Pros And Cons Of Opioid Analgesics

The use of opioid-based prescription medications to treat non-terminal chronic pain can cause side effects from short term use, and is overly common and ineffective. Firstly, opioid usage can induce negative short-term effects. According to William A. Darity, Jr., short-term opioid usage causes negative effects such as “euphoria, drowsiness, and impaired motor and cognitive functioning” (“Drugs”). The short term effects of the opioids may cause the patient to isolate him or herself socially due to being self-conscious about his or her friends and peers seeing the individual in their current condition. Due to his or her fragile emotional state, however, if the patient isolates him or herself during a time in which he or she should have increased

Opioid analgesics are the widely prescribed medications for both non-cancer and cancer-related pain. Opioid dugs provide significant benefit for patients, when they used for their approved indications. However, opioids are also carries the risk of abuse, misuse and death. In 2009, more than 15,500 people died in the United States due to overdose of narcotic pain relievers. In order to combat the opioid misuse, abuse, and addiction, FDA has taken many steps to address this problem over the last few decades. The task force’s multi- pronged approach targets, drug development, opioid labeling, prescriber education, patient education, exploring innovative packaging and storage to prevent abuse, encouraging the development of products that treat abuse and overdose and role of other agencies.

Statistically it is the older portion of the population that is most likely to take opioids as a means of controlling pain. However, in most of these cases the opioids are meant for long term chronic pain. When it comes to assessing opioid use for acute pain, it is ideal to focus on the 20 through 50 year old age range where there is increased instances of acute pain. Opioids are most often in the form of a tablet and are taken orally (Richeimer,2015); however, this study is aimed at discovering the possible positive benefits of administering a Remifentanil opioid transdermally and how this process will affect the

Opioid analgesics are gain large attention when examining the dangers from increasing prescription rates for two reasons. First, the prescription opioid drug class experienced one of the largest

According to Hanson, Venturelli, and Fleckenstein (2015) opioids are described as the “nation’s fastest-growing drug problem” (p. 276) and are also known as narcotics. Opioids originated from the opium poppy and have been chemically altered throughout the years in order to create more potent drugs such as hydrocodone (e.g., Vicodin), oxycodone (e.g., OxyContin, Percocet), morphine (e.g., Kadian, Avinza), and codeine. Known for analgesic properties, opioids are seen to be the most commonly used drugs among clinicians. Although these narcotics are legally prescribed to patients, there are many, even adolescents, that not only abuse prescribed narcotics, but also abuse another form of opioid, heroin. In adolescence, the structures of the brain are not fully developed and are therefore more likely to acquire severe consequences for abusing opioids. There are many ways to use and administer narcotics, but misusing opioids may lead to signs and symptoms of drug abuse, annoying side effects, dependency, abuse, and in worse case situations, death.

Pain medications result in complicated side effects beyond addiction and tolerance which is Opioid-Induced Hyperalgesia (OIH). “There’s an unfortunate irony for people who rely on morphine, oxycodone, and other opioid painkillers: The drug that’s supposed to offer you relief can actually make you more sensitive to pain over time” (“Why Taking Morphine Makes Pain Worse”, 2016). This effect of the drug is known as hyperalgesia but in the presence of opioids; this is known as Opioid-induced hyperalgesia. Opioid is a well know drug originated from the opium poppy plant and it has been around for thousands of years for both recreational and medicinal purposes. The most active purpose for this drug is to relieve pain which is also known as a painkiller. There is a law stating that all contents must be labeled on all medicines containing opioid; “Congresswoman Annie Kuster (NH-02) welcomed today’s announcement by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) that it would begin requiring warnings for medications that contain opioids” (“FDA Policy to Require Labeling of Prescription Medications Containing Opioids”, 2016). This drug should not be taken without direct orders from a doctor nor should it be misused. Scientists have observed that the more an individual consumes, the less effective the drug becomes. This leads to a viscous cycle of people relying on higher doses. Opioid sets off a chain of signals in the spinal cord that heightens pain rather than reducing it, even after the

Two things that all living people can not avoid is sickness and pain. Along with you and I, an additional 1.5 billion people worldwide and 116 million Americans suffer from pain and are usually prescribed opioid pain relievers to ease their troubles. (Rough, Lisa) With more states and people becoming more aware of ,medical marijuana, a controversial drug that has the potential to sooth the millions of people who suffer from chronic pains. However due to the controversy of prescribing people a drug that is commonly abused, many people tend to either shy away or chastise it, forgetting the problems that come with opioids. With both drugs having their own sets of pros and cons it is necessary to compare and contrast both to find which one is better for the good of everyone.

