Drug Abuse: Prescribed Pain Medicines and Sedatives

Health problems

Drug abuse can be linked to many health problems. Different medicines have different risks. Some health problems caused by drug use are affected by the other medicines you may be taking. Some may be caused by a chronic illness you may have. Some are closely related to the drugs, and others from addiction or dependency. Risks may include:

• Drowsiness or sleeping for long periods.

• Anxiety.

• Trouble thinking and problem solving.

• Seizures.

• Blood pressure problems.

• Depression.

• Trouble sleeping (insomnia).

• Nausea, vomiting, and stomach problems.

• Slurred speech.

• Trouble breathing.

• Dizziness.

• Skin infections.

• Muscle pain and spasms.

• Strokes, heart attacks, and kidney failure.

• HIV infection. You're at much greater risk for this if you use I.V. (intravenous) drugs.

• Other sexually transmitted infections (STIs) such as herpes, chlamydia, or gonorrhea.

• Severe and fatal infection of the heart valves if you use I.V. drugs.

• Coma and death.

Get care

Taking these steps can help you.

• Admit to yourself, your family, and your close friends that you have a drug problem. Ask them to help you deal with it.

• Tell your health care providers about this problem. They can help you by adjusting the type and amount of medicines that they give you in the future. It's best to get all prescriptions for addictive medicines from a single provider. They can check what's being prescribed. Don't be ashamed to ask for this. Providers hear this often. They're glad when people are being pro-active about drug use and their health.

• Ask your provider for a referral for professional help. This could be 1-on-1 talk therapy (counseling), family therapy, or a drug treatment program. The treatment program can be outpatient, which means you go home each day. Or you may stay day and night in the facility for treatment (residential).

• Join a self-help group for drug abuse.

• Stay away from friends who abuse drugs or tempt you to keep abusing drugs.

• Don't use pain medicines and sedatives together or with alcohol. This can cause too much sedation or coma. It can stop your breathing.

Follow-up care

Follow up with your health care provider as advised.

Call 911

Call 911 if you have:

• A seizure.

• A hard time breathing or slow, irregular breathing.

• Chest pain.

• Sudden weakness on one side of your body or sudden trouble speaking.

• Extreme drowsiness or trouble waking up.

• Fainting or not being awake and aware (loss of consciousness).

• Fast heart rate.

• Very slow heart rate.

When to get medical advice

Contact your health care provider right away if you have: 

• Agitation or anxiety, or you can't sleep.

• Unintended weight loss.

• Fever of 100.4°F (38°C) or higher, or as directed by your health care provider.

• Cough with colored sputum.

To learn more

Find more information with these resources:

• Narcotics Anonymous at https://www.na.org/.

• Find alcohol, drug, or mental health treatment facilities and programs around the country at Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) at https://findtreatment.samhsa.gov/ or 1-800-662-HELP (4357)

• Find specific treatment programs in your state that treat addiction and dependence on opioids, such as heroin or prescription pain relievers, at SAMHSA Opiod Treatment Program Directory at https://dpt2.samhsa.gov/treatment/