Friday, 24 November 2017

What is the Difference between Opioids and Opiates?

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_cta h2="Help Is Only A Phone Call Away" txt_align="center" shape="round" style="flat" color="vista-blue" el_width="sm" use_custom_fonts_h2="true" use_custom_fonts_h4="true"]Call Now 855-227-9535[/vc_cta] The use of Opium has been documented as far back as 3,400 BC. The substance came from a specific poppy plant, whose seed pod produced the Opium Resin. It's been used for both medicinal and recreational use, passed down from generation to generation. Its influence was so great that it has caused wars, notably in Asia during the 1800's, simply known as the Opium Wars. During the industrial age going to present times, researchers have refined and modified the original substance, extracting alkaloids which have more potent effects such as Morphine, the first Opiate. They then created more derivatives, resulting in Opioids of different formulations. What’s the difference between Opiates and Opioids?

Opiates: From Organic Roots

Using the word itself, Opiate, the suffix "ate" denotes many meanings. It could mean ‘a person who represents' such as magistrate or electorate. In medicine, the suffix means "derived from a specific chemical compound." Opiate means it's derived from Opium, such as Morphine. Any kind of substance that’s derived from the original, biological opium is called an Opiate. Technically speaking, Opium, the crude product extracted from the poppy plant can also be called an Opiate. Presently, there are select places in the world where farmers are legally allowed to plant and harvest opium, for the sole purpose of supplying pharmaceutical companies, to help produce Opiates and to aid in research.

Opioids: Synthetic Substances

The suffix in Opioid is "oid," which means "similar but not a perfect copy." The suffix can be seen in the word "humanoid," used to describe something that looks human and acts, but not human. Opioids are artificial compounds created from other parts of opium, often the less effective parts. In comparison, Morphine is extracted from opium, while Oxycodone is synthesized from Thebaine, a lesser component of Opium, but processed to be just as effective as Morphine. Both are equally effective in reducing pain, with only the formulations varying in potency and duration.

What Are Examples of Opioids?

Opioids are used strictly for medicinal purposes, either for the treatment of chronic and acute pain, to the miscellaneous effects such as cough suppression and treatment for loss of bowel movement. The following are the known Opioids currently used:  
  • Fentanyl

  Top of the list due to its powerful effects. On paper, it's more than ten times more powerful than Morphine and is only in liquid form. This Opioid is often used in a situation where they need to neutralize trauma inducing pain in seconds. The drug is also utilized on cancer patients whose pain conditions cannot be effectively treated by morphine. Fentanyl also comes in the form of patches, perfect to take advantage of its potency by using the slowest form of administration. This makes for longer durations with fewer amounts, which leads to fewer opportunities for abuse. Unfortunately, Fentanyl found it's way into the hands of illegal sellers, who sell the drug in either liquid capsule form or in some cases, in lollipop form, to mimic the slow release of the fentanyl patch. The common brands of Fentanyl are Abstral, Fentora, Duragesic, Lazanda, Subsys, and Onsolis.
  • Hydrocodone

Compared to Morphine, Hydrocodone has a less potent effect in terms of painkilling. It's often prescribed to people with moderate chronic pain, like injuries resulting in bone damage or post spine surgeries. They come in pill form that has either a release time of 8 hours or even slower at 12, with varying concentrations. Hydrocodone is rarely formulated by itself. It's usually combined with other medications such as anti-inflammatories, antipyretics, or a non-opioid painkiller. (Ibuprofen and Acetaminophen are common partners) Apart from painkilling, Hydrocodone can slow down breathing, making it unsuitable for young children and people with lung conditions such as asthma. The common brands of Hydrocodone are Lortab, Norco, and Vicodin.
  • Oxycodone

Nearly identical to Hydrocodone in apart from two things. First is the chemical composition, which is simply one element, and that Oxycodone has no cough suppressing effects, unlike Hydrocodone. Oxycodone is also rarely sold in North America and is seen sold in other countries, while Hydrocodone is less sold out of North America. Oxycodone comes in liquid and pill form. Its effects, like all opioids can be highly addictive, provided the conditions are in place, such chronic pain, and constant psychological stressors. Which why it's absolutely important to only take the dosage prescribed. You can take less if you're going to start tapering off. The common brands of Oxycodone are OxyContin, Roxicodone, Percocet, Endodan, and Combunox.
  • Methadone

A special kind of Opioid meant to treat people with opioid/opiate addiction. Consider it as the vaccine form of morphine; the body recognizes the dosage, but the effects are minimal. Patients may still feel that slight fuzzy warm feeling, akin to the feeling of well-being, but the key effect is that it reduces or removes the effects of withdrawal. People who take Methadone use the tapering method to get off the addiction. First, they take an amount equal to the maximum dose of the opiate/opioid they took, then over time, slowly reduce the amount until the person is fully detoxified of both the original drug and the methadone.  
  • Loperamide

  Since opioids have side effects such as cough suppression and constipation, it's normal for pharmaceutical companies to take advantage of them. One such product is loperamide, known for its ability to suppress bowel movements by stopping the movements of your small and large intestines. Presently, the term opioids and opiates can be used interchangeably. Opioids are now used to describe opiates such as morphine and codeine. The word opioid can apply to them as well since they resemble opium's effect. It's still advised to never take opioids without a prescription, and when you do have one, only take what's prescribed, no more. If you plan on quitting opioid use, consult your doctor first before trying. Withdrawal can cause severe issues like heart attack and seizures. https://www.rehabnear.me/ [vc_row][vc_column][vc_cta h2="Don't Wait Help Is Only A Phone Call Away" txt_align="center" shape="round" style="flat" color="vista-blue" el_width="sm" use_custom_fonts_h2="true" use_custom_fonts_h4="true"]Call Now 855-227-9535[/vc_cta][/vc_column][/vc_row]

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Important Details about Oxycontin

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_cta h2="Help Is Only A Phone Call Away" txt_align="center" shape="round" style="flat" color="vista-blue" el_width="sm" use_custom_fonts_h2="true" use_custom_fonts_h4="true"]Call Now 855-227-9535[/vc_cta] Pain is perhaps the worst thing your body can experience short of actually dying. We, humans, are programmed to stay away from pain. Some of us have adapted to endure the pain, and in fact, use it as a method to gauge our progress, much like athletes. However when it comes to injury such as broken bones, slipped discs, and torn ligaments, the pain is unbearable. Pain is meant to tell us that there's something wrong in our body. We know where the pain is, and we know what the damage is, but the pain doesn't go away. We're stuck writhing and seething our teeth, hoping the pain would go away. That's where opioids shined. These drugs which are meant to mimic the natural painkilling chemicals in our brain are administered to those who truly need relief from pain. One common opioid prescribed to people suffering from chronic, moderate to severe pain is Oxycontin.