As the number of patients who have pain increased in order to decrease the pain and intensity of pain. Thus, the use of opioid became a class of choice to relieve the pain. (REARDON, ANGER & SZUMITA, 2015.). abuse of pain medications and opioid became a public health concern in the U.S. according to 2007 data from National survey on drug use and health that 5.2 million abuse opioid. The sources of getting the medication were friends or repeatable opioid prescription. Opioid dependent patients with pain have many complications e.g. high morbidity, morbidity, family issues and they do

Opioid analgesics are the most potent in the alleviation of pain. In this class, Fentanyl is the strongest. Morphine is the gold standard of opioid analgesics, according to Rxlist. The other medications that fall under opioids are either more or less potent in comparison to morphine.

“Prescribed opioids, Heroin, and Fentanyl have killed more than 42,000 people in 2016, according the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 40 percent of the 42,000 deaths were brought on from prescribed opioids.” (“Golgowski”) The epidemic of opioids affects multiple communities everywhere, and the company Purdue Pharma, has seen the effects of the drug they produce. Although there are pros and cons to this drug, the bad outweighs the good. While describing the effect of Oxycodone of the good and the bad, and how it is used.

As of 2012, overdose deaths involving prescription painkiller abuse, have increased to almost 17,000 deaths a year in the United States (CLAAD.org). A pain killer is a drug or medicine for relieving pain. It is estimated that 2.1 million people in the United States abuse painkillers. This is a growing problem in the United States, but who’s fault is it really? Prescription painkiller abuse is very dangerous and is the fault of the consumer and the physician.

I totally agree with your point on been open about the risks of taking opioids with their patients. And, it would be very effective to have someone to monitor the drug use for patient. I thought to add some more suggestions to use opioids like when about to use opioids it is very crucial for the doctor to know what other medications and supplements they have been using. Another one would be checking the packaging of the filled prescription to make sure the correct one has been provided. And, reading the following the label directions. I wonder what would be a difference on impact and efficiency if one uses medical marijuana as an alternative. Overall, great opinion and thoughts for the

In the United States alone it has been estimated that nearly 50 million people suffer from chronic pain. However, chronic pain continues to be undermanaged with as many as 41% of patients reporting uncontrolled pain 1. Poor pain management outcomes are due in large part to a lack of a pharmacological intervention that is both efficacious for moderate-to-severe chronic pain and widely tolerable. Currently, the most efficacious treatment for moderate-to-severe chronic pain is the use of opioid agonists. Despite the efficacy of opioid therapy, in one survey 68% of physicians cited concerns about adverse events as a barrier to prescription of opioids for the maintenance of chronic pain1. Systemically delivered opioid agonists

Pain medications are drugs that are utilized to relieve the uneasiness associated with injury, disease, or surgery. There are different types of medications used to relieve pain because of the complexity of the pain process. These various kinds of medications for relieving pain work through varying psychological mechanisms. Generally, pain medications are classified into two major categories i.e. prescription and non-prescription drugs. Prescription drugs are extensive medications against pain and include more powerful drugs than the over-the-counter medications. These drugs are virtually used for any kind of pain situation though they are usually reserved for severe pain i.e. acute or chronic pain. In contrast, non-prescription drugs consists various mild anti-inflammatory medications that are mainly used for short-term pain and minor strains. Therefore, non-prescription drugs are used for common pains and aches and lower fever (Morelli & Vogin, n.d.). Some of the most common types of drugs used to relieve pain include nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, opioids, muscle relaxants, corticosteroids, antidepressants, anti-anxiety drugs, acetaminophen, and anticonvulsant drugs.

This painkiller, often used to treat coughs and colds, has many side effects, including drowsiness, severe itchiness, delayed mental processes (slower reactions), vomiting, shortness of breath, etc. If overused for recreational purposes, this drug creates a severe psychological and physical dependence on the use of this drug. Overuse can also cause fainting, confusion, wheezing, fever, and has the potential to kill. Codeine itself is known to be a very mild opiate, therefore its benefits do not outweigh the negatives it may cause. The human body’s tolerance to codeine has been shown to increase quickly and easily, requiring a larger dose