Opioid Side Effects
There are many uses of opioids, including anesthesia, pain relief, reversing an opioid overdose, and replacement therapy for people with opioid use disorder. However, these medicines have also been associated with a number of harmful side effects. This article discusses a few of them.
https://buckeyerecoverynetwork.....com/opiate-use-diso
Symptoms of an overdose
There are many different symptoms associated with an opioid overdose. These include a slow heart rate, an abnormally high body temperature, and unresponsiveness. If you're worried that you or a loved one is experiencing these symptoms, you should call 911 immediately.
An opioid overdose can be caused by misuse or accidental overdose. Some people are especially vulnerable to overdose, such as children. Overdoses can also happen if a person's tolerance to an opioid decreases.
Opioids can also interact with other drugs, such as benzodiazepines. This can result in a deadly overdose. In some cases, a person may even develop a substance use disorder, which involves compulsive drug use, despite harming themselves or others.
Naloxone is a prescription drug that is used to reverse opioid overdose. It is available as a nasal spray, and it binds to opioid receptors in the brain.
You can also buy a nasal spray called naloxone, and it can be used to prevent an overdose. However, naloxone isn't always effective against mixed agonist/antagonist opioids.
The symptoms of an opioid overdose can be life-threatening, so you should seek emergency help as soon as possible. Call 911 or 000 if you suspect someone is overdosing.
While you wait for emergency medical assistance, keep the victim awake. They may be making unfamiliar sounds while they're sleeping. Also, check with the healthcare provider to see if there is naloxone on hand.
Symptoms of dependence
Opioids can be a powerful drug, but they are also highly addictive. They can have a negative impact on your health, your relationships, and even your job. Symptoms of dependence on opioids include a reliance on them to function and withdrawal symptoms that are painful and difficult to manage.
Fortunately, treatment is available. Some medications can help prevent withdrawal symptoms while others relieve them. A doctor can also reduce cravings and normalize your brain chemistry.
It's important to take your prescribed medications as directed. Keeping your medications in a safe place will help protect you from overdose.
When taking medications, be sure to swallow them slowly. Also, be careful to store them away from children. Many kids confuse drugs with candy. If you see these signs, try to convince the person to get help from a physician.
The most obvious sign of an opioid addiction is the desire for the drug. Even if you don't exhibit the other signs, you may still be addicted to the substance.
Another sign of an addiction is a change in your hierarchy of needs. You may find yourself needing more medication to achieve the same level of well-being.
Opioids are highly addictive, and you shouldn't take them for too long. In fact, taking them for more than three months increases your risk of addiction by 15 times.
Naloxone
Naloxone is a medication that can be given to reverse the effects of an opioid. It begins to work within a few minutes after it is injected into the muscle. The drug is sold under the brand name Narcan.
Naloxone is most commonly used to counter the decreased breathing that occurs with an opioid overdose. However, it is also useful for treating postsurgical overdose and preventing a sudden withdrawal of an opioid.
Overdoses of fentanyl are a particularly pressing problem. Fentanyl is a fast-acting synthetic opioid with a potency of up to 100 times the amount of morphine. Often, fentanyl is mixed with other drugs, resulting in increased toxicity. Using naloxone to treat fentanyl overdose has been found ineffective in many cases.
Fentanyl has been found to cause sedation, vomiting, and severe respiratory depression. Because of its long half-life, more than one dose of naloxone may be needed.
In the prison setting, naloxone has been shown to be very effective. Many correctional facilities train staff to administer naloxone. Research has also indicated that former inmates are highly capable of administering the drug.
Providing overdose education and naloxone to inmates and their families can help prevent opioid overdoses. This is especially important in regions where illicit fentanyl is a prevalent source of overdose deaths.