What is in Oxycontin?

Oxycontin has varying formulations and concentrations. In some versions, it's mixed with, Ibuprofen, aspirin, and acetaminophen. These substances are meant to help quickly address some of the conditions. One such reason is that the time it takes for Oxycontin to work is around 20 minutes. Adding a supplementary painkiller will help slowly cover for that 20 minutes before the actual effect settles in. Commonly though, Oxycontin tablets only contain Oxycontin as an active ingredient. An active ingredient means it’s biologically active, or the one causing a biological effect. The brands that contain acetaminophen, also known as Tylenol are the following:
  • Primlev
  • Roxicet
  • Taxadone
  • Tylox
  • Xolox
  • Endocet
  • Lynox
  • Magnacet
  • Narvox
  • Percocet
  • Perloxx
The formulation that contains Ibuprofen is Combunox. The brand names that have aspirin on them, are the following:
  • Percodan
  • Endodan
  • Roxipin
Along with Oxycodone and whichever supplemental medication it has, also has the following substances mixed in it.
  • Ammonio methacrylate copolymer
  • Butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT)
  • Magnesium stearate
  • Hypromellose
  • Lactose
  • Polyethylene oxide
  • Polyethylene glycol 400
  • Sodium hydroxide
  • Povidone
  • Talc
  • Triacetin
  • Titanium dioxide
These chemicals are what make up the special time-release pill. Oxycontin’s effect can last 10-12 hours, thanks to the unique mix of these chemicals.

What is Oxycontin Prescribed for?

A licensed physician can prescribe Oxycontin for patients who require round-the-clock pain relief. In some cases, patients only need pain-relievers as they need them. In those cases, physicians prescribe lower strength opiates like codeine. For people who have post-surgery pain, slipped discs, spinal stenosis, injuries on the bones and soft tissues, chronic joint pain, nerve pain such as carpal tunnel and damage due to diabetes, cancer, and fibromyalgia, doctors prescribe varying concentrations of Oxycontin. Patients who suffer from asthma, lung cancer and any other conditions that affect breathing, are at risk if they take oxycontin. One of Oxycontin’s side effects is that it slows the breathing rhythm. Taking opioids vastly increases the chance of having an asthma attack and people with sleep apnea can suffer oxygen deprivation if they take the drug before sleeping.

How Much is Oxycontin

Prices of Oxycontin can vary depending on the formulation, the concentration, where it's sold, and how it's sold. Unfortunately, there are vendors who discreetly and illegally sell Oxycontin at a much higher price, albeit without a prescription, of course. In other cases, insurance companies cover a good percentage of the drug's cost. Some of the time though, all people could do is purchase them directly at a licensed pharmacy to get the drug at full price. With that said, how much is the usual cost of Oxytocin? For those who don’t have insurance to cover a portion of the costs, the average cost per tablet is as follows:
  • 10mg Tablets
Usually Sold in: 60 tablet jars Average Price per Pack: $150 Average Price per Tablet: $2.5
  • 20mg Tablets
Usually Sold in: 60 tablet jars Average Price per Pack: $250 Average Price per Tablet: $4
  • 40 mg Tablets
Usually Sold in: 60 tablet jars Average Price per Pack: $375 Average Price per Tablet: $6.25
  • 80 mg Tablets
Usually Sold in: 60 tablet jars Average Price per Pack: $700 Average Price per Tablet: $11.5 They also come in the 20s and 30s. Bundled packages can have discounts, so the higher the amount you buy, the less the price per pill. As said earlier, the price will vary depending on where you buy it. For example, a 60 tablet jar of Oxycontin can cost $650 in Costco, while in Rite-Aid, can cost as much as $900. The key to getting them at a lower cost is to get discount coupons or health insurance. Health insurance, depending on your coverage, can cover as much as 80% of the total cost, or at least 30% of it. 30% is a lot in cases where you have to take pain medication for several months, which can save you quite a good sum of money.

What Type of Drug is Oxycontin?

Oxycontin is known as a narcotic. Narcotics are the family of drugs that have powerful painkilling effects. Types of Narcotics include Morphine, Codeine, Hydromorphone, Hydrocodone, Oxycodone, and the infamous Heroin. Nearly all of the opioids are narcotics, with the exception of Loperamide, an antimotility pill used to stop diarrhea. It's still an opioid, but its formulation prevents it from reaching the blood-brain barrier, resulting in no psychoactive or painkilling effects regardless of how much dosage is taken. Unfortunately, Narcotics is often associated with other illegal drugs. Heroin had created such a  reputation for illegal drugs that when people think of narcotics, they think of cocaine, LSD, and cannabis, which are stimulants, hallucinogens, and depressants respectively. Possession and usage of Oxycontin without a prescription from a licensed physician is illegal. Oxycontin is a Schedule II drug, known for its high potential for severe psychological and physical dependence. This is why it’s important to only take Oxycontin as prescribed by your doctor. Do not take more as it will likely induce faster tolerance and if the conditions are right, trigger addiction. If you plan to take less of the drug, consult your doctor first, so they can advise you on an alternative drug, or a tapering scheme to help you get off Oxycontin safely.

What are the Side Effects of Oxycontin?

Since Oxycontin creates a massive imbalance in the body’s own brain chemicals, side effects are to be expected. As you grow more accustomed to the drug, the less the side effects will be, but some of them remain the same, and in fact can get worse.
  • Nausea and Vomiting

This is mainly due to the effect of Opioids as they reach your brainstem. Your brainstem controls a majority of your involuntary actions and reflexes like your breathing, coughing and sneezing reflexes, gag reflexes, and heart rate. Oxycontin can trigger the nausea center of your brainstem and stimulate it. The effect is minimal and some users don't encounter it. For those who do, the feeling will wear off with continued use.
  • Drowsiness and Sleepiness

This is not a direct effect of the drug, rather, the side effect of a side effect. As Oxycontin reaches your brain, it triggers the release of dopamine. Known as the feel-good and reward chemical, dopamine as a relaxing effect. The best way to describe it is that it gives a false sense of well-being and releases tension. This relaxing effect can cause lethargy and a heavy, warm feeling.
  • Itchiness

Opiates trigger the release of not just Dopamine, but an inflammatory chemical known as Histamine. Abundant during allergic reactions, Histamine will cause flushing of the face, the chest, and itchy sensations all around your body. With Oxycontin, the effect is minimal and users have gotten used to it.
  • Headaches and Lightheadedness

