The truth about prescription painkillers

June 27, 6:07 PMDetroit Women's Health ExaminerLaQuanda Randall

Previous Next

Comment Print Email RSS Subscribe

Subscribe

Get alerts when there is a new article from the Detroit Women's Health Examiner. Read Examiner.com's terms of use.

Email Address   Include other special offers from Examiner.com Terms of Use

photo by Rodrigo Senna via flickr

The vast majority of people in this country have taken some sort of painkiller during their lifetimes.  Whether it is an over-the-counter medication such as aspirin, acetaminophen (Tylenol), and Ibuprofen or a prescription from the doctor, one has to be extremely careful when taking medications.  Prescription painkillers are especially dangerous because of their threat of dependency.  A patient who uses the drugs outside of the doctor's recommendation is putting their life at risk. 

On Thursday, legendary musician and mega star Michael Jackson collapsed from an apparent heart attack at the age of 50.  He passed away that afternoon, leaving the world in a state of shock.  Now, stories of concern over Jackson's alleged prescription painkiller abuse have flooded the news stories.  While it will take weeks before toxicology reports can confirm or deny their role in his death, the painkillers and their ability to addict, are once again taking center stage.  With late stars such as Anna Nicole Smith and Heath Ledger also having the drugs play a role in their untimely deaths, it is important to know the truth about these drugs and how dangerous they can be. 

Here is a list of some of the more well known prescription painkillers that can also be highly addictive:

Codeine:

Codeine is an opiate.  It is used for mild to moderate pain and can also be used as a cough suppressant.  It also goes by the name Tylenol 3 and is one of the most used prescription painkillers worldwide.  Codeine can be addictive; although the prevalence of abuse is much less than other opiates.   Withdrawal from codeine addiction is milder than some of the other opiates.  Patients can gradually wean themselves from the drug with supervision from their doctor.  For more info on codeine addiction see this link www.addictionsearch.com/treatment_articles/article/codeine-addiction-effects-and-treatment_46.html

Hydrocodone:

Like codeine, hydrocodone is an opiate as well as a cough suppressant.  It is very effective in relieving mild to moderate pain.  In many instances, hydrocodone is combined with acetaminophen; the generic name for Tylenol.  When combined, the acetaminophen actually strengthens the effects of hydrocodone. Hydrocodone combined with acetaminophen is widely used and is often found in other drugs such as Vicodin, Lorcet, Zydone, and Norco.  When users of the drug take more than what is prescribed, addiction can happen quickly.  Patients addicted to hydrocodone should seek medical attention for detoxing.  For more info on this addiction check out this link: www.drug-addiction.com/hydrocodone_addiction.htm .

Vicodin:

As I mentioned before, Vicodin is actually hydrocodone + acetaminophen.  Many people often mistake it as a seperate drug, but Vicodin is basically a trademark name for this combination of painkillers.  Vicodin is, of course, highly addictive when taken outside of the doctor's guidelines.  Withdrawal is intense and addicts should be under medical attention when detoxing.  See this link for more info: vicodinaddictionfaq.com/

Oxycontin:

Oxycontin is a higly addictive narcotic prescribed for severe pain.  The drug is so potent and dependency is so prevalent, that it is frequently compared to the street drug Heroin.  The active ingredient or generic name is oxycodone.  Oxycontin contains a time release agent that makes the drug last for 12 hours.  It is often referred to as "oxy" and there is a high occurence of abuse.  Patients can become addicted to oxycontin quite quickly.  Doctors and pharmacists work together to monitor users of oxycontin and report people who try to obtain large quantities.  The drug has a high street value and illegal activity surrounding the painkiller has greatly increased.  Check out this link for more about oxycontin addiction: www.addictionsearch.com/treatment_articles/article/oxycontin-addiction-abuse-and-treatment_16.html

No one is immune to the addiction of prescription drugs.  However, women are twice as likely than men to become addicted to such painkillers.  In dealing with high stress from the economy, unemployment, our families, and our surroundings, Metro Detroit women must be careful when taking these drugs and the effects they can have on their lives.  If you ever feel that you are building a tolerance to a prescribed medication, talk with your doctor immediately.  Taking more than your prescribed dosage is the start of a problem that could cost you your life.

More helpful links on this topic:

www.prescriptiondrugaddiction.com/about.asp

www.opiates.com/

www.prescription-drug-abuse.org/