opioids are drugs that are prescribed to treat moderately severe or severe pain
examples of these drugs include hydrocodone oxycodone morphine hydromorphone and methadone
heroin an illegal drug is also an opioid in order to understand how opioids work it's important to
know how your body feels pain the process begins when something harmful happens to your body
information about this harm is converted to a nerve signal
the signal passes along nerves to your spinal cord and brain
in your brain the signal is perceived as pain
opioid drugs affect how you feel pain they attach to structures called opioid receptors
these receptors are found on cells in your brain spinal cord and other areas of your body
opioids act on these receptors to make you feel less pain these drugs also have
different effects in other areas for example opioids act on the reward pathway in your brain
this causes a release of a chemical called dopamine that results in a happy feeling or high
opioids may also cause slower breathing and they may cause reduced motion of your intestines
resulting in constipation for most people when opioids are taken as prescribed for a short time
they are fairly safe and effective but these drugs can be taken in ways that weren't prescribed
such as taking too many taking them to get high or giving them to someone else misusing these
drugs can raise your risk of developing drug tolerance dependence addiction and overdose
tolerance means the drug is less effective over time
this can happen when opioid receptors become less sensitive to the effects of the drug
as a result more of the drug needs to be taken for you to get pain relief
dependence happens if a person has symptoms when they stop using the drug when the drug is removed
or withdrawn you feel sick this sickness is called withdrawal opioid withdrawal has flu-like symptoms
that include restlessness and anxiety muscle aches inability to sleep watery eyes and runny nose
nausea and vomiting stomach cramps and diarrhea and dilated or widened pupils
opioid addiction is a brain disease where you have an overwhelming craving for the drug you
can't stop taking the drug despite the harm it may cause you addiction is not the same as dependence
you can be tolerant of a drug or dependent on a drug without being addicted to it finally opioid
overdose is a condition where taking too much of the drug can cause life-threatening symptoms
or even death the symptoms of opioid overdose can include confusion feeling very sleepy or not alert
nausea and vomiting constricted or small pupils unconsciousness slow or stopped breathing
and death according to the centers for disease control over 100 americans die
each day from opioid overdoses if you have questions about opioids or if you or someone
close to you needs help for an opioid use disorder talk to your health care provider
this animation is brought to you by the nucleus medical art library or nmall where you can
download this animation and thousands of medical images and videos created by nucleus medical media
to apply for a free 30-day trial click on the link in the description
you