Opioids like Oxycontin can affect the brain in a lot of ways. As the brain gets a release of dopamine, it promotes the flow of blood in the brain. This causes increased intracranial pressure, which may lead to headaches and lightheadedness. Generally, opioids are not good at solving headaches, and may, in fact, make them worse.
  • Slow and shallow breathing

As the opioids reach your brainstem, they disrupt the part of your brainstem that controls your breathing rhythm. It hinders the firing of neurons in that area, causing a depressing effect. With less neural activity in your breathing center, the fewer actions your diaphragm and lungs will do. This leads to shallower and slower breathing. Users state that even if you try to breath deep, you still get the sensation that you're not breathing enough.
  • Constipation

This side effect is caused by the opioids attaching to neurons on your intestinal lining. Since Opioids are inhibitory in nature, the same action happens on your intestines, causing them to slow down, or downright stop. This means digestion takes longer, and food stays in your gut longer for bacteria to process. Another effect is that it reduces the rate of which your stomach releases its digestive juices, all of which, ultimately leads to constipation. If you experience any other side-effects or worse side-effects than what is described, call your doctor immediately.

How Long Does Oxycontin Stay in Your System?

There are a lot of factors which can affect how long Oxycontin stays in your body. There is your metabolism, body size, amount of drug taken, and how much liquids you take in and excrete in the form of sweat and urine. One constant to consider is Oxycontin’s Half-life. A drug’s half-life is basically a measure when the drug’s effect would be most potent. A rough example is that Oxycontin lasts 12 hours in the body. After around 5.5 to 6 hours, it will reach it’s first half-life, meeting the maximum ratio of opioid to blood. As the hours go by, the concentration will become less and less, until it’s virtually gone by the 12th hour. Though the effect is gone, traces of the drug can still be detected inside your body. On average, if the person does nothing out of the normal, traces of Oxycontin will last for 3 days. Afterwards, only the miniscule amounts would be left, or none at all. If a person has a higher metabolism, larger muscle mass, and drinks frequently, complete detox from Oxycontin can be as short as 1 day, but obese people with slower metabolisms, can take up to 5 days before all traces of it is gone. It's also possible for traces of oxycontin to be present in your fat cells. Even if a week has passed and your bloodstream is devoid of the opioid, traces of it can still exist inside your fat cells, which will only be processed when you burn them through regular activity or exercise. https://www.rehabnear.me/ [vc_row][vc_column][vc_cta h2="Don't Wait Help Is Only A Phone Call Away" txt_align="center" shape="round" style="flat" color="vista-blue" el_width="sm" use_custom_fonts_h2="true" use_custom_fonts_h4="true"]Call Now 855-227-9535[/vc_cta][/vc_column][/vc_row]

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Thursday, 23 November 2017

The Whats and Hows of Oxycontin

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_cta h2="Help Is Only A Phone Call Away" txt_align="center" shape="round" style="flat" color="vista-blue" el_width="sm" use_custom_fonts_h2="true" use_custom_fonts_h4="true"]Call Now 855-227-9535[/vc_cta] Painkillers have been around since ancient times. It comes in various forms, from simple balms that mitigate the pain, to powerful narcotics that leave people feeling numb. One of the most recognized and abused painkillers is Opium, ever since it's discovery, people have used it time and time again. In the modern age, we managed to create purer forms, extracted more potent substances from Opium and used our technology to synthesize stronger substances. One such synthesized substance is Oxycodone, and its derivative, Oxycontin.

What is Oxycontin?

Oxytocin is a brand name for a certain formulation of Oxycodone. Oxycodone is an opioid synthesized from codeine, a component of opium. Codeine itself is a less potent drug than morphine, but by adding a few base chemicals, it’s synthesized into a much more potent version called Oxycodone. Oxycodone is commonly prescribed to people with mild to severe pain issues. They are given a certain amount, to be taken at certain fixed intervals. The drug should not be taken “as-needed” to avoid addiction. Taking Oxycodone for the first time may cause dizziness, nausea and stomach cramps, but as long as the dosage is followed, the effects will disappear over the next day or two. On average, Oxycodone's effects last for 4 hours, depending on the person's metabolism. Licensed physicians on average, prescribe 100 pills per month, to cover a patient's pain issues for each day of the month. However, in some cases, to avoid an overdose, they need a method of making the effect last longer, so they created Oxycontin Oxycontin is a brand name for an Oxycodone pill with a slow release function. The pill dissolves at a much slower rate than normal Oxycodone pills, allowing the body just enough Oxycodone to block the pain while lasting long enough to minimize the number of pills the patient has to take. This solves two potential problems. One is the risk of overdose, the other is that the patient doesn't have to bear with the symptoms suffered during the adjustment period. First timers may experience stomach aches and nausea due to the drug reacting too fast in their stomachs.

What Does Oxycontin Look Like?

In the world of pharmaceuticals, the saying "Nothing is original" applies not just in the formulation, but on how the tablets look like. There are cases where people are sent to the ICU because they mistook liver medication for cough medication and vice versa. There’s also the risk of obtaining fake medication. There may be many factors at play for you to get fake medicine, so it’s important to know what Oxycontin looks like. If you are not sure, it’s never a bad idea to politely challenge the pharmacy that provided the drug. Their color and size differ in shape. Even just feeling the tablets is enough for you to find out what dosage you're about to ingest. So it's important to know what to expect. Finally, Oxycontin only comes in pill form.  
  • 10 MG Oxycontin

  Also known as OC 10. Pill strength is 10 mg. The pill’s shape is round and convex, with a flat edge and has a powdery white color. What you need to feel for is the number “10” on one side, and the letters “OC” on the other side.  
  • 15 MG Oxycontin

  Also known as OC 15. Pill strength is 15 mg. The pill’s shape is round and convex, with a flat edge and has a silver or gray color, a shade much darker than OC 10. What you need to feel for is the number “15” on one side, and the letters “OC” on the other side.  
  • 20 MG Oxycontin

  Also known as OC 20. Pill strength is 10 mg. The pill’s shape is round and convex, with a flat edge and has a pinkish or peach color. What you need to feel for is the number “20” on one side, and the letters “OC” on the other side.  
  • 30 MG Oxycontin

  Also known as OC 30. Pill strength is 10 mg. The pill’s shape is round and convex, with a flat edge and has a light brown or copper brown. What you need to feel for is the number “10” on one side, and the letters “OC” on the other side.  
  • 40 MG Oxycontin

