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Opiate drugs are another class
of pain-relieving prescription drugs.
Commonly prescribed opiates include morphine, codeine, hydromorphone
(Dilaudid), and meperidine (Demerol). (In some states, some forms
of codeine are sold without a prescription in limited amounts.)
Most of these drugs are derived from opium, the juice of the
poppy flower.
Opiate drugs work by altering the transmission of pain messages
in the brain and spinal cord, blocking pain messages or altering
their character. The pain-blocking action of the opiates can
be enhanced by taking aspirin, ibuprofen or acetaminophen at
the same time as the opiate. This hits pain with a "double-whammy."
The NSAIDS block the pain at the site of injury, while the opiates
suppress in the brain any remaining pain.
Unfortunately, the effect of opiates on the brain isn't limited
to pain control. Opiates can cause drowsiness, nausea, constipation,
and unpleasant mood changes in some people. However, sometimes
simply trying a different opiate may be all that's needed to
reduce these side effects.
(Dori Stehlin is a staff writer
for FDA Consumer) |