What Is Opioid?
Opioids are drugs that relieves mild to severe pain. It acts on the nervous system. Opioid can have serious side effects if you don’t use them properly.
Opioid History: From wonder drug to abusive drug
Opioid is one of the world’s oldest drugs used in medical, religious and recreational purposes. To treat anxiety and depression they use opioid in the mid-1950s. By 1898, they produce a “wonder drug” called heroin. But the heroin’s use spread. Addicts discovered the effects can amplify by injecting it into the body. The abuse use of opioid is a problem that keeps coming back.
Medical Uses of Opioid
Medical uses include:
- Relieving pain
One of the successful long-term care strategies in treating chronic cancer patient is the use of opioid. It is the treatment of choice. It can right away relieve chronic pain such as cancer because of its rapid onset and efficacy.
Opioids like tapentadol and tramadol can treat chronic non-cancer pain. But, you need to observe caution before taking this drug.
- Cough
Codiene, a weak opioid is a cough suppressant. Similarly, morphine in low dose can suppress cough. However you might not want to use it in excess due to its side effect.
And others like:
- suppressing diarrhea
- treating addiction
- reversing opioid overdose
Opioid Side Effects
One of the reasons why your doctor needs to look into your pain medications so closely is that they can potentially cause side effects, such as:
- Vomiting
- Nausea
- Drowsiness
- Constipation
- slow breathing
Opioid is dangerous if you take it with alcohol and drugs like;
- sleeping pills
- antidepressants
- antihistamines
Make sure your doctor knows all of the other medicines you’re taking.
Opioids Tolerance
You can develop dependence when you use tapentadol or tramadol over a period of time. You can get symptoms like
- anxiety
- muscle pain
- nausea
- diarrhea
- vomiting
- irritability