  Also known as OC 40. Pill strength is 40 mg. The pill’s shape is round and convex, with a flat edge and has a yellow or golden yellow color. What you need to feel for is the number “40” on one side, and the letters “OC” on the other side.  
  • 60 MG Oxycontin

  Also known as OC 60. Pill strength is 10 mg. The pill’s shape is round and convex, with a flat edge and has a bright red or blood red color What you need to feel for is the number “60” on one side, and the letters “OC” on the other side.  
  • 80 MG Oxycontin

  Also known as OC 80. Pill strength is 80 mg. The pill’s shape is round and convex, with a flat edge and has a green to moss green color. What you need to feel for is the number “80” on one side, and the letters “OC” on the other side.  
  • 160 MG Oxycontin

  Also known as OC 160. Pill strength is 10 mg. The pill's shape is oval and convex, with a flat edge and has a deep blue or crayon blue color. What you need to feel for is the number "10" on one side, and the letters "OC" on the other side.

What Does Oxycontin Do?

As soon as you pop the pill into your mouth and swallow, the whole process starts. Your stomach acids will slowly dissolve through the protective layer that covers the pill. In about ten to fifteen minutes, the first layer gives in and exposes the structure that contains Oxycodone. Soon enough some of the already digested materials go into the small intestines to be absorbed. At this point, you'll feel the initial reactions, unfortunately, not that of painkilling. For first-timers, the stomach may become more acidic in reaction to the oxycodone. This is when the person will start feeling nauseous, and in some cases, vomit. When the substance is in the small intestines, it gets absorbed by it and is directly passed into the bloodstream. There, it goes all over the body, until eventually some of it reaches the blood-brain barrier. At this instant, the drug is already taking its effects, as the substance reaches the nerves. Neurons with opioid receptors react as the opioids bind to the receptor and react by shutting down receptors responsible for transmitting pain-related neurotransmitters. When it goes through the blood-brain barrier, it lands on the brain and the more vivid effect of the drug starts to take place. This occurs around 20 to 30 minutes after ingesting the pill. The first that gets affected is your Limbic System. This is the part of the brain that oversees emotions, especially the basic ones that function as a reaction to your environment. Those are happiness, anger, sadness, and fear. When the substance reaches this area, the neurons with dopamine receptors, (responsible for making you feel happy and satisfied) are stimulated or excited. This leads to the sensation of euphoria and warmth, akin to having the "warm fuzzies," just dialed up several notches. Next, the brainstem is affected. This is responsible for a majority of your involuntary actions, such as breathing, heart rate, coughing, sneezing and so on. The opioids specifically affect the receptors that affect your breathing rhythm and depresses it. This is why most opioids make user's breaths slower and shallower, and the main reason why people with lung issues should not take opioids. Finally, the last affected party is the spinal cord. This long line of nerves is responsible for transmitting back pain. The opioids block the receptors that cause the neurons to transmit pain, which is why they are extremely effective analgesics, able to handle a great majority of pain-inducing conditions. This, however, does not cure the source of the pain, and if the person is suffering from nerve conditions in the spine, the opioids may not work properly or have adverse effects. When you take Opioids repeatedly, two things will eventually happen to your body. First, the brain has a certain rule that if a part of it is not being used, the brain will shut the area down, or rewire the neurons to work on something else. An example is a blind person having an incredibly acute hearing and touch. The brain shut the optic area of the brain down, allocating most of the processing power to hearing and touch. With this said, when you take opioids, your body doesn’t create endorphins (your own bodily opioid) anymore. This is because the brain knows that you have too much, and in order to keep your body in balance, it releases enzymes and proteins to destroy the excess opioids and stops production of more until normal levels are reached. Now comes the deadly loop. You take in opioids in a constant manner, the brain stops the creation of endorphins. Before it can flush the rest out and start it back up, you take another pill. This puts the body back in an imbalanced state and the brain keeps the endorphin source shut down. Do this long enough, and the brain will shut it down permanently because it doesn't need it anymore. When you finally stop taking the medication, your body doesn’t turn it back on anymore, and you're left with a brain that doesn’t create endorphins. This horrible condition means you can’t feel pleasure, except by taking the drug. Thankfully, doctors are very aware of this and only let you take a certain dosage, enough to block the pain but not enough to cause this condition. Another, more horrible effect than not feeling pleasure, is a condition called Hyperalgesia. You become hypersensitive to pain. Tasks that don’t cause pain, or causes extremely tolerable pain, (like a good hourly jog) will start to feel explicitly painful.   This is the reason why a lot of addicts who are either beginning their recovery or lost their supply, are extremely miserable without the medication. They feel little to no joy, and a lot of things they do is painful. Which is why strictly following the prescribed dosage is extremely important. When taking your oxycontin, make sure you only take it during the times your doctor tells you, (ie: one right after you wake up and one before you sleep), never chew or split the tablet and only swallow it whole, and don’t just suddenly stop medication without consulting your doctor first. https://www.rehabnear.me/ [vc_row][vc_column][vc_cta h2="Don't Wait Help Is Only A Phone Call Away" txt_align="center" shape="round" style="flat" color="vista-blue" el_width="sm" use_custom_fonts_h2="true" use_custom_fonts_h4="true"]Call Now 855-227-9535[/vc_cta][/vc_column][/vc_row]

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The Different Kinds of Opioids

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_cta h2="Help Is Only A Phone Call Away" txt_align="center" shape="round" style="flat" color="vista-blue" el_width="sm" use_custom_fonts_h2="true" use_custom_fonts_h4="true"]Call Now 855-227-9535[/vc_cta] Opium is used to treat pain during ancient times, as far back as 300 BC. Its effects are quite potent that it's been passed down from generation to generation, civilization to civilization. Eventually, during China's ancient years, it was first used to facilitate surgery. Opium’s utility was further researched until we were able to extract purer forms out of it, with potency more than ten times powerful than the original. We refined it further, creating products more than fifty times more powerful than what we extracted. What is this wonder drug and how does it affect our body?

What are the Effects of Opioids?

