Prescription Drugs
Key Takeaways
- Doctors prescribe medications for medical issues like pain and mental health.
- Commonly misused drugs include benzodiazepines, stimulants, and opioids.
- Misused drugs range from sleep aids to painkillers, with various side effects.
- Prescription drugs can cause issues from drowsiness to serious addiction symptoms.
- Addiction signs include increased dosage without a doctor’s advice and withdrawal.
- Prescription drugs treat medical conditions but can lead to misuse and addiction.
What are Prescription Medications?
Prescription drugs are for medical use only. Doctors typically prescribe these drugs to treat pain, discomfort, sleep disorders, and mental health conditions.
These medications are considered safe when used correctly and in the right dosages. However, some people misuse prescription medications, leading to tolerance, dependence, and addiction.
The most commonly misused prescription medications fall into four categories:
1. Benzodiazepines (CNS Depressants)
Benzodiazepines (benzos) are prescription medications that treat mood disorders, anxiety, and panic attacks. They can also be used as muscle relaxers. Benzos are safe and effective when used correctly, but they can be very addictive.
Benzos act as sedatives, slowing down the body’s functions. It works by blocking and increasing the effect of GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid), a chemical in the brain responsible for rational thought.
There are many different types of benzodiazepines. However, these medications are separated into short-acting and long-acting benzos.
2. Nonbenzodiazepines (Z-Drugs)
Nonbenzodiazepines are also called Z-drugs. They are a class of psychoactive drugs with benzodiazepine-like effects on the body. Nonbenzodiazepines are often prescribed as sleep medications.
3. Stimulants (Uppers)
Stimulants are prescription medications that increase energy and alertness. They work by increasing activity in the central nervous system (CNS). While they are safe when used as prescribed, stimulants are some of the most widely misused drugs in the United States.
4. Opioids (Narcotics)
Opioids are a group of prescription drugs that relieve pain. There are three different forms of opioids, natural, synthetic, and semi-synthetic. Most of these drugs are highly addictive and can lead to overdose and death when taken in high doses.
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What are Some Examples of Prescription Drugs?
Commonly misused prescription medications include, but are not limited to:
- Ambien: Ambien is used to treat people with insomnia. Misusing it can result in withdrawal symptoms like stomach cramps, vomiting, sweating, and convulsions.
- Ketamine: An anesthetic drug that is commonly used in surgeries. Recently, it’s been used for depression. It’s highly addictive and can lead to overdose or death.
- Trazodone: Used to treat major depressive disorder (MDD) and other mood disorders. Misusing it can lead to serotonin syndrome, suicidal ideation, and withdrawal.
- Gabapentin: Commonly used to treat chronic nerve pain, hot flashes, fibromyalgia, and alcohol use disorder (AUD). It’s also addictive.
- Soma: A prescription muscle relaxant that relieves acute musculoskeletal pain. long-term and repeated drug use can lead to drug tolerance and withdrawal symptoms.
- Accutane: Used to treat severe nodular acne. Although it’s not addictive, misusing it can result in psychosis, depression, suicidal behavior, and aggressiveness.
- Provigil: A central nervous system (CNS) stimulant that treats sleep disorders. Although it has a low risk for addiction and dependence, it’s still possible.
- Wellbutrin: Used to treat MDD and seasonal affective disorder. Although it’s not addictive, it can cause suicidal thoughts and seizures.
- Narcan: A nasal spray medication that stops opioid overdoses. While it is not shown to be addictive, Narcan can induce opioid withdrawal symptoms.
- Adderall: Often prescribed to people with ADHD (attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder) or narcolepsy. Commonly abused by students to give them an educational advantage.
- Ritalin: A CNS stimulant similar to Adderal. Ritalin is misused and abused for the same reasons as Adderall.
- Vicodin: Typically prescribed for severe pain or in cases where other pain medications don’t work. Vicodin can be addictive if used for an extended period or abused.
- Codeine: Treats mild-to-moderate pain and severe cough and cold. It’s considered safe and less addictive than other prescription opioids, but it can still be addictive.
