After breaking a leg, going through surgery, or receiving painful treatment, many people receive prescription painkillers from their doctor. Painkillers are any drugs that help to dull pain in people. Doctors often prescribe painkillers to support the healing process. However, painkillers also have an addictive quality that can lead to harmful moments in a person’s life. An opiate detox center may be the first step to recovery for many users.
What Is Prescription Drug Dependency?
Physicians provide prescription drugs to help people manage their pain. Since painkillers make people feel relaxed, there is naturally a desire to continue taking them. After all, who would not want to feel calm and without pain?
However, prescription drug dependency is problematic. When someone takes prescription medications without being under the supervision of medical professionals, they are more likely to overdose or experience long-term effects that will impact their lives. Addiction to painkillers can lead to long-term mental, social, and physical changes in a person’s life due to drug abuse.
What Are Signs of Painkiller Abuse?
When someone takes their medication against the prescription directions, they are abusing painkillers. People with and without a prescription can abuse painkillers since these drugs are popular with illegal drug dealers. Spotting the signs of painkiller abuse and addiction is critical to breaking the cycle early and living a sober life.
- Here are some signs of prescription drug addiction:
- Using medicine that is prescribed to someone else
- Taking more than the prescribed dosage to achieve a different impact
- Crushing, snorting, or ingesting medicine
- Using to get high
- Intense cravings for the drug
- Severe withdrawal symptoms
If you suspect that a loved one is abusing painkillers, seeking immediate help from an addiction specialist can be critical to breaking the cycle of addiction.
What Are Short-Term Effects of Using Pain Killers?
When people use painkillers, they often feel a sense of euphoria and relaxation immediately after using the drug. However, painkillers have many short-term effects. The most common are:
- Drowsiness and sleepiness
- Dizziness
- Loss of Balance
- Coughs and shortness of breath
- Stomach problems
- Impotence
- Weight gain
- Increased blood pressure and heart rate
- Thoughts of suicide
While the short-term effects of using pain killers may seem minor, they can lead to serious dependence and addiction if left untreated.
What Are Long-Term Effects of Using Pain Killers?
Prescription drug dependency can also lead to several long-term health problems that are all a sign of abuse. The most common of these side effects include:
- Damage to the liver and stomach
- Consistent constipation
- Decreased sex drive
- High blood pressure
- Poor circulation
- High cholesterol levels
- Constant mood swings
- Anxiety and depression
- Poor judgment and decision-making abilities
- Vomiting
- Abdominal and back pain
The long-term effects of using pain killers may be debilitating and even life-threatening. Reach out to an addiction specialist at Detox LA if you or a loved one experience these signs.
The Importance of Painkiller Detox
Painkillers are so addictive that even when you try to wean yourself off of the drugs, the withdrawal symptoms will be so severe that your body will become even weaker. As a result, you will want to use painkillers to decrease your discomfort. Withdrawal symptoms include aching muscles and joints, sweating, nausea, and sweating.
A detox program will help you remove the toxins present in your body and successfully begin your road to recovery. Here are some common things to remember about detoxing from painkillers:
- Detox makes the withdrawal process much easier as you are under the care of medical and mental health practitioners.
- The longer you have been addicted to painkillers, the more challenging your process will be.
- The type of drug you have abused will determine the length of detox.
End Your Addiction to Painkillers at Detox LA
At Detox LA, we will support you every step to ending your addiction to painkillers. Our outpatient program will provide you with the following support:
- Cognitive-behavioral therapy
- Dialectical behavior therapy
- Family therapy
- Group therapy
- Individual therapy
Contact us at [Direct] to begin your journey to a sober life.