Doctors use opioids to help patients get relieved from acute pain. You should be cautious when using this medicines. They can be harmful if overused. One should only use opioids under the doctor’s prescription. Doctors use this medicine on patients who have undergone surgery. They also prescribe it to patients with extreme pain from other treatments. So, you need to use this medicine under the doctor’s prescription. Medical practitioners discourage sharing of drugs. This is because you receive your drug prescription according to your body mass. You should avoid over-the-counter opioid medications. This is because they put you at risk of taking an overdose.
Opioid drugs come from poppy plants, such as morphine. Experts also manufacture it through laboratory procedures. Medicines manufactured in the laboratory include fentanyl. The medication works by entering into your blood cells through the opioid receptors. Opioids relieve pain by sending pleasure signals to pain receptors. So, your pain ceases once the drug enters your bloodstream. Low administration of opioid medication can make you sleepy. Also, you can experience a low heart rate if you take an overdose. You can be at risk of dying if you receive a high dose of opioids. So, you should follow strict opioid prescriptions. It is also advisable that you let your doctor know if you are using other types of medicine. There are several things that you need to know about opioids.
Signs and Symptoms of Addiction
If you use opioids for an extended period, you will find it challenging to quit. You may exhibit withdrawal symptoms that are distinct from a different opioid user. You are likely to isolate yourself once you become an addict. This is because the overdose changes the way you think. You are also expected to make new friends, especially those you feel that they understand you. Drug and substance abuse makes you quit your usual work routine. This can make you lose your source of income. There are chances that you will also feel tired and sad.
There is hope for you even though you have become addicted to opioids. You need to take a step to recover from drug addiction. Doing this will enable you to resume your duties and responsibilities. The first step you should take is to seek help from addiction health professionals. If you are seeking help for a loved one, you should convince them to get the treatment. This is because an aggressive approach may not yield positive results.
Symptoms of Withdrawing from Opioids Use
You can exhibit several withdrawal signs when you quit drug abuse. The signs include:
- Insomnia and Vomiting
- Drug craving and anxiety
- Insomnia and tremors
- Blue skin color
You can experience the withdrawal symptoms for 3 to 10 days. Ensure that you receive help from counseling experts. This will help you transition to everyday life with minimal withdrawal syndromes. After counseling, medical intervention, and social support, there are medicines used to help opioid addicts to quit using them. They include Subutex and methadone. Doctors also use clonidine on patients with cramping, muscle pain, and anxiety.
How to Handle an Opioid Overdose Patient
The first step for an opioid patient is to tap them or shake them to trigger a response. You can then rub their breastbone if they fail to respond to the first step. You should ensure that the person stays awake as you seek help from a medical facility. It is also helpful to administer naloxone to patients whose skin turns blue. Naloxone helps to reduce the effects of opioid overdose.
Opioid overdose can make you unconscious. Patients who suffer from breathlessness due to opioid overuse may need resuscitation. You can consider mouth-to-mouth resuscitation after every 5 minutes. Ensure you do this as you call the emergency response department. It can use a variety of techniques to help you recover from drug abuse. They can use Narcan in the form of a nasal drop or an injection. However, physicians administer the medication with care. They do this to ensure that they do not escalate your health issue. Adrenergic receptor agonist medication is another type of medication that doctors use. The medicine helps in reducing withdrawal symptoms by influencing the adrenergic receptors.
Ready to Quit Drug Abuse?
We are available to attend to you 24/7. We have experienced medical practitioners who will help you walk the journey. They will ensure that you are free from extreme drug withdrawal side effects. You will also be in a company of team members who are pursuing the same course as yours. Call us anytime at 954-523-1167.