Opioids are made to mimic the effects of Morphine. Morphine affects your body by attaching to neurons in your nerves and brain, These neurons receive the opioid and act accordingly, who primary effect is to block pain by slowing the neural activity in your spine and blocked neurotransmitters responsible for pain. The effect is strong enough that it can completely block pain even from heavy injuries. Its secondary effect is that of a relaxant or a depressant. Taking painkilling opioids will cause the release of dopamine, the brain chemical responsible for feelings of satisfaction and reward. Dopamines flood your brain, giving you an intense version of the "warm fuzzies" and an unequaled euphoria. This perhaps its most dangerous effect, as it's one of the reasons why Opioids are highly addictive. It has a few other side effects that the realms of medicine have taken advantage of. Opioids have a cough suppressing effect, which is why traces of it was present in previous formulations of cough syrup. Opioids also suppress diarrhea, due to the substance slowing or halting the movements of your intestines. One other effect is to slow your breathing down. This is a less utilized side-effect, which can cause users to suffocate i9f they overdose on the drug.

What is an Opioid?

Opioids are a group of drugs that mimic the effect of morphine. Their primary use is to relieve pain and as a sedative. The use of opioid must only be under the prescription of a licensed medical practitioner and in the military as administered by paramedics. Any other use of this product outside of these conditions is illegal. Opioids come from Opium, which is naturally created by a certain breed of poppy plant. To harvest Opium, farmers find an unripe seed pod and makes a small cut on it. A milky resin slowly oozes out and farmers collect it. This resin is Opium, and is dried and packed, to be sent to pharmaceutical companies in the production of medicinal opiates and opioids.

What are the Examples of Opioids

They come in many shapes and formulations. Some of them are catered for outpatient use, in the form of pills and capsules. Others are meant to be used for quick administration, such as suspensions, syrups, and suppositories. Recently, they made some in patch form, allowing quick application with slower administration. There are the common types of Opioids. As research progresses, more and more types will be made.
  • Hydrocodone

One of the most common opioids prescribed to the people of the United States. Hydrocodone rarely comes in its pure form and is usually formulated with other additives like anti-inflammatories, cough suppressants, expectorants and other pain relievers like paracetamol. Hydrocodone comes in pill form or syrup form and is meant to relieve moderate pain issues. These Include post-surgery recovery, injuries to the muscles and bone, spinal issues like slipped disc and pain caused by cancer.
  • Oxycodone

Very similar to Hydrocodone in terms of effects, except oxycodone does not have cough suppressing effects like Hydrocodone and other opiates. It’s also sold more around the world than the US. Like Hydrocodone, it comes in pill and liquid form and is also commonly paired with symptom-treating drugs. Both Hydrocodone and Oxycodone are the most abused opioids in the world, due to their accessibility. This is why the monitoring of the product's distribution is strictly enforced. Both Hydrocodone and Oxycodone are synthesized from a component of Codeine. Their effects are a little less than Morphine but more potent than Codeine.
  • Fentanyl

Known to be fifty to one hundred times more powerful than Morphine, but with a significantly short half-life, meaning the drug's effect won't last as long. Fentanyl only comes in liquid form, to be administered intravenously. Though Hydrocodone and Oxycodone are more abused, Fentanyl also found it's way on the black market. It's often sold in liquid pill form and consumable form, such lollipop or candy form, to maximize the potent, but short lasting effect. In the medical world, recent advances allowed the creation of fentanyl in patch form. It’s currently seeing use in the military and used by paramedics. The patch allows a duration as long as 48 hours, depending on the concentration.
  • Methadone

Used for treatment of people addicted to Heroin, Morphine and any other opiate/opioid. This drug has nearly no effect on the body, apart from a slightly warm, fuzzy feeling. It's used to help Opiate addicts minimize their withdrawal symptoms, by making the body believe that it has its dose of opiates, without the addictive high. The drug is slowly tapered off because even Methadone can cause withdrawals. It's being used in many rehabilitation centers as a safe way to quit the habit.

What are Endogenous Opioids?

The word Endogenous is a combination of ‘Endo' which means internal, or from within; ‘Gen' which means create, something that creates, or created from; and ‘ous' which means possessing or full of. Anything endogenous means it’s created in abundance from the inside. So, are Endogenous Opioids, substances that came from inside our bodies? The answer is yes. Our bodies create chemicals that control our behavior called neurotransmitters. They are what makes our muscles move, our organs to functions, and what makes us feel good and bad. If you feel the high from a too morning run, that’s your neurotransmitters rewarding you for making yourself a bit healthier. If you saw something so sad like a guy who just threw a bunch of roses and a teddy bear to the trash, that’s still your neurotransmitters reacting, reminding you not to get broken hearted and rejected. Our brains also create opioids, so we can feel good about ourselves. The highest pleasure we can get naturally is through an orgasm, and that signals the brain to release a spike of something called “Endorphins.” Endorphin is short for “Endogenous Morphine.” Our body naturally synthesizes morphine that helps us calm down when we are excited or angry. It’s also responsible for reducing pain and increasing our pain tolerance. This is why opium affects us. The substances in opioids mimic that of endorphins. Though they are not structurally the same, the brain recognizes them as one and the same.

What is the Difference Between an Opiate and an Opioid?

The difference between them is a matter of how they are created. They both come from Opium, which is on its own, an Opiate (since it's derived from the base plant, the poppy) Opiates are substances that are extracted from Opium. The word itself has the "ate" suffix, which has many definitions, but among them is the chemical definition which is "derived from," or "taken from" such as carbonates, hydrates and so on. The first opiate is Morphine, an alkaloid extracted from Opium. It’s the primary substance in opium that provides the painkilling effects along with the euphoria. Another example is Codeine, a less potent but safer alkaloid. As for Opioids, the suffix ‘oid' means "Resembles, but not perfect," such as "Humanoid" which means it looks human and "Arachnoid" which means it resembles spiders (or something with a lot of legs) Opioids are synthesized from the lesser chemicals inside Opium. One such substance is Thebane, then using the basic structure of this substance, they added a few other substances, turning it into products like Hydrocodone and Oxycodone. In terms of effects, with a few exceptions, Opiates and Opioids have the same painkilling effect in the body. The only thing that makes them different is the formulations. https://www.rehabnear.me/ [vc_row][vc_column][vc_cta h2="Don't Wait Help Is Only A Phone Call Away" txt_align="center" shape="round" style="flat" color="vista-blue" el_width="sm" use_custom_fonts_h2="true" use_custom_fonts_h4="true"]Call Now 855-227-9535[/vc_cta][/vc_column][/vc_row]

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Wednesday, 22 November 2017

The Different Kinds of Opioids and Psychoactive Drugs

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_cta h2="Help Is Only A Phone Call Away" txt_align="center" shape="round" style="flat" color="vista-blue" el_width="sm" use_custom_fonts_h2="true" use_custom_fonts_h4="true"]Call Now 855-227-9535[/vc_cta] Opioids are one of the most effective painkillers known in the medicinal world. They contain substances that act like neurotransmitters, which block signals responsible for pain. It does not cure the pain, however, merely keeps the brain from receiving pain signals. It also gives the user a feeling of euphoria, or a good state of well-being, making the drug highly addictive. How do they compare to most psychoactive drugs?

