A commonly abused prescription opiate, Darvon is prescribed and dispensed as an analgesic in order to alleviate severe pain. Like other opioid medications, Darvon achieves the blockage of pain signals by acting on the body’s opioid receptors. However, due to the release of dopamine and serotonin characteristic of most prescription opiates, the drug often fosters [...]
As a prescription pain reliever, Darvocet combines the opiate propoxyphene with acetaminophen in order to block pain signals sent by the spinal cord and brain. Generally prescribed for post-surgical, chronic or moderate pain, Darvocet has earned a reputation as a mild painkiller with sedative properties. However, despite the fact that it contains less codeine than [...]
As one of the most addictive and widely used street stimulants in circulation, cocaine can create addiction even from the first use. As time progresses, the body adapts to the chemical changes cocaine initiates, leading to a cycle of chemical dependency. Additionally, cocaine causes the brain’s reward centers to activate when the drug is ingested, [...]
Ativan (in its generic form, known as lorazepam) is prescribed by mental health professionals and physicians primarily for treatment of anxiety disorders. A benzodiazepine drug, Ativan causes neural activity to slow in order to initiate anti-anxiety and sedation effects. However, when used in high dosages, Ativan can initiate euphoric sensations in the user. Though Ativan [...]
Formally used in medicine as a drug to treat Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), Adderall has also become a drug of choice for recreational users. Dealt on the street as “speed,” and often used in “academic doping” to enhance test performance, Adderall is an amphetamine that acts on chemical messengers in the brain. Creating euphoria, [...]
Ambien is a popular brand name for the prescription drug zolpidem, which is commonly prescribed for chronic insomnia. It is part of a family of drugs referred to as non-benzodiazepines, colloquially referred to as “Z-drugs,” due to the common letter in the class’s chemical compounds. When used according to doctors’ orders, Ambien is taken regularly [...]
Tylox is a codeine-derived drug prescribed specifically for the alleviation of short-term pain. As an opiate containing acetaminophen, Tylox alleviates acute pain in the body by acting to block the transmission of pain signals as they originate from the spinal cord and brain. By interacting with the body’s opioid receptors, Tylox acts as an analgesic, [...]
Prescribed to treat serious or mid-range pain, tramadol is a painkiller that belongs to the opioid family of drugs. While tramadol is usually prescribed as an analgesic, off-label and expanded uses for the drug include the treatment of fibromyalgia, restless leg syndrome, neurological disorders, reproductive issues and even, in some cases, opiate withdrawal symptoms. Tramadol [...]
An analgesic opiate, propoxyphene has been used medically to alleviate pain, suppress coughing and anesthetize patients before minor procedures. Considered a weaker form of opioid, propoxyphene serves to impede pain signals as they are transmitted from the brain to the rest of the body. Additionally, propoxyphene acts upon chemical messengers in the brain – specifically [...]
Anabolic steroids have gained a reputation for facilitating muscle building and sports performance, with notable use by bodybuilders and athletes. Through a series of complex changes in body chemistry, anabolic steroids can lead to increased physical strength in the short term. However, over time, steroids serve to initiate genetic changes, disrupt natural cell production processes [...]