Doctors prescribe people many different types of painkillers based on their needs. While they have been a great help to many suffering in pain, they have also led to problems. For example, you may have heard about opiate abuse, overdose, and other issues. You may have been prescribed painkillers by your doctors and aren’t sure what to expect. You may have a prescription but aren’t sure if it is a narcotic painkiller or something else. There are many types of painkillers that doctors prescribe. Understanding what these painkillers are and how they may affect you is vital to your well-being. If they are used responsibly, and over a short time, they are generally okay. However, when abused or used long term, then problems may arise. Here are the different types of painkillers, along with their effects and risks.
Different Types of Painkillers
Some people use over-the-counter pain medicine, but when the pain is more severe, then prescription painkillers are necessary. These painkillers are narcotics and are also called opioid pain medicine. They bind to the opioid receptors in the brain. Consequently, they create a sense of well-being that most people describe as enjoyable. For this reason, they are highly addictive too. The medication also has some adverse side effects, too.
Doctors will prescribe different types of painkillers based on your needs. Here is a list of the main ones that would be prescribed:
- Codeine
- Tramadol
- Hydrocodone
- Meperidine
- Hydromorphone
- Lortab
- Lorcet
- Percocet
- Vicodin
- Morphine
- Methadone
- OxyContin
Painkillers like morphine and OxyContin are used for people with more advanced pain issues such as cancer.
Risks and Effects of Painkillers
When taking painkillers, you are susceptible to various risks as well as side effects. Some of the main risks are as follows:
- Addiction — it doesn’t take long to become tolerant, dependent, then addicted to a narcotic substance.
- Overdose — any time you are dealing with opiate abuse, an overdose can occur.
- Mental health issues — drugs, even painkillers, can change the structure of your brain over time. Some drugs increase or enhance certain chemicals in the brain. This causes your brain to rely on that stimulus and adapt to having it.
- Physical symptoms — there are several physical symptoms you may experience while taking painkillers. Some people feel dizzy or tired, while others are anxious and restless.
Narcotic painkillers also have side effects. Some of these include:
- Drowsiness
- Impaired judgment
- Stomach upset, including nausea or constipation
- Moodiness
- Itching
- Withdrawal symptoms if trying to stop
If you’ve been taking painkillers, it’s best not to abruptly quit taking them without the aid of a rehab treatment center. Doing so could lead to complications and uncomfortable withdrawal symptoms.
Seek Treatment from Painkiller Addiction at Oceanfront Recovery
At Oceanfront Recovery, we can take you through withdrawal from painkillers safely. There is no need to worry about dealing with this alone. Whether you’ve been taking codeine, Percocet, or morphine, our qualified treatment staff is equipped to help you get off the drugs.
Also, we will help customize a therapy plan for you so that you can get to the root of your addiction issues. We use evidence-based therapies to help resolve the underlying issues that are plaguing you.
Some of the therapies that will help resolve opiate abuse include:
- Cognitive-behavioral therapy treatment program
- Dual diagnosis treatment program
- Depression therapy treatment program
- EMDR therapy treatment program
- Dialectical-behavioral treatment program
Don’t let opiate abuse take over your peace of mind and destroy your life. Now that you know more about the different types of painkillers find hope for a happy life with a qualified treatment center by your side. So reach out to Oceanfront Recovery at 877.296.7477 for more information.