- Xanax: A sedative used to treat anxiety. Using Xanax long-term can result in physical and emotional dependence.
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Common Side Effects of Prescription Drugs
The side effects of prescription drugs vary greatly. For example, prescription stimulants (like Adderall) can cause heart issues, high body temperature, tremors, aggressiveness, hallucinations, and paranoia.
Meanwhile, prescription benzodiazepines like Xanax and other sedative medications can cause various side effects, including:
- Drowsiness
- Confusion
- Memory issues
- Speech problems
- Blurry vision
- Dry mouth
- Muscle weakness
- Unsteadiness
- Headaches
- Constipation
- Nausea and flu-like symptoms
- Light-headedness and dizziness
Lastly, prescription opioids like hydrocodone and codeine can cause euphoria, dry mouth, nausea, diarrhea, dizziness, and seizures. In some cases, you may feel heaviness in your limbs and a warm flushing on the skin.
Symptoms of Prescription Drug Addiction
One of the most common signs of drug abuse and addiction is when someone keeps using the drug after the pain is resolved. They may show more interest in the medications than in other treatment options.
They may start complaining about vague or minor symptoms to get more medication. Some may even start lying about symptoms, forge prescriptions, or steal medication.
Other symptoms include:
- Making poor decisions
- Looking or feeling “out of it”
- Physical symptoms of drug misuse (muscle pain, flu-like symptoms, insomnia, etc.)
- Taking higher doses of the medication without a doctor’s prescription
- Mood changes (hostility, aggression, anxiety)
- A history of drug addiction
- Withdrawing from friends and family
- Experiencing withdrawal symptoms
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Treatment for Prescription Drug Abuse & Addiction
Treatment for prescription drug addiction depends on the medication being misused. For example, treatment for opioid addiction may be different from that of benzodiazepines and stimulants.
However, everyone with substance abuse problems should undergo detox at a professional treatment center. A medical detox can help prevent or lessen the impact of withdrawal symptoms.
Other treatment options for drug abuse and addiction include:
- Inpatient treatment: Involves checking yourself into a rehab facility for 24-hour medical supervision.
- Outpatient treatment: A treatment program where you are freely allowed to leave the rehab facility.
- Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT): A short-term therapy technique that explores the link between thought patterns and addiction.
- Medication-assisted treatment: Involves using medication, counseling, and therapy to treat addiction.
- Support groups: Provide a much-needed community to help maintain sobriety after treatment.
If you or someone you know is addicted to prescription drugs, contact a healthcare professional or addiction specialist. They can recommend a treatment plan that suits your needs.
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- Kang et al. “Benzodiazepine Toxicity.” Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2023.
- Maust et al. “Benzodiazepine Discontinuation and Mortality Among Patients Receiving Long-Term Benzodiazepine Therapy.” JAMA Netw Open, 2023.
- Mark, O. “Benzodiazepine Use in the United States.” JAMA Psychiatry, JAMA Network, 2015.
- Brett J. & Murnion B. “Management of benzodiazepine misuse and dependence.” Aust Prescr, 2015.
- “CDC Online Newsroom – Press Release – CDC Survey Finds That 1 in 5 U.S. High School Students Have Abused Prescription Drugs.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2010.
- McHugh et al. “Prescription drug abuse: From epidemiology to public policy.” Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment, 2014.
- Abelman, D. “Mitigating Risks of Students Use of Study Drugs through Understanding Motivations for Use and Applying Harm Reduction Theory: a Literature Review.” Harm Reduction Journal, BioMed Central, 2017.
- Hernandez, S., and Nelson, L. “Prescription Drug Abuse: Insight Into the Epidemic.” Clinical Pharmacology & Therapeutics, 2010.
- National Institute on Drug Abuse. “Prescription Stimulants.” NIDA, 2018.
- LaBossier NJ. & Hadland SE. “Stimulant misuse among youth.” Curr Probl Pediatr Adolesc Health Care, 2022.
