The formal term for painkillers is analgesics, a word derived from the Greek words an (without) and algia (pain). The three most commonly used types of pain medicine today are the nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), the paracetamol based drugs and the opioid drugs.
The nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAIDs) group contains a wide range of different painkillers. Examples of commonly known NSAID painkillers are Aspirin, Diclofenac and Ibuprofen. NSAID pain killers do not only alleviate pain; they will also lower fever and decrease inflammations. They are called non-steroidal in order to discern them from the steroids, since the steroids are also used for their anti-inflammatory capacity. Aspirin was discovered in 1829 when salicylic acid was chemically isolated for the first time, but willow bark containing salicylic acid has been used as a pain killer long before the 19th century. A lot of NSAIDs are available over-the-counter but this does not mean that they are harmless. When misused, even comparatively weak NSAIDs can have severe side effects, including bleeding ulcers and photosensitivity. NSAIDs are generally not recommended during pregnancy.
Paracetamol is also known as acetaminophen. Both words are derived from the chemical name for this painkilling compound: N-acetyl-para-aminophenol and para-acetyl-amino-phenol. Two examples of commonly known brand names under which Paracetamol is marketed are Tylenol and Panadol. Painkillers containing Paracetamol will relieve pain and decrease a fever, but unlike the NSAID painkillers they have no anti-inflammatory properties. One of the advantages of Paracetamol compared to NSAIDs is that Paracetamol painkillers will not affect the blood’s ability to clot. Nor will they damage the kidney or lining of the stomach as long as you stay within the recommended limits and never use too much Paracetamol. High doses of Paracetamol will however be damaging to a wide range of bodily functions. Paracetamol should never be combined with alcohol since the liver will be overloaded with the burden of breaking down both alcohol and Paracetamol, which makes the risk of Paracetamol poisoning higher. If you are healthy, well-nourished and do not drink alcohol, a single 10 gram dose of Paracetamol can cause significant liver damage.
Opioid drugs are very potent painkillers but will come with a sever side effects, even in low concentrations. Morphine is one of the most commonly used opioids in pain killing drugs. An example of a morphine based painkiller is Tramal. Pethidine is another pain killing opiate and can be found in medications such as Alodan and Demerol. Morphine will act directly on the central nervous system and can relieve even sever pains, such as post surgery pains and cancer pains. Morphine is addictive and it is important that it is used with caution. The addiction can be physical as well as physiological. The side effects are also both physical and psychological. Among the physical side effects are constipation and an inhibition of the cough reflex. Psychological side effects include euphoria as well as nightmares, and drowsiness can come hand in hand with insomnia. Morphine was isolated from opium in 1803 by Friedrich Serturner, a German pharmacist. He named it morphium after the Greek god of dreams, Morpheus. Serturner soon discovered its usefulness as a painkiller, but morphine didn’t grow really popular until the hypodermic needle was invented in 1853.
Some prescription drugs can become addictive, especially when they are used in a manner inconsistent with their labeling or for reasons they were not prescribed. Those include narcotic painkillers like OxyContin or Vicodin, sedatives and tranquilizers like Xanax or Valium, and stimulants like Dexedrine, Adderall or Ritalin.
Steroid abuse is also on the rise. Steroids are prescription drugs that are legally prescribed to treat a variety of medical conditions that cause loss of lean muscle mass, such as cancer and AIDS. Men consistently report higher rates of steroid use than women. In 2008, 2.5 percent of 12th grade males, versus 0.6 percent of 12th grade females, reported taking the drugs in the past year.
In 2000, about 43 percent of hospital emergency admissions for drug overdoses (nearly 500,000 people) happened because of misused prescription drugs. This type of drug abuse is increasing partially because of the availability of drugs, including online pharmacies that make it easier to get the drugs without a prescription, even for minors.
There may also be a perception, especially among younger people, that prescription drugs are safer than illegal street drugs. Most people don’t lock up their prescription medications, nor do they discard them when they are no longer needed for their intended use, making them vulnerable to theft or misuse.
Prescription drug abuse is generally the same between men and women, except among 12 to 17 year olds. In this age group, research conducted by the National Institute on Drug Abuse found that females are more likely to use psychotherapeutic drugs for non-medical purposes. Research has also shown that women in general are more likely to use narcotic pain relievers and tranquilizers for non-medical purposes.
The number of teens and young adults (ages 12 to 25) who were new abusers of prescription painkillers grew from 400,000 in the mid-’80s to 2 million in 2000, according to a study by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. New misusers of tranquilizers, which are normally used to treat anxiety or tension, increased nearly 50 percent between 1999 and 2000 alone.