Is There a Difference Between Opiates and Opioids?

Yes. There is a difference between these two families of drugs. What's the same though, is that they both came from the sap or resin of the poppy plant. The unripe seed pod contains a certain substance that when collected and dried, is called Opium. Both Opiates and Opioids are manufactured from this base compound, and what makes them different is how they are made.  
  • Opiates

  The word itself means “extracted from opium”, with the chemical suffix “ate” meaning “extracted from.” Opiates are substances that are extracted from the base substance and further purified. The first substance to be extracted is the opium alkaloid called “Morphine,” which sees standard use in most pain treatments, especially with in-patient treatments. Other compounds extracted from base opium are Codeine and Thebaine. Along with morphine, these are the three compounds that are also called “natural opiates”  
  • Opioids

  The suffix “oid” means “resembles” which implies that it’s not a perfect copy in one way or another. Opioids are just like that. They are made to resemble opiates to opium, but structurally speaking, they are different. How they are made is also different. There are two types of Opioids: Semi-synthetic and Man-made (fully synthetic) The semi-synthetic variety is those made by adding chemicals to a base alkaloid, such as Codeine or Thebaine. Hydromorphone, Hydrocodone, and Oxycodone are examples of Opioids synthesized from the alkaloids of Opium. The man-made opioids are made from base chemicals, combined through a process that turns them into substances that closely resemble opioids. Examples of these opioids are Fentanyl, Pethidine, levorphanol, Methadone, Tramadol, and dextropropoxyphene

What is the Connection Between Opioid and Psychotropic Drugs?

Back in the days, when people suffer from psychological issues such as depression, mania, or schizophrenia, the only way to treat them is placing them in psychotherapy, where their issues are resolved by behavioral adjustments. Progress in Neurology further strengthened the bridges between psychology and physiology and brought the creation of psychotropic drugs such as antidepressants and stimulants made to influence behavior. The term psychotropic is the combination of "psycho" which means mind or mental state and "tropic" a suffix that means "tendency to have an influence on, be influenced by, or deviate from normal," all of which apply. They are similar to psychoactive drugs and psychodynamic drugs, and often, some drugs are defined by all three classifications. About half of the opioids prescribed by doctors all around the world are actually for patients with mental conditions such as severe depression and anxiety disorders. The euphoric effect counteracts depression and the succeeding depressant effect helps balance out anxiety issues, Overall, the opioids override the user’s mental state, temporarily treating their conditions. This also creates ample opportunities for abuse. The drivers for abuse are often a constant stressor, like their mental conditions, and a constant supply such as what doctors will readily prescribe. In recent trends, doctors are more likely to prescribe opioids to patients with mental conditions. If these patients take the doses unsupervised, the risk of them taking more than necessary increases dramatically. The risk increases further for patients who have a pain condition, and depression or anxiety at the same time.

What is the Difference Between Opioids and Narcotics

Whenever we think of illegal drugs, more often than not, we think of narcotics. However, the word is often associated with other drugs like cocaine and LSD. Narcotics are another word for painkillers, but it does not include the likes of Ibuprofen and Paracetamol, as they are classified as “non-steroidal anti-inflammatory analgesics” There are two popular descriptions for Narcotics. The original source of the word came from the Latin equivalent of "to make numb" which directly describes the painkilling abilities of this drug. However, the term Narcotic is also associated with any drug that causes changes in behavior. This is also true in opiates and opioids such as Heroin and Fentanyl, but it also encompasses other drugs like Ecstasy, LSD, and Cocaine which causes a significant change in behavior. In legal context, the term narcotics, almost always has negative connotations, especially in front of a jury. If a prosecutor states that the accused possessed narcotics, the reception always gravitates to the accused being an addict. In comparison, if they said that the accused is in possession of painkillers, the reception is often more positive. Technically speaking, both statements are true. As for Opioids, there's no difference between them. An opioid is a type of narcotic, defined as both a painkiller and a behavior-altering drug.

What Medications Contain Opioids

Not all painkillers are opioids, and not all opioids are painkillers. They are classified by their chemical structure, whether it be synthesized from opium or naturally extracted. The formulations vary depending on the symptoms it’s supposed to treat. The following are the known kinds of opioids currently seeing use in the medical world.
  • Hydromorphone

Also known as Dihydromorphinone, this opioid is synthesized from morphine. It’s known to be at least three times more potent than morphine. Hydromorphone was created to fill the need of people suffering from severe chronic pain that morphine cannot completely solve.   In terms of its addictiveness and side effects, they are about the same as Morphine gram for gram. Anyone who has stressors and drivers for addiction, or has chronic pain are very susceptible to dependence, and eventually addiction. However, since the painkilling potency is the only effect magnified, the euphoric effect is arguably less considering the low dosage required. This, however, is what's written on paper, but the subjective opinion varies.
  • Hydrocodone and Oxycodone

Apart from their chemical composition, these two drugs are nearly identical when it comes to effect and usage. Both of them are synthesized from Codeine, made to be stronger than it, gram for gram. They are both sold in their pure forms, but they are both commonly seen mixed in with anti-anxiety, anti-inflammatory, and antipyretic medicine. Both of them affect the central nervous system, halts transmission of pain signals and produces a euphoric effect. Both are classified as Schedule 2 drugs, meaning possession without a proper prescription can be punished by the law. Their formulations are also made to be taken at certain intervals, not to be taken “as needed.” Both drugs are used to treat moderate to severe pain, especially effective with people suffering from chronic pain, as both are made with slow release capsules. Both have an equal opportunity to become addictive, so following the doctor’s dosage instruction is extremely important. As for the side-effects, both are the same. They cause shallower breathing, dry mouth, itching, dizziness, lethargy and rare occasions of vomiting and nausea. What’s different about them is that oxycodone has no effect on cough suppression. Hydrocodone is also prescribed more in the United States, compared to Oxycodone, which sees more action outside of the country.
  • Tramadol

Technically still an opioid because the base substance was synthesized from Opium. Among all the opioid narcotics, Tramadol is considered the least potent in terms of painkilling but is nonaddictive due it's diminished effects. It's used to treat minor pain, such as sprains and tendon damage. Despite it having a diminished analgesic effect and little to no euphoric effect, it has some unwanted side effects such as nausea, headaches, itchiness, and insomnia.
  • Methadone

