The burgeoning shift from away from prescribing oxycodone in favor of methadone for chronic pain is fueled by a general recognition that something has gone very much awry nationally with regard to opiate prescribing. Prescriptions for opiates have tripled in the last 10 years. Surveys indicate 1 in 20 American adults has taken prescription opiates to get high.
Most disturbingly, the annual number of unintentional fatal overdoses attributed to prescription opiates now exceeds those from heroin and cocaine combined. Of note, Dr. Gaster observed, these unintentional fatal opiate overdoses very rarely occur in individuals who are on a single somnolence-inducing medication.
The drug was primarily used for addiction treatment through the late s, but methadone is now increasingly used to manage chronic pain again.
Hydrocodone is the active ingredient in brand name painkillers like Vicodin, Lortab, Zohydro and Norco, while oxycodone is used in OxyContin and Percocet. Along with morphine, various formulations of these three compounds make up the majority of opioid painkillers. Each of these drugs is a semi-synthetic opioid that pharmaceutical companies formulate using different alkaloids from opium poppy plants.
Methadone, however, is entirely synthetic, and a lack of access to opium poppy is what originally motivated the Germans to develop the drug. Though the drug acts on the same opiate receptors in the brain, methadone is not a poppy-derived semi-synthetic like most other painkillers.
Some of the differences also involve risk levels. For example, the lack of opiate high and the extended release of morphine can lead to overdosing. If you or a loved one is in need of help with addiction, call today to speak with a treatment specialist.
The list of opiates that will be examined will be ranked from strongest to weakest. The more powerful the opioid is, the greater the risk becomes of taking too much, and the more likely a person will become physically addicted to the drug.
Carfentanil — Carfentanil is an extremely dangerous opioid that is 10, times more potent than morphine and times more potent than fentanyl. Carfentanil is used to tranquilize elephants and other large animals, and is not intended for use in humans. Drug dealers may mix carfentanil into their drug supplies to provide their customers with a more potent, addictive high. Fentanyl — Fentanyl is 50 to times more potent than morphine and has been the main contributor to the rise in overdose deaths in recent years.
The majority of fentanyl-related deaths involve synthetic fentanyl that is manufactured overseas and mixed with other illicit drugs including heroin, cocaine, and methamphetamine. It is sold under brand names including Sublimaze, Duragesic, and Actiq. Buprenorphine Butrans — Buprenorphine is an FDA-approved medication for the treatment of opioid use disorder.
It is about 25 to times more potent than morphine, but it does not provide a euphoric high like other opioids. Buprenorphine is used in drug detox to relieve and reduce opioid withdrawal symptoms. Oxymorphone — Oxymorphone is sold under brand names such as Opana and Numorphone.
Oxymorphone is used to relieve moderate to severe pain in patients who are unable to reduce or control pain with other medications.
Heroin is particularly dangerous because it is manufactured in clandestine laboratories. Sometimes, it is cut with fentanyl or other dangerous substances. It can be difficult to tell exactly what chemicals are in different batches of heroin until it is too late.
Hydromorphone, or Dilaudid, is prescribed as a pain reliever for severe pain. Since it is significantly stronger than morphine, it produces relaxation and extreme sedation.
The drug can be dissolved and injected, causing instant effects similar to those of heroin. Consequently, many people who suffer from an opioid use disorder will use hydromorphone as a substitute for heroin. Oxymorphone is sold under the brand name Opana. Although it has medicinal use in treating moderate to severe pain, it still has a high potential for abuse.
It is usually dispensed in pill form, however, it also comes as a liquid made for injection. Those who abuse oxymorphone might swallow the pills, snort them, or inject them.
They can also be obtained illicitly on the street. Methadone is strictly regulated because it is prescribed to treat opioid addiction and to help reduce opioid withdrawal symptoms. Methadone can be swallowed or injected.
After all, it has a similar chemical structure to that of morphine and heroin. In addition, it can make users feel euphoric and sedated. Since methadone is used to treat opioid use disorders, some may believe that the drug is safe. Unfortunately, this is not the case.
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