Opiates are often prescribed after surgery or for physical injuries that require pain management. Opiates are any drugs that contain opium or a derivative of opium. Opiates are some of the most effective prescription painkillers available – and that’s exactly what makes them some of the most frequently abused drugs.
Prescription drug addicts may reach for opiates because of their narcotic effect and addictive qualities. For opiate addicts, what starts as a way to overcome pain becomes a way of life: They come to rely on the drugs to ease their physical pain and deal with emotional problems.
A Partial Opiates List
There are dozens of drugs that fall into the opiate category. A few of the most commonly abused opiate drugs are:
- Opium
- Codeine
- Morphine
- Tramadol (Ultram)
- Methadone
- Buprenorphine (Subutex)
- Propoxyphene (Darvocet)
- Pethidine (Demerol)
- Hydrocodone (Lortab/Vicodin)
- Oxycodone (Percocet, Oxycontin)
- Hydromorphone (Dilaudid)
- Oxymorphone (Opana)
- Fentanyl
- Heroin (diacetylmorphine)
What are Opiates?
The drugs on an opiates list all depress the nerve transmissions between the spinal cord and the brain. Essentially, opiates make it impossible for the spinal cord to transmit pain messages to the brain. The brain doesn’t know that the body is hurting. It’s just the feeling that a patient looks for and an addict craves.
When any of these drugs are taken for an extended period of time, the body becomes dependent on them. Patients who use opiates need to be stepped down off of the drug under a doctor’s care. Addicts that abuse opiates have an even more difficult time coming off of opiates since they are taking much more than what has been prescribed.
Opiates Rehab and Recovery
When someone develops a problem with an opiates-based drug, it’s very important that they come off of the drug with professional help. Detoxifying from opiates can be difficult and dangerous.
Signs and symptoms of opiate detox or withdrawal can include:
- Irritability
- Insomnia
- Diarrhea
- Night sweats
- Depression
- Aches and pains
For some addicts, getting professional help at an opiate rehab center makes the most sense for their needs. Under professional care, opiate detox can be safe and effective. An opiate rehab center can give a patient a safe place to detox and deal with the physical and emotional symptoms of coming off of opiates.