The only opioid that has even less potency than Tramadol, but the reason is that it’s not meant to be used as an analgesic. Methadone is created to help treat patients suffering from Opioid addiction such as Heroin and Morphine addiction. The drug still causes minor effects such as a slight euphoria, but its true purpose is to keep the body from experiencing withdrawal symptoms. Methadone is meant to be tapered off. Meaning a patient will start with an initial dose for a week or two, then take less of the drug after another week or two. This continues until the patient completely cuts off Methadone. This is done because even Methadone can cause withdrawal, so by tapering off, the patient minimizes both their withdrawal of the previously addicted drug and Methadone.
  • Loperamide

This drug was formulated to take full advantage of a side-effect. Opioids and Opiates alike can cause constipation, due to their effects in the intestines. Pharmaceutical companies recognized this and created a kind of opioid that cannot pass the blood-brain barrier, rendering the euphoric effects null. Loperamide works by affecting certain neurons in your digestive system. Your brain and your intestines have similar neurons that accept opioids and when they get affected, their activity slows down, almost to a halt. This in turn effectively stops or controls diarrhea and conditions with loss of bowel movement. https://www.rehabnear.me/ [vc_row][vc_column][vc_cta h2="Don't Wait Help Is Only A Phone Call Away" txt_align="center" shape="round" style="flat" color="vista-blue" el_width="sm" use_custom_fonts_h2="true" use_custom_fonts_h4="true"]Call Now 855-227-9535[/vc_cta][/vc_column][/vc_row]

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Tuesday, 21 November 2017

How Opioids Cause Respiratory Depression

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_cta h2="Help Is Only A Phone Call Away" txt_align="center" shape="round" style="flat" color="vista-blue" el_width="sm" use_custom_fonts_h2="true" use_custom_fonts_h4="true"]Call Now 855-227-9535[/vc_cta] Opioids are substances synthesized from Opium, the resin of the seedpod of a certain poppy plant. Its main effect is to block receptors responsible for pain, making it one of the most powerful analgesics in the medical world. It has been used medicinally since ancient times and presently, we found ways to take advantage of its other effects. Opioids and Opiates cause three particular side effects: Cough suppression, Diarrhea suppression, and Respiratory Depression. In this article, we’ll explain how Opioids cause respiratory depression. When you take opioids, either orally or intravenously, it goes all around our body through the bloodstream. To give you an idea how fast, it takes less than twenty seconds for a particle in your toe, to reach your head. As soon as the opioids hit your bloodstream, it's scattered all over your body, affecting your nerves. When it finally reaches your brain, it goes through the toughest security in your body, the blood-brain barrier. Neurotransmitters freely pass through this barrier of compact cells, so particles that look like neurotransmitters will pass through just as easily. When the opioids land inside your brain, then you'll feel the brunt of the effects. As the drugs affect brain and spine, it activates certain neurons that fire dopamine, causing you to feel euphoric. Some of those activated neurons are your "pre-Bötzinger complex", a group of neurons located in your pons, which is a part of your brain stem. These neurons regulate your breathing and when affected, can affect the respiration rhythm. Opioids cause a depressive effect on these neurons and slow neural firing. The lungs receive delayed messages from it, and effectively slows your breathing down. It also controls how "deep" your inhales are and with the area depressed, it could hinder the body from intaking more oxygen to compensate for the slowed breathing. Combined with the euphoric effect, slowed breathing will lead to lethargy and utter relaxation, making it easy to fall asleep. In the case of an overdose, falling asleep may just save your life due to the lesser oxygen requirement during this state. This is the side effect that becomes the dosage "ceiling" of Opioids. You won't die immediately from all the other effects. Such effects include vomiting, severely impaired judgment, and severe lethargy, likely leading to a coma. What will kill you is your oxygen intake. There are cases where people who overdose breath fewer than ten per minute. This causes the body to lose life-giving oxygen, slowing your heart to a stop, then causes brain damage and eventually death. In case of overdose, one such drug that can counter the respiratory depression is Naloxone. This drug is commonly used as it is an Opioid Receptor Antagonist, basically stopping the neurons from firing due to the opioid. The effects are quick, as the drug only has a half-life of thirty minutes. However, administration of the drug should be done ASAP, as brain damage can occur as short as four minutes after a person stops breathing. https://www.rehabnear.me/ [vc_row][vc_column][vc_cta h2="Don't Wait Help Is Only A Phone Call Away" txt_align="center" shape="round" style="flat" color="vista-blue" el_width="sm" use_custom_fonts_h2="true" use_custom_fonts_h4="true"]Call Now 855-227-9535[/vc_cta][/vc_column][/vc_row]

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Monday, 20 November 2017

Opioids and How They Affect You

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Opioids, What are They?

Opioids are drugs that are manufactured often for medicinal purpose. Opioids include Opiates. Opiates are drugs extracted from the Opium plant. Opium was widely used for medicine during Ancient times. But opium had other unwanted effects that modern medicine is studying to control. Today, opioid drugs are used to treat various ailments. However, some abuse the drugs for other effects than its intended purpose. Opioid drugs, or opiates, that are commonly abused are morphine and heroin. Abusing opiates can have more damaging effects on the health.

What are the Different Types of Opiates?

Codeine

Codeine is fast acting and also stops its effects quickly. It’s a Schedule 3 drug which means that it has a moderate risk for abuse. Codeine is also the most affordable drug among its kind.

Hydrocodone

This drug is used to treat joint injuries and muscle infractions. Hydrocodone is a prescription drug that is sometimes mixed with other pain-relieving medications like ibuprofen. It’s a Schedule 3 drug which makes it have a low potential for addiction.

Morphine

Morphine is the most common opiate drug. It is also a common opiate that is abused by many. Due to its addictiveness, it is categorized as a Schedule 2 drug by the Drug Enforcement Agency. Under legal use, morphine is used by physicians to treat patients undergoing surgery or cancer treatments.

Oxycodone

This drug is prescribed for acute pain. They are classified as a Schedule 2 drug, which means that it has the potential for abuse. Due to its classification, it must be obtained per prescription.

Heroin

Heroin is one of the most abused drugs in the world. Currently, it is classified as a Schedule 1 drug by the Drug Enforcement Agency. Heroin’s effects are strong but don't last long. This is the reason why people would tend to abuse it and become dependent on it. With its powerful effects, it also has strong withdrawal symptoms.

How do Opiates Work?

