Information on Morphine addiction and withdrawals

Image via WikipediaMorphine is used frequently in hospitals, especially in emergency room settings where a patient present in severe pain. In the right controlled setting Morphine like many other pain relievers is an effective drug when treating pain, however, those who obtain the drug illegally quickly become dependent on the drug and are quickly addicted. Morphine is a highly addictive substance. It can cause psychological dependence and physical dependence as well as tolerance, with an addiction potential identical to that of heroin. When used illicitly, a very serious narcotic habit can develop in a matter of weeks, whereas iatrogenic morphine addiction rates have, according to a number of studies, remained nearly constant at one case in 150 to 200 for at least two centuries.[citation needed] In the presence of pain and the other disorders for which morphine is indicated, a combination of psychological and physiological factors tend to prevent true addiction from developing, although physical dependence and tolerance will develop with protracted opioid therapy.

The stages of withdrawal from Morphine are as follows:

 Stage 1: Several hours after last dose, the addict will begin to have drug craving, and increased anxiety.

 Stage 2: By hour 15 since the last dose, an addict will begin showing increased tiredness and yawning,  perspiration,crying, running nose, dysphoria (An emotional state characterized by anxiety, depression, or unease), odd sleep patterns and behaviors.

 Stage 3: Up to one day after last dose, an addict may experience nasal discharge, and an increase in the above listed symptoms additionally, an addict will also have dilated pupils, raised bumps on skin ie: Goosebumps, muscle twitches, hot flashes, cold flashes, aching bones and muscles, loss of appetite and the beginning of intestinal cramping.

 Stage 4: One to 1 1/2 days after last dose, addict may experience an increase in all of the above  mentioned symptoms including severe cramping and involuntary leg movements, loose stools, insomnia, elevation of blood pressure, moderate elevation in body temperature, increase in frequency of breathing, tachycardia (rapid pulse) , restlessness, nausea

 Stage 5: One and a half to three days after last dose addict is likely to experience, an increase in the above listed symptoms, stay or revert to fetal position, vomiting, free and frequent liquid diarrhea,involuntary ejaculation, which is often painful, saturation of bedding materials with bodily fluids, weight loss due to fluid loss, increased white cell count and other blood changes.

 Stage 6: After completion of above: The addict may experience recovery of appetite, and normal bowel functions, may begin the transition to post-acute and chronic symptoms that are mainly psychological. However, there is in some cases an  increased sensitivity to pain, colitis or other gastrointestinal upsets, and high blood pressure related to motility, and problems with weight stability.

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Top 5 articles on prescription drug addiction

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Valium Addiction

Valium addiction is a serious condition, if you or someone you love lives in the Orangeburg, SC area and need help with this addiction or any other please contact: The William J. McCord Center for help and information on their services. It is recommended that if you live in Columbia SC and your addiction is severe outpatient services may be inadequate in helping you overcome your problem. Seek assistance by visiting: Treatment Centers in South Carolina.

Addiction to Ambien

Ambien, also known generically as zolpidem is a sedative-hypnotic with effects similar to Valium and Xanax. It is most often prescribed to people for short-term treatment of insomnia. Short term insomnia would be for a duration of around 4 weeks. Physicians are always advised to exclude other possible reasons for insomnia that last longer than this time frame. If you live in South Carolina and are experiencing insomnia or sleep deprivation, see: Stress And Insomnia - Restless Legs Syndrome South Carolina for a list of doctors throughout South Carolina that treat Insomnia.

Read on: Addiction to Ambien

Oxycontin and why it can kill you

Oxycontin is one of the most popular abused substances currently being taken by users today. Once it arrived in the market place it became a fast growing, recreational drug. Its highly addictive nature alone causes extensive damage that must be addressed quickly to prevent the user from its deadly effects. Unfortunately, like many drugs that enter the marketplace that are supposed to be used to help people manage serious health problems, Oxycontin has become a popular drug to misuse.

Read on here: Oxycontin and why it can kill you

Addiction to Klonopin

Klonopin or k-pin is a benzodiazepine drug having anti convulsant, muscle relaxant, and anxiolytic properties. Clonazepam is classified as a high potency benzodiazepine and is sometimes used as a second-line treatment of epilepsy. Clonazepam, like other benzodiazepines, used primarily for treatment for acute seizures, is not suitable for the long-term treatment of seizures due to the patient developing a tolerance to the anti convulsant effects. Clonazepam is also used for the treatment of panic disorder.