In a study of students in Wisconsin and Minnesota, 34 percent of kids diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) said they had been approached to sell or trade their Ritalin or Adderall, two drugs commonly used to treat symptoms of ADHD.
The growing population of aging Baby Boomers are also prime candidates for prescription drug abuse, intentional or not, as are the elderly. Once someone begins taking a number of pills for things like managing blood pressure and cholesterol, it becomes easier to take narcotic pain killers, prescription sleep aids and other, more addictive drugs. It also increases the risk of negative and possibly fatal interactions between drugs, especially when they are not used as prescribed.
More and more people rely upon the daily use of prescription medications. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), it is estimated that in the United States alone, almost half of all people are taking at least one prescription medication while 1 in 6 people are taking three or more medications (Source: CDC 2004 Press Release).
There is no question that when used and dispensed properly, prescription drugs do improve health and save lives. However, the unfortunate fact remains that along with the good prescription drugs provide, there is always the risk of a medication error occurring when the drug is dispensed and taken. In fact, medication errors occur all too frequently, sometimes with deadly results.
Medication safety begins with you. Here are some steps you can follow to help your family avoid medication errors:
- Always make sure your doctor’s office and your pharmacy know all of the prescription medications, herbal supplements, vitamins and over-the-counter medications your family member is taking and any known allergies they may have. This can help prevent dangerous drug interactions, allergic reactions, or overdoses. Keep a current list of all the medications your family members take and make sure you update it when something changes. This medication list should include information such as the name of medication taken, the strength, form (pill, liquid, etc.), how often taken, and when the medication was started.
- Have all your prescriptions filled at the same pharmacy. Pharmacies have computer programs that can check for harmful drug interactions between different medicines being taken at the same time as well as possible allergic reactions. However, in order for this to work, the pharmacy needs to know all medications, vitamins, and supplements you or your family members are taking as well as any known allergies. Having all your prescriptions filled at one pharmacy also allows your medical providers to access all your medication information from one source. This can save valuable time and confusion.
- If possible, get your new prescriptions in writing to take to the pharmacy to be filled. Mistakes can happen when prescriptions are called in by phone — remember playing “the telephone game” as a child? One child will whisper to another child who will repeat the same thing to another child and so on until the last child says out loud what he or she heard. Remember how the end story never matched the beginning one? Unfortunately, this can happen with prescriptions too. Written prescriptions eliminate errors due to communication problems over the telephone.
- Make sure you know from your doctor’s office the following information about the drug being given: name, strength, directions for taking/using it, number/amount given, and why the drug is being given. You may need your doctor or someone from his/her office to write this information down for you on a separate sheet of paper. (Never write on, or alter, a prescription you are given from your doctor.) Knowing this information can help you double check that you did receive the right medication from your pharmacy. This step acts as a double check that your written prescription was filled as your doctor intended. It is especially important to understand as much information about a new medication before you leave your doctor’s office. Additional prescription medication information can also be found in reference books available at your local library or bookstore (pill books, PDR), or at on-line sites like
- If you are simply refilling a prescription, be sure the refilled drug matches the drug your family member has been taking. If they do not match exactly, then you need find out why. If you are used to receiving little orange tablets and instead you have been given larger white tablets, you need to find out what is going on. You may have been given a different company’s drug or you may have been given the wrong drug. Do not have your family member take any questionable refill medications until you can check with your pharmacist to make sure you have the right medication. If the medication is different, check with your doctor to see if your family member is supposed to take a different medication.
- If you are filling a prescription for a child, an elderly person or someone who is extremely overweight or underweight, make sure the doctor and pharmacist know the age and weight of the patient. Medication amounts are often based upon the weight of the patient especially for children. Also, some medications are not given to children until they reach certain ages. Similarly, some medications should be avoided for senior citizens.
- Have your family member take all medications as instructed (right number of doses, avoid certain foods, etc.) and keep a list of any problems they experience while on a medication. Problems should be shared with your doctor’s office. They can help you decide how serious the problem is and if adjustments to your medication are needed.
- Making sure you get the right medications in a hospital or nursing home is much harder to do since you do not see original packaging and you may be receiving some medication through an I.V. (receiving drugs through a vein). In addition, you may be sleeping or not feeling well when the medication is given. In these cases, do the best you can and always ask what medications are being given and what they are for. Be sure the person who is giving the medication is aware of any allergies you may have. If you are the patient and are not able to ask questions, then have your patient advocate (who knows your medical and prescription history) find out what drugs have been prescribed for you and why. Your patient advocate can then help verify if you are receiving the correct medications. You can do the same thing for a family member if you are their patient advocate. Some hospitals and pharmacies are now beginning to use bar code systems and other technology to help prevent drug-dispensing errors. However, not all hospitals are doing this yet, and no system is perfect. Therefore, it’s still best to double-check what drugs are being given to you at all times.
Prescription drug abuse is a growing problem throughout the country. The basic reasons for abusing prescription drugs are much the same as abusing any type of drug. For example, some people abuse prescription drugs so they can “loosen up,” while others do so in hopes of losing weight, having fun, or simply fitting in. Another reason for the growing trend in prescription drug abuse is the fact that many people mistakenly think these drugs are “safe” because they are medically prescribed. In truth, prescription drugs can be just as dangerous as illegal drugs when used incorrectly or for the wrong reasons.
The Dangers of Prescription Drug Abuse
Frighteningly, a 2003 survey on drug use conducted in the United States found that nearly 25% of youth between the ages of 12 and 17 have used prescription drugs for recreational purposes. This statistic is truly scary when considering all of the potential dangers of prescription drug abuse.
Those who abuse prescription drugs often encounter problems at home, in school, and at work. Many also have problems with the law because they are more likely to commit a crime when abusing drugs. Of course, prescription drug abuse also has serious health ramifications. Taking an opioid, for example, can lower a person’s breathing rate and can lead to death.
Taking depressants and then quitting their use without proper medical supervision can cause seizures to occur. In addition, taking these medications along with other drugs, such as alcohol or allergy medication, can slow the person’s breathing and heart rate. This, too, can lead to death.
Other prescription drugs can cause heart failure, dangerously high body temperatures, irregular heartbeat, and more. Furthermore, as with any drug, a person that abuses prescription drugs can become addicted and will go through withdrawal symptoms when unable to use the drug.
Getting Treatment for Prescription Drug Abuse
For those that have become addicted to prescription drugs, there are a number of treatment options to consider. The two main categories of treatment, however, are behavioral modification and pharmacological.
With behavioral treatments, the addict is taught how to function on a daily basis without the drugs. This includes learning how to best handle cravings and how to avoid situations that could potentially lead to drug use. With pharmacological treatments, on the other hand, the addict is given replacement medications to help with the withdrawal symptoms and then this drug is slowly weaned away.
1. You May Qualify for a Free Drug program.
· There are over 1,100 drugs that are made by 100
manufacturers who have free drug programs. Most major drug
companies provide free medications, but rarely, if ever
publicize their programs. An estimated two billion dollars
of free medication is given away annually.
· Larry’s father has prostate cancer and takes Casodex
every day, which costs $300 a month in the US, and $180 from
Mexico. He sent his father’s information to see if he
qualified. He recently found out his father did qualify to
receive the drug free. Larry just happened to see a small
article buried inside the newspaper. He never knew these
programs existed.
· A complete list of drugs and manufacturers’ programs is
available. For more information vis
2. Get a Pharmacy Discount Card for Free.
· There are five free discount cards for Senior citizens.
The discount cards cover over 200 popular medications.
3. Save Up to 93% by Asking for a Generic
· Use generics whenever they are available. Both brand name
and generic drugs contain the same active ingredients, are
the same in strength and dosage, meet the same government
quality control standards.
· According to Mark Erblat, Pharmacy Director and owner of
Rx For You, cost savings on brand name vs. generic will vary
from drug to drug and pharmacy to pharmacy but can be
significant. For instance:
· Prozac brand 20mg, 100 tablets cost $280.19 and generic
sells for $29.99 (Savings 89%)
· Vasotec brand 5mg, 100 tablets costs $103.59 and generic
sells for $18.19 (Savings 82%)
· Zantac brand 150mg 100 tablets costs $173.39 and generic
sells for $10.99 (Savings 93%)
· Zestril brand 10mg 100 tablets costs $96.29 and generic
sells for $39.99 (Savings 58%)
4. Veterans Now Qualify for More Benefits.
· Recent laws have changed that grant veterans medical
benefits for certain illnesses like diabetes and
hypertension, provided the veteran is subject to qualifying
conditions like agent orange exposure.
· See if you qualify for benefits by checking with the
Veteran’s Administration.
5. Cut Your Costs in Half… by Using a Pill Splitter.
· Most pharmacies should stock pill splitters. Sometimes,
medications can be broken in half and save you 50%. The
reason is because several pharmaceutical manufacturers price
some of their medications the same for all strengths.
· Lipitor is essentially the same price for all strengths.
