Overdose deaths due to prescription drug addiction have been increasing in the past decades. Narcotic addiction involved the use of Percocet, Vicodin, OxyContin and other painkillers. With the rise of deaths due to prescription drug addiction, heroin-related overdose deaths have also increased. Some people abusing painkillers have shifted to the use of heroin, which is more accessible and cheaper.
Who are more likely to have an overdose due to painkillers?
- Those taking benzodiazepine and/or alcohol with a prescription painkiller
- Those who have a disease such as heart, lung or neurological disorders
- Those taking long-acting prescription pain relievers
- Those taking high doses of opioids
Everyone is aware that those taking a higher dose of painkillers are the one most at risk. In reality, people who have a chronic disorder and taking pain relievers for a long time, are prescribed with increasing dose as years go by.
A research has found that those who are taking more than 100 milligrams of morphine over a 24-hour period are the ones more exposed to an overdose. However, when needed, there is no choice but to administer it to the patient.
In order to prevent the development of a prescription drug addiction, the doctor and patient should develop a team work to commit for a more frequent checkups. It is also advisable that the patient goes through urinalysis on a regular basis. Training should also be conducted on how to reverse an overdose through the use of Naloxone.
Another factor that can lead to an overdose is the duration of the narcotics. It is important to be aware whether your medication is an extended release (XR), controlled release (CR) and long-acting (LA) formulations.
Most often, the relief from pain goes off earlier than the actual blood levels of the medications. Those who are in pain may feel that they need to take more pills to relieve their pain, without thinking that they are already putting themselves in the danger of an overdose.
Apart from what have been mentioned, the thing that increases the risk of an overdose is those struggling with a prescription drug addiction. People who are abusing opioid drugs and mixing it with benzodiazepines, including Ativan, Xanax, Klonopin, and/or with alcohol are more likely to have an overdose.
These drugs have the effect of cessation of breathing up to the point that drug users no longer breathe, leading to fatal overdose. The combination of painkillers with benzodiazepines and/or alcohol is highly dangerous.
People who have chronic diseases such as neurological disorder, lung disease (COPD), heart disease (congestive heart failure, aortic insufficiency) are also more likely to die from an unintentional overdose. The combination of medications and pain relievers is very critical.
People experiencing pain tend to take more painkillers to stay away from the pain. They are vulnerable to prescription drug addiction and overdose.