Read more here: Addiction to Klonopin

Information on Morphine addiction and withdrawal

Morphine is a highly addictive substance. It can cause psychological dependence and physical dependence as well as cause the user to build up a tolerance. Morphine has an addiction potential identical to that of Heroin. When taken, Morphine becomes a very serious narcotic habit and addiction can develop in a matter of weeks. Read on here: Morphine addiction and withdrawal

For support and information for family members, see: The Addicted Family.

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Addiction to Klonopin

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Klonopin or k-pin is a benzodiazepine drug having anti convulsant, muscle relaxant, and anxiolytic properties. Clonazepam is classified as a high potency benzodiazepine and is sometimes used as a second-line treatment of epilepsy. Clonazepam, like other benzodiazepines, used primarily for treatment for acute seizures, is not suitable for the long-term treatment of seizures due to the patient developing a tolerance to the anti convulsant effects. Clonazepam is also used for the treatment of panic disorder. If you live in South Carolina and are suffering from addiction to Klonopin, see: Klonopin Addiction.

Those most prone to addiction to Klonopin tend to be the elderly. Those aged 65 years and older seem to become the most dependent on this drug. The elderly metabolize benzodiazepines at a vastly slower rate than younger individuals and are  more sensitive to the effects of benzodiazepines. Doses for the elderly are recommended to be about half of that which is given to younger adults and given for no longer 2 to 2 1/2 weeks at the most.
Klonopin  and the elderly
Long-acting benzodiazepines such as clonazepam are not generally recommended for the elderly because of the high risk of drug accumulation. Caution in the elderly: increased risk of impairments, falls and drug accumulation. Individuals and individuals with co morbid psychiatric disorders such as multiple personality disorders, etc are especially in danger of suffering the most ill side effects. Clonazepam is generally not recommended for use in elderly people for insomnia due to its high potency relative to other benzodiazepines. Particularly important especially among the elderly is the withdrawal effects that can be dangerous. Abrupt withdrawal from clonazepam may result in the development of the benzodiazepine withdrawal syndrome causing psychosis characterized by dysphoric manifestations, irritability, aggressiveness, anxiety, and hallucinations. Sudden withdrawal may also induce the potentially life threatening condition status epilepticus. Anti epileptic drugs, benzodiazepines such as clonazepam in particular, should be reduced slowly and gradually before discontinuing the drug to reduce withdrawal effects. Carbamazepine has been used in the treatment of clonazepam withdrawal and has been found to be ineffective in preventing clonazepam withdrawal status epilepticus from occurring, which is important to take into consideration. psychotic manifestations, irritability, aggressiveness, anxiety, and hallucinations. Sudden withdrawal may also induce the potentially life threatening condition status epilepticus.

Anti epileptic drugs, benzodiazepines such as clonazepam in particular, should be reduced slowly and gradually when discontinuing the drug to reduce withdrawal effects. Carbamazepine has been used in the treatment of clonazepam withdrawal and has been found to be somewhat ineffective in preventing clonazepam withdrawal  status epilepticus from occurring. Status epilepticus is a life-threatening condition in which the brain is in a state of persistent seizure. Typically it is defined as one continuous unremitting seizure lasting longer than 30 minutes. Medical attention must be sought immediately for this.

Least dangerous/benign side effects:

Dizziness

Drowsiness

Confusion

Loss of or impaired motor function

Lack of coordination and balance

These side effects are typically experienced when used in the short term.

Side effects when combined with other drugs:

Use of alcohol and other depressants intensifies the general effects of the drug.

Withdrawal dangers:

Klonopin use is especially dangerous when it is used of the drug is abruptly discontinued after long term use. Everyone who continually use Klonopin long term becomes what is known as low dose dependent. Side effects of the drug itself are generally benign, but sudden withdrawal after long-term use can cause severe, even fatal, symptoms.

Symptoms of withdrawal include:

Anxiety

Irritability

Insomnia

Panic Attacks

Tremors

DT’s (Delirium Tremens)

Long term use dangers:

Withdrawal from Klonopin can last from months to a life time. This occurs in those at high risk for dependency. This results because of brain damage which is usually irreversible. Some symptoms include:

Anxiety

Insomnia

Tinnitus

Tingling and numbness in limbs

Muscle pain and tension

Cramps

Weakness

Irritable bowel

Cognitive difficulties

If you suspect you are addicted to Klonopin, or any other drug, see: The Addicted Family for additional support and information.

