5 Prescription Drugs To Be Cautious Of When Using

5 Prescription Drugs To Be Cautious Of When Using

• Kate Pindera
• 7 Nov 2019

All medications and prescription drugs carry the potential for side effects ranging from the minor to the severe. Many medications that have appropriate medical use carry a significant potential for addiction. If the use of these substances is not carefully monitored, then patients may quickly find that their consumption of these medications can begin to spiral out of control.

Especially in those with other substance abuse problems or a family history of addiction, it is important to exercise caution when taking prescription medications that carry a high risk of abuse. If you have concerns or questions about the potential for abuse of any medication, then contact a medical professional or a Toronto drug rehab facility to find out more information.

For now, let’s look at five specific prescription drugs that need to be used with caution to mitigate their potential for addiction:

1. Barbiturates

Barbiturates are a class of drugs that act as a central nervous system depressant. While they are less commonly used in medical practice today, they are still prescribed as anticonvulsants and general anesthetics. Due to their high abuse potential, however, they have largely been replaced with benzodiazepines for the treatment of many conditions.

When taken recreationally, barbiturates produce feelings of euphoria, sedation, and relaxation. With repeated use, both physical and psychological dependence can develop. In these cases, it is important to contact a Toronto drug rehab facility to wean oneself or a loved one off of these substances under practiced medical care.

2. Benzodiazepines

Though benzodiazepines are commonly prescribed for a variety of conditions including general anxiety, insomnia, seizures, and alcohol withdrawal, their potential for misuse makes their prescription a matter of harm reduction. This class of drug is generally safe for short-term use, but they exhibit decreased effectiveness at consistent doses given over time. As such, users may feel compelled to use more of these substances in order to achieve a familiar level of relief.

When weaning yourself off benzodiazepines after prolonged use, strong withdrawal symptoms can occur. It is important to undergo this process under the professional care of a Toronto drug rehab facility. Since benzodiazepine abuse is commonly linked with the abuse of other drugs as well, it is important to take a holistic approach to treatment if you or a loved one is abusing these prescription medications.

3. Sleeping Medications

Sleeping pills are commonly prescribed for many conditions affecting the quality or quantity of healthy sleep in patients. Those with insomnia or narcolepsy may be prescribed sleeping pills in order to ensure that they sleep soundly throughout the night. However, given their anxiety-reducing and relaxation-inducing effects, they are commonly abused by many.

Sleeping pills are generally safe for short-term or periodic use, but if you find that you are increasingly reliant on these medications for sleep or for getting through your daily life then you may have a problem. Paradoxically, if sleeping pills are used for a prolonged period, their use can actually worsen insomnia and related sleep disorders. Consulting with a medical professional or stopping by a Toronto drug rehab centre will allow you to gain insight into whether your use patterns are consistent with addiction or dependence.

4. Opiate Painkillers

Opiates are some of the most effective painkillers known in medical literature. Their usefulness in medical practice and surgery is unparalleled; however, this usefulness is not achieved without an equal measure of risk for abuse. Many opiates that are legally prescribed carry a strong potential for misuse given their decreasing effectiveness over time which leads to physical and psychological dependence.

If you or a loved one are prescribed opioid medications, then you may notice cravings for these substances even when you are no longer in pain. You may also notice that you need to take more of these drugs in order to achieve the relief that you once felt from much smaller doses. In these cases, seeking out the advice of a Toronto drug rehab centre will allow you to reduce your use and restore your health without the need for opioid medications.

5. Stimulants

While amphetamines are commonly used to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder as well as obesity, they carry a high potential for abuse given their recreational properties. Amphetamines have both cognitive and physical performance-boosting effects which lead many people to use them outside of the bounds of medical prescriptions. However, the use of amphetamines over the long-term will have significant negative effects on a person’s overall well-being and health.

For this reason, it is imperative that you do not use or abuse amphetamines outside of the context of prescribed limits. Serious side effects such as psychosis and neurotoxicity can occur which will have lasting repercussions for those who fail to adhere to established usage guidelines.

Use Prescription Medications Within Outlined Limits

Since these five drugs outlined here have a high potential for abuse and addiction, it is important to be cautious when using any of them. While they all have a valid medical purpose and are prescribed for their effectiveness in treating many symptoms and conditions, their use can quickly create more problems than they solve if close care and attention do not dictate their use. Feel free to get in touch with us if you’d like more information about this.

If you notice that the prescribed doses of these medications no longer provide you with the same relief from your symptoms that it did at the outset, then consult with a medical professional about an appropriate course to take. Doctors may offer alternative medications or adjust your dosage within medically appropriate guidelines to improve your condition.

Under no circumstances should you take it upon yourself to adjust your dose – especially if this implies that you will take these medications more often or in greater quantities. If you suspect that your personal use or the use of one of these substances by a loved one is becoming problematic, then seek out the advice and support of a drug rehab centre in Toronto to stop the problem from becoming worse.