most abused prescription drugs

The 5 Most Abused Prescription Drugs

/ Thomas Cohn, MD

When taken in the correct dosage, prescription drugs can work wonders for people suffering from chronic pain. That said, medications can have a fairly strong effect on the body, and a person can develop a dependency if they aren’t careful. Below, we take a look at five of the most abused prescription drugs.

5. Syrups containing codeine and hydrocodone

Prescription cough syrups containing codeine and hyrdocodone are the first drugs to make the list, specifically because of their popularity among the young adult community. In larger doses, these types of syrups create a euphoric and pleasant feeling inside the body. These syrups aren’t typically abused to the point of fatal overdose, but they are often taken in combination with other drugs, like acetaminophen or guaifenesin, which can do serious damage to your body. Because it’s rather easy to obtain cough syrup, it’s easy to see how these drugs can be repeatedly abused.

4. Adderall

Adderral is becoming more popular on college campuses, as it has been touted for it’s ability to help the subject concentrate. College kids cramming for tests and pulling all nighters pop these pills like candy, especially since it’s relatively easy to fake an attention deficit disorder. The user feels energized, enthused, stimulated and euphoric after ingesting Adderral. Young adults and students can get addicted to those feelings, and they may continue to search for that high long after they’ve graduated.

Pain Pills MN

3. Xanax

Xanax, a form of benzodiazepine, is a very common drug for self medicating users who are trying to relieve stress or anxiety. A physician may prescribe Xanax for panic attacks, insomnia and anxiety, as it offers a deep relaxation and lowers inhibitions. Users report a relaxed, zoned-out and dream-like state when under the influence of a heavy dose of Xanax. Withdrawals after dependence can lead to even greater panic attacks and anxiety, so it’s easy to see how someone can become addicted.

2. Opana oxymorphone

This drug is becoming more popular as drug manufacturers are beginning to fight back against Oxycodone abuse. It is likely that oxymorphone will become the next most popular drug for prescription pill abusers. The euphoric feelings offered by oxymorphone are almost unmatched, as some say it exceeds the sensation offered by oxycodone and heorin.

1. Oxycodone

Oxycodone, also referred to as Percocet with acetaminophen, comes in at the top spot on this list. The pill has probably done more harm than any other pill on this list over the last twenty years. The pill is typically prescribed to patients with chronic pain, cancer or disabilities, and it is said to provide a blissful, heavenly euphoria. It can certainly help people who live in constant pain, but it’s usually sought after by people who simply want to abuse the drug. Manufacturers are working on developing different types of drug formulas to make it harder for users to abuse the drug, but due to the nature of its intended effects, it will continue to be a sought after drug by abusers.

New Pain Medication Issues: The Zohydro Case

/ Thomas Cohn, MD

ZohydroA new pain medication has debuted and has set off major controversy. The new medication is called Zohydro, and it is a long-acting form of hydrocodone.  This is the same medication as Vicodin or Norco, without the acetaminophen. Vicodin and Norco are the most abused short acting opioid/narcotic medication. Despite knowing this, the FDA recently reversed its stance and approved the high potency long-acting drug. Zohyrdro will certainly help some people who deal with chronic pain, but it will also undoubtedly be abused by others. This begs the question, will Zohydro cause more harm than good?

The answer to question is up in the air, but it certainly looks like it will cause significant harm. It will cause problems, especially since some physicians will ignore the risks and prescribe the drug because it will do a great job relieving pain. This new drug can be easily abused, and has no abuse-deterrent properties. Many potent opioids have abuse-deterrent properties like smaller doses and pills that are designed so the user can’t alter the contents to snort or inject the substance, but Zohydro has no such properties. It will be abused.

Physician Care

Pain physicians, at their annual meeting last week, came to the understanding that opioids are important, but the most potent medications need to be abuse-deterrent. Opioids have a tendency to be abused, and therefore pain physicians have an obligation to help reduce abuse. This new medication adds very little to our treatment regimen, but it opens up more opportunities for abuse.

There are many abuse-deterrent formulations that can be used to treat pain. As far as pain physicians are concerned, there are just to many medications available that are being abused. In reality, it is unlikely we really need this medication.

Pain physicians would like to see more pain medications designed with abuse-deterrent properties. These are medications that have properties which do not stimulate a “high”. These tend to be slower acting, or have specific properties that do not stimulate the brain areas that give a rush. The future in pain care is developing more medications that treat pain but do not lead to abuse. Opioid/narcotic abuse is rampant in the United States, and physicians can play a key role in reducing this problem. Aggressively prescribing Zohydro is not one of those ways.