The problem with opioid painkillers is that they're just too damn effective. Opioids do their thing by bonding to opioid receptors in the Brain, CNS, and digestive tract (that's one reason why opioid use causes constipation). Receptors, when activated, especially the mu and delta varieties, offer very strong analgesic effects, but are also related to euphoria, an anti-depressant type feeling, and are thought to also increase physical dependence. Anyways, these receptors more or less have the ability to simply stop pain transmission to the brain. Anyone who has had morphine, Vicodin, Hydrocodone, or any of the dozens of other opioids can testify to their effectiveness
So it's pretty easy to see why they can be so addictive, you have the psychological dependency stemming from the euphoria and anti-depressant effects, and you also get a physical dependency. It's really shitty for anyone who is prescribed a medication, because there's not necessarily a requirement for doctors to oversee administration or to provide further prescriptions at lower doses to help lower physical dependency.
But acetaminophen and other drugs simply don't stand up to opioids, as they don't bind to a receptor that blocks pain so effectively. Rather, they inhibit the activities of COX and COX-2, which both tend to cause pain. Acetaminophen is more or less a "whole body drug" as it is distributed throughout the body.
But anyways, we just don't have nearly enough painkillers in our arsenal, and it really sucks because opioids are so dangerous and yet so effective.
So the F.D.A. can't just stop the acceptance of new opioids, because that would be rather irresponsible for people that actually require self-administrated pain relief.
I hear ya. I know a few people that had a difficult time getting off of them after their subscription ran out. Its hard enough someone has to get through the pain, its another story trying to get off the opioids. These things are super addictive, especially when they work so damn well, stay away from them if you don't need them.
I recently had a few recovering heroin and pill addicts enter my life, and it may have been one of the most eye opening experiences I've ever had. I haven't seen withdrawals, but I saw one of my most supportive friends sit in a shower for close to 4-5 hours, as it was the closest thing to a relief from the chills that they could get. I saw panic attacks that rivaled the worst I've ever seen, complete with spiking blood pressure and heart rate, and near inability to breathe. Those are only a few things, but it's just so scary. My father was prescribed an opioid for his colon issues, and immediately declined, because he had dealt with an addiction to a specific OTC opioid used for that exact reason about 20-30 years earlier. It's really bad when someone would rather face crippling pain over a just the possibility to addiction.
Yep, its really heartbreaking watching your loved ones go through that. I totally get your father, the pain is nothing compared to what someone has to deal with after, and usually the emotional ordeal and the withdrawals can make it a living hell.
The problem with opioid painkillers is that they're just too damn effective. Opioids do their thing by bonding to opioid receptors in the Brain, CNS, and digestive tract (that's one reason why opioid use causes constipation). Receptors, when activated, especially the mu and delta varieties, offer very strong analgesic effects, but are also related to euphoria, an anti-depressant type feeling, and are thought to also increase physical dependence. Anyways, these receptors more or less have the ability to simply stop pain transmission to the brain. Anyone who has had morphine, Vicodin, Hydrocodone, or any of the dozens of other opioids can testify to their effectiveness
So it's pretty easy to see why they can be so addictive, you have the psychological dependency stemming from the euphoria and anti-depressant effects, and you also get a physical dependency. It's really shitty for anyone who is prescribed a medication, because there's not necessarily a requirement for doctors to oversee administration or to provide further prescriptions at lower doses to help lower physical dependency.
But acetaminophen and other drugs simply don't stand up to opioids, as they don't bind to a receptor that blocks pain so effectively. Rather, they inhibit the activities of COX and COX-2, which both tend to cause pain. Acetaminophen is more or less a "whole body drug" as it is distributed throughout the body.
But anyways, we just don't have nearly enough painkillers in our arsenal, and it really sucks because opioids are so dangerous and yet so effective.
So the F.D.A. can't just stop the acceptance of new opioids, because that would be rather irresponsible for people that actually require self-administrated pain relief.
I hear ya. I know a few people that had a difficult time getting off of them after their subscription ran out. Its hard enough someone has to get through the pain, its another story trying to get off the opioids. These things are super addictive, especially when they work so damn well, stay away from them if you don't need them.
I recently had a few recovering heroin and pill addicts enter my life, and it may have been one of the most eye opening experiences I've ever had. I haven't seen withdrawals, but I saw one of my most supportive friends sit in a shower for close to 4-5 hours, as it was the closest thing to a relief from the chills that they could get. I saw panic attacks that rivaled the worst I've ever seen, complete with spiking blood pressure and heart rate, and near inability to breathe. Those are only a few things, but it's just so scary. My father was prescribed an opioid for his colon issues, and immediately declined, because he had dealt with an addiction to a specific OTC opioid used for that exact reason about 20-30 years earlier. It's really bad when someone would rather face crippling pain over a just the possibility to addiction.
Yep, its really heartbreaking watching your loved ones go through that. I totally get your father, the pain is nothing compared to what someone has to deal with after, and usually the emotional ordeal and the withdrawals can make it a living hell.