Opiates work by being able to pass through the “blood-brain-barrier.” This barrier is what protects the brain from other chemicals or toxins. Whatever the body believes would be bad for the brain would not be able to directly affect it. Opiates, however, have a way to pass through. This is because the compounds of opiates mimic those of neurotransmitters. Neurotransmitters are the natural chemicals that the body creates to stimulate the brain. Neurotransmitters trigger emotions, adrenaline, pain, hunger, and many others. Because opiates mimic neurotransmitter, the body thinks it is one, therefore lets it be absorbed by the brain.

What do Opioids Treat?

Opioids have many effects, but its intended purpose if for medicinal treatments. Here is the list of medicinal effects that opioids have:

Pain Relief

Opioids were used to treat pain for many generations. Today, morphine and fentanyl are used to treat pain instantly. Both formulas are quick to treat pain and even reduce anxiety. These kinds of opioids are preferred for treating muscle pain and first-aid treatments for patients with injuries. Other kinds of opioids, such as codeine and hydrocodone have a slower release than morphine and fentanyl. These drugs are used for chronic pain due to major illnesses or to give relief for patients undergoing serious and painful treatments. Patients recovering from major surgeries or undergoing chemotherapy can be treated with these drugs under their physician’s supervision.

Sedation

Along with its pain-relieving effect, opioids are proven to have a calming effect. This effect is useful in treating chronic anxiety and sleeping disorders. Opioids lessen neural activity, which causes the calming effect. Unlike other sedatives, opioids won’t cause unconsciousness. Instead, it promotes sleep by calming our brain by releasing dopamine, a chemical in the body that produces pleasure and a sense of well-being.

Relief from Cough

Cough relief is a side effect of opioids. Though many formulations don’t have cough relief as their intended effect, they are still effective. Codeine, a form of opioid, is included in many early formulations of cough syrups. However, people have abused this formulation and extracted the opioid from simple cough syrups. This had researchers develop a new ingredient to suppress a cough. This new ingredient is called Dextromethorphan. Unlike codeine, dextromethorphan doesn’t affect the brain, thus it doesn’t cause any addictive psychoactive effects.

Treatment for Diarrhea

Opioids can reduce activity in the intestine and bowels. This would cause constipation. On a different perspective, opioids can also reduce diarrhea. With this fact, researchers developed what is now the most common anti-motility drug in the market, Loperamide. Loperamide had been formulated to prevent the euphoric effects of opioids. This would prevent addiction to the drug.

Treatment for Addiction

Opioids are addictive. Treating addiction has many inconvenient side effects including withdrawal symptoms. However, some opioids are formulated to help mitigate these symptoms. An example is a methadone. Methadone is formulated to be similar to morphine, but with significantly less addictive psychoactive effects. Methadone is meant to trick the brain into thinking that it has taken morphine, thus reducing any withdrawal effects. By reducing the withdrawal effects of avoiding the drug, recovering from drug addiction will be more bearable and comfortable. By tapering off the drugs with methadone, it can lead to a safer recovery.

What are the Side Effects of Opioids?

Like many medication drugs, opioids have side effects that are often unintended. While the side effects that were mentioned above can be used for treating other illnesses, other effects can affect our health negatively. Here are some of the side effects of opioids:

Drowsiness

Opioids have a calming effect. It releases dopamine to calm the nerves while it reduces neurological activity. While this can be useful to treat anxiety and sleep disorders, in any other cases, this would be highly inconvenient. In extreme cases or opiate abuse, opiates can cause chronic fatigue or lethargy.

Addiction

A common side effect of opioids is that it’s highly addictive. The reason it’s addictive is due to its effects on the brain. Opioids relieve us from pain and give us a euphoric and pleasurable sensation. Our brain remembers what gives us pain and what gives us pleasure. It remembers to avoid what brings pain but it would want to repeat what brings pleasure. This is what makes opioids addictive. Its addictive effect may be considered its riskiest effect. Being addicted to opioids can lead to opiate abuse. Opiate abuse can lead to further and even more dangerous health conditions. Opioid addiction opens the possibility for more health concerns.

Behavioral Effects

Opiate abuse can cause behavioral changes such as anxiety and paranoia. Opioids affect the brain’s activity. Our moods and behavior are triggered by chemicals in the brain called neurotransmitters. Opioids replicate the effects of neurotransmitters, which forces the brain to produce less of them or stop producing them altogether. Its effects on the brain can change our behavior. It can cause mental conditions like anxiety, paranoia or depression. Addiction to opiates also warps the victim’s sense of right and wrong. This can affect their relationships with people around them.

Gastroparesis

Opioids cause our intestines and stomach to slow down. By slowing down their activity, opioids can help suppress diarrhea. But opiate abuse can cause gastroparesis, a disorder that causes delayed gastric emptying. This can stop food from moving from the stomach to the small intestine. This can lead to pain, bloating, heartburn, and weight loss.

Respiratory Depression

Opiates can cause respiratory depression. Respiratory depression is when our breathing is reduced to something that is more similar to sighing than breathing. With reduced breathing, it can cause the person to constantly feel tired.

Opiate Resistance

Like many drugs, using opiates too much can lead to resistance from its intended purpose. Opiates are pain relievers and taking too much would cause its pain-relieving effects to be null. During opiate addiction, its pain relieving and euphoric effects will diminish. This would convince the victim to increase the dosage to feel the same effect.

CNS Depressants

Opioids are known to directly affect the brain. The brain is the main part of the Central Nervous System or CNS. If abused, opiates can damage the central nervous system. Opiates are central nervous system depressants. This allows the drug to reduce functions such as pain sensations and even respiration. With the central nervous system controlling the majority of our body’s functions, opioids’ effect on our central nervous system can be dangerous. By dulling the central nervous system, it affects our organs such as our lungs, stomach, and intestines. This could also cause brain damage.

Cleaning Opiates from the Body

Taking opiates doesn’t necessarily cause addiction. If taken under the physician’s instructions, addiction can be prevented. But in case of addiction, it’s advisable to treat addiction as soon as possible. Addiction can be treated by rehabilitation or therapy. There are other remedies that can be done at the comforts of your own home. Detoxing from opiates can be done by simple methods. But before trying to do home remedies, it’s best to seek medical advice. Treating addiction can have withdrawal symptoms, which might affect your health and can be dangerous. https://www.rehabnear.me/ [vc_row][vc_column][vc_cta h2="Don't Wait Help Is Only A Phone Call Away" txt_align="center" shape="round" style="flat" color="vista-blue" el_width="sm" use_custom_fonts_h2="true" use_custom_fonts_h4="true"]Call Now 855-227-9535[/vc_cta][/vc_column][/vc_row]

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