Transcript Prescription Drugs

Prescription Drugs
Prescription Drugs
• 3 Specific Classifications of Prescription Drugs
– Narcotics
– Stimulants
– Depressants
• Terms
Prescription Drugs
– Over-The-Counter
• OTC drug labels contain information about ingredients,
uses, warnings and directions that are important to
read and understand.
– Drug-Drug InteractionsDrug• Drug interactions occur when two or more drugs react
with each other. This may cause you to experience an
unexpected side effect.
– Drug-Condition Interactions
• Drug-condition interactions may occur when an existing
medical condition makes certain drugs potentially
harmful.
Prescription Drugs
• Many teens mistakenly believe that
pharmaceuticals (prescription drugs) are safer
than “street drugs” for a variety of reasons:
– These are medicines
– They can be obtained from doctors, pharmacies,
friends or family members;
– It’s not necessary to buy them from traditional
“drug dealers”;
– Information on the effects of these drugs is
widely available
Prescription Drugs
• Narcotics
– They are the most used and abused drugs in the
U.S. today.
– They are used to aleve varying types of pain.
– They work by attaching to certain proteins in the
brain and spinal cord that are responsible for pain.
Once attach they can change the way that
someone feels pain.
Prescription Drugs
• Nacotics
– The narcotics also affect the region of the brain
that is responsible for pleasure, this making
someone feel like they are in a state of euphoria.
Prescription Drugs
• Narcotics
– Short Term Effects –
• Drowsiness
• Constipation
• Short Breath
– Long Term Effects –
• Physical Dependence
• Physical Tolerance
Prescription Drugs
• Narcotics
– Specific Types
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Oxycontin
Vicodin
Codeine
Demerol
Percocet
Morphine
Prescription Drugs
• Oxycontin
– History
• Developed in Germany in 1916. It was designed to be a
better medication other than heroin, codeine, and even
morphine.
• At that time, no one thought that this new drug would
become one of the most widely used and abused
prescription drugs of all time.
• Oxycodone first came to the U.S. in 1939.
• It wasn’t until 1996 that it became widely used.
• By 2001 it was the best selling narcotic pain reliever in the
country.
Prescription Drugs
• Oxycontin
– Short Term Effects
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nausea
Vomiting
constipation
loss of appetite
Dizziness
Headache
tired feeling
dry mouth
Sweating
itching.
Prescription Drugs
• Vicodin
– Contains a combination of
acetaminophen and
hydrocodone
– It is used to relieve moderate
to severe pain.
• Side Effects
– shallow breathing
– slow heartbeat
– feeling light-headed
– fainting
– Confusion
– Fear
– unusual thoughts or behavior
• Side Effects (con’t)
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seizure (convulsions);
problems with urination
feeling anxious
mild nausea
Vomiting
constipation
Headache
mood changes
blurred vision
dry mouth.
Prescription Drug
• Percocet
– A combination of
acetaminophen and
oxycodone.
– Used to relieve severe
pain.
• Side Effects
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shallow breathing
slow heartbeat
feeling light-headed
loss of appetite
jaundice (yellowing of
the skin or eyes)
– drowsy
– constipation
– blurred vision
Prescription Drugs
• Morhphine
– Used for moderate pain
relieve.
– Comes in a liquid form or
an injection.
– Highly addicting.
• Side Effects
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shallow breathing
slow heartbeat
seizure (convulsions)
warmth
tingling, or redness
under your skin
– Memory problems
– Sleep problems
(insomnia)
Prescription Drugs
• Stimulants
– Drugs that increase alertness and energy.
– Most typically prescribed for individuals that have
attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder.
– Also prescribed for some forms of narcolepsy
(sleeping disorder), along with depression.
– Most common types are Ritalin and Adderall
– Chemicals in these medicines cause the increase
of dopamine.
Prescription Drugs
• Ritalin
– Affects areas of the brain
that are responsible for
hyperactivity.
– Used to treat ADD and
ADHD
– Also used to treat
narcolepsy (sleeping
disorder).
• Side Effects
– fast, pounding, or uneven
heartbeats
– aggression
– Restlessness
– motor tics (muscle twitches)
– loss of appetite
– Sweating
– nervous feeling
– weight loss
– insomnia
Prescription Drugs
• Adderall
– Used to help with
hyperactivity such as
ADHD.
– Is very addicting
– Long term use can result
in stunting of growth in
young people.
• Side Effects
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feeling light-headed
Tremor
unusual behavior
motor tics (muscle
twitches)
– dry mouth or an
unpleasant taste in your
mouth
– Loss of appetite
Prescription Drugs
• Depressants
– They are used to treat anxiety disorders and shortterm sleeping problems.
– There are two types of depressant prescription
drugs
• Barbiturates
• Benzodiazepines
Prescription Drugs
• Barbiturates
– Are used to treat anxiety
(stress), tension, and
sleeping disorders
• Benzodiazepines
– Used to treat anxiety,
acute stress reactions,
and panic attacks.
– Examples:
• Valium
• Xanax
Prescription Drugs
• Valium
– It affects chemicals in
the brain that may
become unbalanced and
cause anxiety.
– used in the management
of anxiety disorders,
shakiness, and
hallucinations during
alcohol withdrawal and
to relieve certain types
of muscle pain.
• Side Effects
– unusual thoughts
– unusual risk-taking
behavior
– decreased inhibitions
– depressed mood
– hostility
– muscle twitching
– Jaundice
– Nightmares
– lack of balance or
coordination
Prescription Drugs
• Xanax
– It helps that chemicals in
the brain that may
become unbalanced and
cause anxiety.
– Also used to treat
anxiety disorders, panic
disorders, and anxiety
caused by depression.
• Side Effects
– unusual risk-taking behavior
– decreased inhibitions
– thoughts of suicide or hurting
yourself
– agitation
– Hostility
– feeling irritable
– amnesia or forgetfulness,
trouble concentrating
– slurred speech