Opiates are drugs derived from the poppy plant that are used for treating pain. They include commonly prescribed drugs such as hydrocodone, morphine, and oxycodone. The reason opiates work well against pain is because they produce a sense of wellbeing or euphoria. However, when they are used to treat pain too often, users begin to develop a tolerance, meaning that it takes more and more to achieve the same effect. This is how people develop an addiction to opiate drugs.
Opiate Addiction Symptoms
People who have increased their use of opiates over time, take more than they are prescribed, and experience withdrawal symptoms when they stop using are most likely addicted to this drug. Being addicted to opiates can be very dangerous, because it is easy to overdose on accident because users tend to take too much while trying to get a "higher" high. Overdose can cause death from cardiac or respiratory address.
Opiate Withdrawal
If someone is addicted to opiates and suddenly stops, his or her body will start to go through withdrawal, which can be very uncomfortable. Fortunately, unlike some drugs, opiate withdrawal is not dangerous. The symptoms of opiate withdrawal usually include:
- Low energy
- Insomnia
- Tear production
- Runny nose
- Irritability/agitation
- Hot and/or cold sweats
- Yawning
- Muscle aches and pains
- Anxiety
- Abdominal Cramping
- Nausea, vomiting, and/or diarrhea
These symptoms can last from one week up to a month. Some symptoms, such as anxiety and insomnia, can last for a few months for someone who was regularly taking high doses of opiates.
Opiate Addiction Treatments
There are several medications that can be used to help reduce opiate withdrawal symptoms. The most common are:
- Suboxone
This medication is a combination of buprenorphine and naloxone, and it is specifically made and used for withdrawing and detoxing from opiates. The way this drug works is that buprenorphine is a mild opiate so it will help with the withdrawal symptoms, but naloxone blocks the high that comes with it, so it is designed to gradually stop your addiction. There are, however, some potential side effects and dangers of Suboxone. For example, Suboxone itself can be addictive if used too long. It is also probable that you will experience withdrawal symptoms after stopping Suboxone. - Revia
Revia is a medication that can be used to treat alcoholism and narcotic addictions. It is said to work by blocking the effects of opioids. There are possible side effects from this drug; however, most people experience none or minor side effects. - Methadone
This medication is an opioid itself and can be used to treat moderate pain. It also has the power to reduce withdrawal symptoms for people who are addicted to heroin or other narcotics because it reduces the high that is associated with the drug addiction.
There are also many recovery programs such as Narcotics Anonymous that can help for people who are suffering from opiate addiction. Having a strong support system can be very beneficial to the recovery process.