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Morphine Abuse and Treatment

Morphine is an opiate drug used to treat severe pain. It is generally not prescribed to patients outside of a hospital setting because of the fact that, morphine is highly addictive, even in small doses. Morphine is used for the relief of both short-term and long-term pain, in a medical setting, morphine is used to treat:

• Extreme pain relief
• Pre-surgery anesthesia
• Severe cough relief
• Chronic diarrhea
• Shortness of breath

Morphine exists as white silky crystals, cubical masses of crystals or white crystalline powder. It is soluble in water and slightly soluble in alcohol. As with any addiction, if an addict wants morphine, there are a number of ways to get to it, most of them are illegal. Warning signs of that you or someone you care for may be abusing morphine are:

• Blurred vision
• Double vision
• Involuntary eye movement
• Slurred speech, fainting or uncoordinated muscle movements
• Tremors or seizures
• Memory loss
• Hallucinations, abnormal thinking or exaggerated sense of well being
• Extreme agitation

Although it may be difficult to think about what it would be like to confront a family member about addiction, it is even more difficult to bury that loved one: morphine addiction can kill any addict from the health risks involved. Morphine makes you a different person, and that person is not warm, funny or safe. While morphine can initially make you feel more pleasant, the effects quickly wear off. Besides the dangerous effects morphine has on your body, withdrawals or even high doses can make you anxious, irritable, angry, violent or even psychotic. Identifying morphine abuse is just the first step, the next step is getting treatment and to a safe place.

Questions to Ask a Morphine Rehabilitation Center

Most people who call with questions initially focus the services and therapy strategies offered by the morphine rehab center. The following are some questions on this topic to help get you started:

• Before I come to your center, do you conduct a preliminary assessment or evaluation to get a better understanding of my needs?
• Do you provide detox services, and are they medically supervised?
• Do you offer medication as part of treatment, if appropriate?
• Do you have a primary philosophy that you work with, such as 12-step or faith-based?
• What types of therapies do you offer, such motivational counseling and cognitive or behavioral therapies?
• How is the treatment plan developed?
• What does an average therapy day/week look like?
• Do you allocate time in the treatment plan for group and individual therapy, education sessions, opportunities for reflection and support groups?
• Do you provide services related to addiction, such as treatment for co-occurring mental illness or social, vocational or legal services?
• How often do you assess an individual’s treatment plan to ensure it meets changing needs?
• What are some of the ways that you encourage people to stay in treatment long enough to increase their chance for success?

These questions serve as a good start for your investigation of a morphine rehabilitation center. Learn more about morphine abuse at Morphine Addiction Help.

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What is Heroin, and why it can kill you

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Heroin is a member of the opiate family. Since Heroin is derived from Morphine, once it enters into the users brain it is changed back into Morphine. Heroin is particularly lethal because of its ability to enter the brain more quickly than Morphine. Addicts prefer Heroin over Morphine for this reason alone. Heroin is often seen as a white powder, that is usually dissolved in saline and injected into the bloodstream. It is also smoked and snorted as well.
What Heroin does to you
Once Heroin has been introduced into the user's body, the abuser  experiences what is called a "rush". The intensity of this "rush" varies according to the amount of the drug used and how it is introduced into the body. The "rush" is described predominately as a warm flushing sensation of the skin, while extremities feel heavy or weighted down. There have been reports of vomiting, extreme nausea and even an itching sensation.
Heroin has a powerful effect on the users' nervous system. Mental functioning becomes severely impaired, breathing is greatly slowed to the point the user becomes unconscious and dies due to the cardiac functions Image via Wikipediabreaking down. Because it is difficult to know how pure the Heroin may be at the time of purchase, overdose is a constant threat to the user.
Treatment for Heroin addiction involves initially detoxification of the users body. Detoxification rids the body of the drug and once this occurs the patient adjusts to their body being drug free. This is the first short term treatment but the long term treatment is to use various methods, such as using drugs that block the effects of the Heroin and eliminates the withdrawal symptoms experienced by the user. Studies show the most effective treatment involving Heroin addiction is by using a combination of treatments, including pharmacological treatment with behavioral therapies.
Long term damages
Using Heroin over a long period of time will render the user not only an addict but also very unwell health wise. The user will have scarred and collapsed veins,cardiac infections, bacterial infections, abscesses, soft tissue infections, HIV, AIDS, Hepatitis C, and  Hepatitis B (sharing needles), liver disease, kidney disease, lung diseases like Tuberculosis and Pneumonia. Street Heroin poses additional risks as the additives found in street Heroin often clog blood vessels that have the ability to severely compromise lungs, heart, liver and brain.
If you or someone you know needs help or information, more can be found on addiction here: