Saskatchewan Federation of Police Officers 43 PRESCRIPTION MEDICATIONS Prescription medications are given by doctors, pharmacists, nurse practitioners or dentists to people who need them for medical reasons.These medications are available at pharmacies with a prescription.They can be very effective when taken as prescribed, and can enhance a person’s quality of life. For example, they can help prevent a heart attack or stroke, reduce pain, clear an infection, or help a person fall asleep. It is important to take your medication in the way that your prescriber has instructed. continued Proper Use When prescribing medications, your health care provider takes into account many factors such as body weight, other medications you are taking, your age, and health conditions. If a drug is taken in a different way than it was prescribed (such as taking higher doses, sniffing rather than swallowing a tablet), the body could react differently. This could increase the risk of addiction and/or overdose. However, if taken as prescribed, prescription medications are safe and can help treat various physical and mental health related symptoms. How does it work? Most prescription medications come in the form of a tablet or capsule.The drug enters the bloodstream and travels to different parts of the body. Some drugs exert their effect on the brain. This causes your brain to send out different messages. For example, Central Nervous System (CNS) depressants or sedatives send messages from the brain that slow down bodily functions and make you feel sleepy and relaxed. Medications and Misuse Misuse of prescription medication can cause serious harm and in some cases can lead to addiction.When prescriptions are ‘misused’ they are used in a way that was not intended by a health care provider.This includes taking more than prescribed, mixing different medications (prescription and/or overthecounter), or consuming alcohol with medications. It is also considered ‘misuse’ when you use someone else’s prescription. The three types of drugs that are misused most often are: opioids, CNS depressants, and stimulants. Examples include: • Opioids – hydromorphone, morphine, oxycodone, codeine, meperidine, fentanyl, methadone; • CNS depressants (sedatives) – lorazepam, diazepam, alprazolam; and • Stimulants – amphetamines, methylphenidate. Opioids Opioids are mainly used to reduce pain related to surgery, disease or injury. Opioids such as methadone or buprenorphine are prescribed for people who have addictions to other opioids (such as oxycodone or heroin). Opioids, like many other prescription medications, have side effects associated with them.Your prescriber will give you the most appropriate dose of medication and can offer advice on proper management of your symptoms. If you are using this medication as prescribed, its benefits can outweigh the risks. Misuse of opioids can sometimes cause you to feel ‘high’, an intense feeling of pleasure, which could lead to abuse of the drug. There are serious consequences associated with misuse of opioids, including some which are life-threatening.
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