What are Opioids?
Opioids are a class of drugs that are either derived naturally from the opium poppy (Papaver somniferum) or are created synthetically to provide the same effect on opioid receptors. In medicine, opioids are used for pain management because they are effective at suppressing pain. Some opioids, like loperamide, are used to treat symptoms like diarrhea.
While opioids are designed for clinical use, they are commonly abused and pose a high risk for addiction and dependence. Sometimes their effects are enhanced by using opioid potentiators.
What Are Opioid Potentiators?
An opioid potentiator is any substance that is taken in combination with opioids to enhance their effects. Potentiators interact with opioids in the blood to cause various reactions. For example, orange juice and grapefruit juice have been shown to increase the effects of opioids likeoxycodone. Doctors may recommend that patients don’t drink grapefruit or other citrus juices while they are taking prescription opioid medications.
Other potentiators include cold medicines, antihistamines andalcohol. Using potentiators can lead to serious complications and increase the risk of death due to overdose. Opioid potentiators can lead to different drug interactions in the body that can have unpredictable results. Some potentiators can lead to polysubstance abuse, which is characterized by abuse of multiple substances. Polysubstance abuse can be much more difficult to treat than a single drug addiction.
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Dangers of Opioid Abuse
Opioids are commonly abused because they have such a high potential for addiction and dependence. People who abuse opioids are likely to develop a tolerance to the drugs that can lead to dependence and addiction. When someone becomes dependent upon opioids, they experience painfulopioid withdrawal symptomswhen the drug begins to exit their bodies. Symptoms may become apparent a few hours after the last opioid dose. Withdrawal symptoms are difficult to manage without professional treatment. Taking opioid potentiators can lead to more severe withdrawal symptoms.
Common withdrawal symptoms associated with opioid drugs are:
- Muscle cramps, tightness and soreness
- Abdominal pain
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Excessive sweating
- Anxiety and irritability
- Depression
- Cravings for opioid drugs
Prolonged opioid abuse increases someone’s chance of overdose. According to the Drug Enforcement Administration, more than 24,000 people died from opioid-related overdoses in 2014. Opioid-related overdoses make up a large percentage of the 120 people who die from drug overdoses every day in the United States. Use of opioid potentiators compounds that risk since drug interactions can increase and intensify various side effects like suppressed breathing or changes in the heart rate.
Side effects of opioid use include:
- Constipation
- Itching
- Euphoria
- Dizziness
- Sedation
- Respiratory depression
Treatment
Opioid addictionrequires comprehensive care to manage withdrawal symptoms and begin recovery.Opioid addiction treatmentusually starts with a controlleddetoxificationin which the patient’s body will rid itself of substances and toxins.
After detoxification, patients will go through other therapies likecognitive behavioral therapyto address possible psychological and emotional issues that may have led to their drug abuse. Thesetherapieswill help them form new mental processes and habits that will increase their chances of having healthy, productive lives without feeling the need to take opioid drugs.