It is possible to save as much as $100 on a one month supply
of Lipitor just by getting the larger strength and cutting
in half. Ask your pharmacist.
· This method may not be appropriate for all medications and
could be dangerous if used with the wrong medication.
· Begin by asking your doctor or pharmacist if your
medication is available in a dose double your normal dosage
(ex, if you usually take a 20 mg. pill, is a 40 mg. pill
available?). If it is, ask whether there would be any
problems with splitting the tablets or capsules.
· Now, do a cost comparison between the two dosages. If the
higher dose is less than double the cost for your regular
dose then you will be saving money by having your doctor
prescribe the higher dose and then splitting it. Cost savings is
typically 32% to 50%.
. Viagra is another medication that lends itself to being
split in half or quarters to save 50% to 75% depending upon
the dosage required. The average Viagra user who uses two
doses per week can save over $400.00 per year.
· This method is not appropriate for all medications. Check
with your pharmacist. Some easily split medications include:
Ambien, Aricept, Buspar, Effexor, Lipitor, Luvox, Paxil,
Remeron, Risperidal, Seroquel, Serzone, Viagra, Zoloft,
Zyprexa. (Ask your pharmacist about others)
6. Save by Buying a 90 vs. 30-Day Supply.
· Most pharmacies have higher savings on a longer days
supply. In addition, when it comes to people who have
insurance prescription coverage, there may be other savings
by getting a larger day supply.
· For instance, if you have a $10 co-pay, the insurance
company will let you get only a 30 days supply in general
for that $10. A 90-day supply bought with out insurance may
only cost you $18.
· This would be much cheaper than paying $10 per month ($30
for 90 days). It would also save you two trips to the
pharmacy.
7. Ask for an Older Medication That is as Effective.
· Many pharmacists agree, that antibiotics are probably the
most over prescribed, or incorrectly prescribed medications.
Often, the physician will prescribe a newer antibiotic that
has been promoted as more effective. What this really means
is that it is considerably more expensive.
· The newer antibiotics are often no more effective than the
older antibiotics. However, they are new and covered by
patent protection. Therefore, the newer medication is more
effective in ensuring a nice profit for the drug
manufacturer for many years.
· Since many generics are made in the same factory as the
brand name ones, make sure you ask your doctor for a
generic antibiotic. A great generic broad- spectrum
antibiotic costs 80% less than a new antibiotic. In dollars,
it costs you $20 instead of $100.
8. Over-the-Counter Drugs May be as Effective as the
Prescription Drug.
· Many doctors still prescribe Pepcid 20mg to their
patients. A one-month supply of Pepcid 20mg cost
approximately $60. Pepcid AC, over-the-counter in 10mg
strength, taking double the dose costs approximately $23.
· Most prescription cold medications average $20 to $60 for
a one month supply and contain the same decongestant that is
available over-the-counter for less than $2.
9. Get Only a 7-day Supply of New Medication.
· If the doctor does not have samples, ask your pharmacist
to give you only a one-week supply to try. It is a federal
law that medicines can’t be returned once they are
dispensed. If you get a month’s supply and can’t tolerate
the medicine, you have just lost that money.
10. Stop Using Drugs You No Longer Need.
· Review all your prescriptions with your doctor at each
visit. You may be paying for some drugs you no longer need.
· Doctor run provides a custom analysis of
your medications to save you money. You can get a free, no
obligation, Cost Screening to find out how much you can
save.
· Also ask your pharmacist to review your medications in
addition to your doctor. Here is why. A pharmacist’s
valuable services and knowledge are free. He may also find
something your doctor missed.
· A lady developed a persistent cough after she had been
taking a blood pressure medication for approximately 3
months. Her doctor treated her cough with antibiotics and
cough syrup for 6 months. She asked her pharmacist about her
cough lasting so long. The pharmacist found that a possible
side effect of her new blood pressure medication was a
persistent cough. Her doctor argued but changed her medicine
and her cough stopped. The lady had spent over $750 in
doctor’s fees and medication just to treat the cough.
· A mother was giving her daughter antibiotics to treat a
kidney infection. Her daughter consistently had a fever.
This continued for several months. The baby’s pediatrician
prescribed several antibiotics unsuccessfully. After
searching the literature, the pharmacist discovered that the
antibiotic had a side effect of persistent low-grade fever.
In the end, the mother had spent over $500 on doctor visits
and prescription cost.
· Don’t hesitate to ask your pharmacist questions, their
advice is free and can often save you money and aggravation.
Ask questions about side effects, and drug interactions.
