Author: James Anderson

13 Examples of Narcotics: Opioids, Opiates, Other Drugs

The main reason opioids have a high addiction potential is because they not only relieve pain, but also create a sense of euphoria (intense happiness), which many people find pleasurable. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has also approved the use of some opioids to treat intense coughing and chronic diarrhea. Loperamide is an opioid healthcare providers use to treat diarrhea and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Opioids such as codeine and dextromethorphan are useful as cough suppressants. For example, if prescription opioids for cancer-related pain have improved your quality of life, your desire to continue your treatment program wouldn’t be considered a sign of OUD. Opioids, also called narcotics, are a class of drugs that work to relieve pain.

What are the differences between opioid analgesics?

Opioid overdoses can be nonfatal or they can result in death. People who have opioid use disorder are more likely to experience an overdose. Opioids are useful for treating acute pain through short-term use. However, when a prescription drug is used outside of the instructions or for chronic pain, the risk of developing opioid use disorder increases. But because of how they bind to opioid receptors, they offer some protection against overdose from other opioids while also minimizing withdrawal symptoms.

What are the dosage strengths of opioids?

What makes opioid medicines effective for treating pain also can make them dangerous. The severity of withdrawal symptoms varies from person to person and is based on how long you’ve been taking the opioid and the type of opioid. Extreme caution should be used if you’re considering breastfeeding (chestfeeding) while taking opiates. Opiates have the potential to cause life-threatening issues for your baby. They should be taken only under the direction and close supervision of your provider. Understanding the effects of different substances, using only one substance at a time, and staying hydrated can also reduce your risk of harm.

Tapering guidelines can vary depending on your specific health needs and situation. Your care team can offer more personalized guidance on the right plan for you. Some opioids come in both extended-release and immediate-release forms. This might include not using a substance while alone or having a trusted friend or loved one check in on you.

What’s known about opioids and overdose?

1. Seeking help sooner rather than later can make a big difference for your health and well-being.
2. Some people still use the term “narcotics” to refer to all illegal drugs, but this is now inaccurate in both medical and legal usage.
3. People who use opioids regularly soon develop tolerance to these effects.
4. Due to their high addiction potential, it’s essential to make sure you follow your healthcare provider’s instructions for taking the medication.
5. Opioids also attach to these same nerve receptors, often more effectively than endorphins do.
6. But if you’ve taken opioids for more than a few days, you’ll want to get professional support for tapering your dose, or reducing it gradually.

Make sure your doctor knows all of the other medicines and supplements you’re taking. Talk with your doctor about the pros and cons of using opioids for pain relief. Ask about taking a different type of pain medicine or using another method of pain control if you feel that you’re at higher risk of addiction. It’s very important to tell your healthcare provider which medications, supplements and/or other substances you’re taking before starting prescribed opioids. An opioid is a substance that can be derived from the poppy plant, be synthetic or be semi-synthetic, meaning the active ingredients are created chemically in a lab. Common opioids include morphine, oxycodone, Oxycontin®, hydrocodone, fentanyl and others.

What are opioids and why are they dangerous?

People who are physically dependent on opioids experience withdrawal symptoms when they stop taking the drug. These symptoms are often unpleasant, so they may be more likely to take more of the drug to stop the withdrawal symptoms. Once activated, opioid receptors initiate a cascade of chemical reactions that ultimately modulate the transmission of pain signals. Opioids also cause neurons that produce dopamine, the neurotransmitter that plays a role in how we feel pleasure, to fire more frequently. Narcan (naloxone) is a medication approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) that can reverse an opioid overdose.

Your body releases endorphins during painful and pleasurable experiences. They attach to your nerves’ opioid receptors, blocking the neurological “doorway” so other chemicals carrying pain or stress signals can’t get through. In a nutshell, your body uses endorphins to turn down its alarm system and give the all-clear signal. Also called opiates, natural opioids come from the seed pods of the poppy plant Papaver somniferum.

Chronic use or misuse of opioids can lead to psychological and physical dependence. However, opioids can become addictive because they not only dull pain, but also produce a sense of euphoria. This, combined with tolerance build (needing to increase doses to produce the same effect) can lead to opioid use disorder. Because of this, providers have modified their prescribing practices to reduce the length and strength of opioids to try to prevent addiction. Probably the most effective therapy for narcotics addiction involves the synthetic opiate methadone, which, though itself addictive, blocks cravings and provides no disruptive euphoric effects of its own. Examples of narcotic antagonists include naloxone, naltrexone, and nalorphine.

Different opioid analgesics have different potencies, based on how strongly they bind to the opioid receptor (for example, fentanyl is 80 to 100 times stronger than morphine). This means that the dosages for one opioid may be significantly different from another. Opioids work by binding to opioid receptors, which are part of the messenger system in our body that controls pain, and pleasurable and addictive behaviors.

Hydromorphone, often prescribed as Dilaudid, is used to relieve pain. People often take opioids for the feelings of euphoria and relaxation they can provide. There are a variety of different opioids, and some are taken more often than others. Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances. Here is how the CDC clarifies three terms often used to describe a person’s progressive dependence on opioids. According to the CDC and the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA), the correct term is now “opioids.” The term “narcotics,” used accurately, refers only to opioids.

Opioids (sometimes called narcotics) are a class of drugs healthcare providers prescribe to manage moderate to severe pain. They also sometimes prescribe opioids for chronic coughing and diarrhea. Opioids have high addiction potential, so it’s important to talk with your provider about their risks and benefits before taking them. Opioids (narcotic analgesics) are a class of medicines that are used to provide relief from moderate-to-severe acute or chronic pain. They may also be called opiates, opioid analgesics, or narcotics. An opioid analgesic is an opioid that can be prescribed by a doctor to relieve pain.

Legally, opioids are controlled substances classified from Schedule I to Schedule V depending on their medical usefulness and potential for dependence. Doctors can legally prescribe most, except for some Schedule I opioids, such as heroin. You can reduce your risk of dangerous side effects by following your doctor’s instructions carefully and taking your medicine as prescribed.