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Opioids
Opioids are pain-relieving,
medications including hydrocodone (e.g.,
Vicodin), oxycodone (e.g., OxyContin),
morphine, fentanyl, codeine, and related
medications. Morphine and fentanyl are often
used to alleviate severe pain, while codeine
is used for milder pain. Other examples of
opioids prescribed to relieve pain include
propoxyphene (Darvon); hydromorphone (Dilaudid);
and meperidine (Demerol), which is used less
often because of its side effects. In
addition to their effective pain-relieving
properties, some of these medications can be
used to relieve severe diarrhea (for
example, Lomotil, also known as
diphenoxylate) or severe coughs (codeine). |
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Depressants
Barbiturates such as
mephobarbital (Mebaral) and sodium
pentobarbital (Nembutal), are used as
preanesthetics, promoting sleep.
Benzodiazepines such as diazepam
(Valium), alprazolam (Xanax), and estazolam
(ProSom) to treat anxiety, acute stress,
panic attacks, convulsions, sleep disorders,
etc...
Newer sleep medications including
zolpidem (Ambien), zaleplon (Sonata) and
eszopiclone ( Lunesta).
Depressants are usually taken orally,
sometimes in combination with other drugs or
to counteract the effects of other licit or
illicit drugs (e.g., stimulants).
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Stimulants
Amphetamines such as Adderall and
Dexedrine.
Methylphenidate such as Concerta and
Ritalin.
These medications are used mostly to treat
ADHD, narcolepsy, and, in some instances,
depression that has not responded to other
treatments.
Stimulants may be taken orally, but some
abusers crush the tablets, dissolve them in
water, and then inject the mixture;
complications can arise from this because
insoluble fillers in the tablets can block
small blood vessels. Stimulants have been
abused for both “performance enhancement”
and recreational purposes (i.e., to get
high). |
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Opioids and Morphine Derivatives
Methadone, used to attempt to treat
people addicted to heroin as well as
opiates.
Buprenorphine, used to attempt to
treat heroin and other opiates addiction.
Naltrexone can only be used for
someone who has already been detoxified,
since it can produce severe withdrawal
symptoms in a person continuing to abuse
opioids.
Naloxone is a short-acting opioid
receptor blocker that counteracts the
effects of opioids and can be used to treat
overdoses. |
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