well as develop new behaviours that will prevent them from relapsing. Counsellors also work with patients to set realistic goals for recovery. Substance abuse counsellors are trained to treat people who have a problem with alcohol or other drugs. These professionals typically work one-on-one with patients. They also provide information about the addiction process and the treatments available.
CBT helps individuals understand why they act the way they do. CBT teaches patients to recognise and change automatic thoughts and behaviours associated with substance use. CBT is based on the idea that our thoughts affect our feelings and behaviour. If we believe something about ourselves or our situation, we tend to feel bad or behave in certain ways. CBT focuses on changing the negative beliefs and replacing them with positive ones.
Dialectical Behavior Therapy is another form of therapy that is used to treat people suffering from prescription drug addiction. DBT teaches people how to deal with emotions and stress.
Dialectical behaviour therapy helps people learn how to manage their anger and frustration. It also helps them develop coping skills so that they don’t become overwhelmed by negative emotions.
Interpersonal Psychotherapy is yet another form of therapy that can be used to treat prescription drug addiction. IPT is based on the idea that individuals are not solely responsible for their own actions. Instead, they are influenced by their environment.
Interpersonal psychotherapy is designed to teach people how to understand themselves and those around them better. It also teaches them how to communicate effectively.
Once a person completes their treatment plan, they will go through a process called “aftercare.” Aftercare is a set of steps designed to help patients maintain sobriety once they return home.
These steps include:
Twelve-step programmes offer a secure environment for people to share their stories and learn from one another. Triggers, cravings, relapse prevention, and coping skills are among the topics discussed by group participants. These organisations gather on a regular basis to address their issues and make atonement for previous errors.
There are several organisations that offer support groups for prescription drugs addicts in the United Kingdom. These groups provide information and support to users who are going through similar experiences helping them to learn how to overcome the difficulties of recovering. They also give advice on how to stay sober and avoid relapsing.
Prescription Drugs Addiction is a serious problem that requires immediate attention. Call us on 0800 999 1083 to discuss treatment options.
Addiction is a chronic condition. You need to have a support system around you so you don’t fall off the wagon.
Recovery’s a journey that doesn’t end after treatment and rehabilitation, constantly requiring patience and attention to triggers and warning signs of relapse.
Here are some tips for living with and managing prescription drugs addiction:
The following statistics were taken from the NHS website :
Abusing prescription drugs it’s related to:
No matter where you live, there are drug and alcohol rehab options for you to discover. Treatment providers are waiting to answer your questions. Get started today.
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