Addiction To Strong Pain Medicines And Their Side Effects

August 3, 2012 0 Comments

Fentanyl is a pain medication just like morphine. However this drug is much more potent than morphine. Its power can be a hundred times more than that of morphine. Like morphine, it is prescribed to treat constant pain or pain caused by surgery. This drug is generally prescribed to those who have developed tolerance to other powerful pain relievers. Fentanyl can be given orally or by injection.

Fentanyl has a high possibility of abuse and might lead to physical or psychological dependence. An individual’s tolerance to Fentanyl may build up fastly, and is generally recognized by the desire to use more and more Fentanyl to create the same level of painkilling effects. The rate of tolerance is different from person to person. Any divergence from the advised dose may result in dependency or addiction.

Fentanyl can result in alterations in the brain, because it directly affects the central nervous system (CNS). It therefore causes enhanced state of delight in a person, since its existence in the brain creates increased quantities of dopamine. Dopamine is a compound which regulates the experiences of happiness and controls emotional responses.

Signs of fentanyl abuse:

The most notable signs of a fentanyl abuse and addiction are psychological and physical dependence. Other signs may comprise a rise in medication-seeking behavior that could include tampering with prescription. Tolerance to strongly potent opioids can occur rapidly. Side effects of fentanyl addiction encompass drowsiness, unconsciousness, or a coma. Severe cases can lead to respiratory seizure.

People using Fentanyl should reduce their abuse little by little. Stopping all of a sudden can cause symptoms of withdrawal to occur easily. The physical and psychological discomfort of withdrawal is one of the chief causes why some patients defer seeking treatment for dependency.

Withdrawal symptoms comprise fever, runny nose, muscle pain, vomiting, fatigue, diarrhea, twitching, headache, sweating, and insomnia.

Avoidance of Fentanyl Dependency:

When dealing with severe or constant pain, the possibility of addiction should be discussed with the doctor. This is particularly important for those who have already gone through another addiction. Fentanyl addiction can take place rapidly for those who have suffered some earlier addiction.

If an individual decides that Fentanyl is suitable course of treatment, it is vital that dosing and warning information is complied with. Relying on any opiate-based drug for prolonged periods of time could result in addiction, dependence or tolerance.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *