Issue 6 •
22
April 2013
This is where the habituation to the drug starts as the user replaces the missing endorphins with narcotics in order to feel good and to avoid the painful effects of narcotic withdrawal. This leads to the dependence of the drug.
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Analgesic effect • Doctors normally prescribe codeine and propoxyphene (sometimes in combination with aspirin) to subside the pain after oral surgery, for severe menstrual cramps, and for temporary pain relief after other outpatient surgical procedures. • During the major surgeries, to calm down the patient, small dose of morphine is given intravenously with analgesics. • Intravenous narcotics may also be used for palliative care, to relieve the pain of patients diagnosed with terminal cancer. • Sustained release preparations are also available, for ex. a sustained -release injected form of morphine sulfate (DepoMorphine) and a patient-controlled transdermal system (E-TRANS) that releases doses of fentanyl when the patient pushes a button attached to the arm or upper chest. Antitussive effect • Codeine phosphate or hydrocodone is normally prescribed (Corex). Antidiarrheal • A liquid preparation containing powdered opium, anise oil, and glycerin, is sometimes prescribed for severe diarrhea. It decreases the gastrointestinal movements of the gut wall which is responsible for pushing the food through the digestive tract. Lomotil, another antidiarrheal medication, contains a synthetic opioid known as diphenoxylate; it is often recommended for treating cancer patients with diarrhea caused by radiation therapy.
Adverse Effects Euphoria, rush, hallucinations, Restlessness, Loss of appetite, upset stomach, nausea, vomiting, Dry mouth, Lethargy, drowsiness, nodding, difficulty being roused, Unsteadiness, confusion, Suppression of pain, “Constricted (pinpoint) pupils”, Scars (tracks) caused by injections, Difficulty urinating, Constipation, Sweating, Difficulty breathing