Symptoms & Side Effects of Prescription Drug Abuse

• Stark increase in dosage or frequency of drug intake – This may be voluntary, but it can also be a subconscious decision.
• Unusual Physical Appearance – Signs of prescription drug addiction are often prominently displayed in the physical appearance of the individual. Some classic physical symptoms of drug addiction include red or glassy eyes, sniffling and runny nose, as well as splotchy or pockmarked skin. Prescription drug addicts may also cause signs such as unexplained sweating or shortness of breath, especially if one is deeply addicted and haven’t indulged recently (withdrawal).
• Unexplained Spending – Drugs are often expensive and hard to obtain. If someone you know has been spending a lot of money but cannot account for their spending, drugs are often the reason. However, all the money may not be going to drugs. To keep their drug habit secret, drug addicts go to extraordinary lengths to conceal where and how they obtain the drugs. This may involve paying intermediaries to help keep everything under the radar.
• Disorder and Unkemptness – Once drug addiction has taken root, an individual who was meticulous and resplendent can turn out disorderly and unkempt. The need to indulge takes centerstage, and they forget to take care of themselves and may often have poor hygiene standards.
• Sometimes, patients may lie about pain to be allowed to take more pills. It’s always advisable to consult a doctor before increasing the prescription drugs, even if the requested increase is marginal.
• Oversleeping is very common in the case of opioids, and depressants, etc. and excessive energy in case of stimulants. In the later stages, these signs can amplify and then you may witness other serious symptoms like constant sedation, spasms, body aches, respiratory depression, constipation, repeated nausea, apathy to food and lack of taste.

• Poor Judgment – Drug addiction places such a chokehold on the abusers that they do not consider anything else as important. They will shirk responsibilities and often fail to turn up at the office or school. This lack of good judgment is often an indication that matters are getting worse and urgent intervention is paramount.
• Insomnia and Drowsiness – Many drug addicts demonstrate very irregular sleeping patterns. They may spend the whole night without sleeping and will also become drowsy at odd moments. Methamphetamine addiction is notorious for inducing what is known as being “wired” – going for days on end without any sleep.

In severe cases, addicts spend lengthy periods of time cooped up indoors and uncommunicative. This may be a result of their compulsion to keep their habit secret or it could be something even more insidious. The person abusing the drugs may be seeking to create an alternative reality of their own and they will do anything to keep out of the actual world where duty and responsibilities are real and urgent.

However, taking opioids beyond a certain limit limits the body’s natural detoxification system and overfloods the opioid receptors. This creates a deep change in pain perception and ability to sense other hormonal signals. Repeated abuse creates opioid dependency – the body can only function properly in presences of a certain quantity of opioids in the bloodstream, and at this point, addiction has developed. Some types of opioids, such as morphine, are highly potent and addiction and tolerance develops after just a few days of regular use.

Opioids cause much collateral damage in the body, and this manifested inform of problems like nausea, acidity, constipation, liver damage, hardening of blood vessels, increased sensitivity followed by blackouts, muscle and joint pain, subjugation of the body’s natural immune system, and reduced sensation to physical pain.

The effects of depressants abuse are similar to those of first-phase of opioid stimulation: slowed pulse, reduced and short breathing, low blood pressure, bent posture, constant fatigue, slurred speech, abnormal gait, lack of coordination, dilated pupils, difficulty in urination and defection, and complete lack of motivation.

Though specific depressants tend to have specific signs, like opioid and depressants, there is a broad range of general symptoms associated with stimulants abuse. These include excessive sweating, sweaty palms and feet, irregular breathing and blood pressure, dry mouth, increased thirst but low urination, weight gain, decreased fatigue, increased appetite right after drug use, loss of appetite during withdrawal phase, dilated pupils, and increased alertness which can sometimes cause long-term insomnia and anxiety disorders.

• Accidental death due to increasing tolerance and subsequent overdose.
• Paranoia and anxiety disorder.
• Breathing and heart problems
• Sleep disorders.
• Low sperm production and no sex drive.
• Joint pain and bone decay.
• Drying up of spinal fluid and synovial fluid, which are non-replaceable.
• Loss of vital neural connections, which can even lead to paralysis.
• Decreased sensory feelings like taste, touch, sound, sight, etc.
• Frequent nervous breakdown.
• Anger bouts and violent behavior.
• Low concentration.
• Low response and decreased agility.
• Low immunity.
• Constipation, intestine infection which can spread out to the liver and pancreas.

Depressants-

• Decreased mental sharpness
• Poor performance at school or at work
• Reduced number of friends and interests.
• Dry and corrosive eyes.
• Kidney and liver failure in high levels of toxicity.
• Hardening and decay of arteries.
• Depression and anxiety.
• Uncontrollable anger.
• increased chance of relapse or
• Prone to further substance abuse
• Dry mouth, low levels of saliva, and tooth decay.
• Inability to mingle in society.
• Inability to concentrate or fulfill commitments.
• Disorganized lifestyle with little care for basic cleanliness.

 Stimulants-

• Involuntary muscle movements like teeth clenching and blinking
• Intolerant to loud noise or bright lights
• Impaired judgment.
• General body fatigue due to low oxygen intake
• Lethargy due to abnormal metabolism.
• Lack of motivation for real work.
• Over pessimistic and complete denial of problems.
• Increased chance of relapse or Prone to further substance abuse.
• Kidney and liver failure.
• Cardiac arrest.
• Seizures or convulsions.
• Irritability and suicidal thoughts.

• The risk of overdose is very high in all of these three classes of prescription drugs. The symptoms of overdose are detailed below.
• Confusion, delirium, hallucinations.
• Violent mood swings and early signs of multiple personalities.
• Bluish skin around the lips or under the fingernails
• Nausea or vomiting.
• Breathing problems, including slowed or irregular breathing
• Extreme constipation
• Pinpoint pupils
• Coma or inability to come to sense.
• Breathing problems and a feeling of suffocation.
• Cold body temperature with dry skin.