Is it safe to use opioid drugs with other medications?
Only under a physician’s supervision can opioids be used safely with other drugs. Typically, they should not be used with other substances that depress the CNS, such as alcohol, antihistamines, barbiturates, benzodiazepines, or general anesthetics, because these combinations increase the risk of life-threatening respiratory depression. 1 A common vocabulary has not been established in the field of prescription drug abuse. Because much of the data collected in this area focuses on nonmedical use of prescription drugs, the definition of abuse used in this report does not correspond to the definition of abuse/dependence listed in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM). 2 This does not apply only to opioids. Changes in routes of administration also contribute to the abuse of other prescription medications, and this practice can lead to serious medical consequences.
• What are CNS depressants? • How do CNS depressants affects the brain and the body? • What are the possible consequences of CNS depressants use and abuse? • Is it safe to use CNS depressants with other medications? • What are stimulants? • How do stimulants affect the brain and body? • What are the possible consequences of stimulant use and abuse? • Is it safe to use stimulant with other medications? • What are the Trends in prescription drug abuse in older adults? • What are the Trends in prescription drug abuse in Adolescents and young adults? • What are the trends of prescription drug abuse in different in genders? • What is the role of health care providers in preventing and recognizing prescription drug abuse? • What is the treatment of addiction to prescription stimulants? • What is the treatment of addiction to prescription opioids? • How can you help prevent prescription drug misuse or abuse? • What are some of the issues and challenges associated with the abuse of prescriptio
