Long Term Opioid Use Side Effects

The long term opioid use side effects are extremely dangerous, don’t ignore the signs.

Opioid is a drug that works on a person’s nervous system to alleviate pain. Prolonged use and abuse leads to physical dependence and severe withdrawal symptoms. The long term opioid use side effects are enough to make you think twice, or act quicker if you notice these signs in a loved on. These drugs come in tablets, capsules or liquid. Some of the brand names are:

• Fiorional with Codeine
• Robitussin A-C
• Tylenol with Codeine
• Roxanol
• Demerol
• OxyContin
• Percodan
• Percocet
• Tylox
• Dilaudid

Some Long term opioid use side effects:

• Nausea and vomiting.
• Abdominal distention and bloating.
• Liver damage
• Brain damage
• Loss of appetite
• Dry mouth
• Dizziness
• Stomach pain
• Weakness
• Mood changes
• Aggression

Some of the long-term opioid use side effects of Opiates on your respiratory system. When overdosing on opioid analgesics or heroin has been known to cause respiratory depression, this is a slowing of breathing. In ample doses, respiratory arrest can deprive the brain and body tissues of oxygen.

Over long periods, opioids have numerous effects, they can be good as well as bad. Some people find that opioids are extremely effective at managing their pain, especially for those suffering from severe pain. These are people that actually use opioids as prescribed by a physician after surgery or an injury. But, even if prescribed the long-term usage of the opioids carries risks that you should speak to your physician about.

Now, the bad news; opioids, over time, can have damaging psychological as well as physiological effects, plus dependency. Causing severe long-term opioid use side effects. Many of these effects can last a lifetime. Long term use of opioids for recreational purposes which are abused in high doses will lead to life changing damage to your body and mind.

Long term effects of opiates on organs shows that, opioid abuse has been known to cause Liver and Kidney failure.  Heroin abuse has been connected to high levels of protein in urine, this is a medical condition that leads to kidney failure. One of the psychological effects of long term opiate use is a reduction in your brain’s ability to adjust to new information. This can account for a shift from a controlled use to a compulsive use.

Long term effects of opiates on organs can be severe such as causing brain damage. Brain disintegration develops over time after extreme opioid use. Damage to the brain also occurs form overdoses and head injuries that occur when a user is in the throes of their high. Remnants of these injuries can be traced back due to a lack of oxygen to the brain, from either the overdoses or head injuries. These psychological effects of long term opiate use are commonly found in opioid addicts.

Even without head traumas they are finding through new research that, the brain of opioid addicts showed brain damage like what you see in the early stages of Alzheimer’s patients. The sad part is that the average age of these addicts was twenty-six years old.

Opiates can reduce the action of the muscles in the intestines, causing a persistent constipation problem. Resulting in anal fissures, hemorrhoids and rectum damage that has been known to need surgery to repair. When bowel movements stop these long term opioid use side effects have caused a rupturing that can be very dangerous. Addicts have been known to allow themselves to begin withdrawal for several days just to cause their bodies to have diarrhea, which is one of the effects of withdrawal just to be able to move their bowels. They do this to avoid the ruptures and need for surgeries.

If you or a loved one needs help with abuse and/or treatment, please call the WhiteSands Treatment at (877) 855-3470. Our addiction specialists can assess your recovery needs and help you get the addiction treatment that provides the best chance for your long-term recovery.