Addiction to Cold Medicines (DXM)

There are several categories of addictive OTC drugs. Some are taken in excessive amounts specifically to get high. Dextromethorphan (DXM) is one of the most commonly abused drugs of this type. DXM is found in many cough and cold medications and when taken in high enough doses has a similar effect as PCP. It is often combined with alcohol which both intensifies the intoxicating effect and the risk to the user’s health. Medications that include DXM may also include decongestants or painkillers, both of which can be deadly if taken in high doses. Some of the effects of DXM abuse include the following:

• Impaired motor function
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Elevated heart rate
• Elevated blood pressure

Some users may also experience hypoxic brain damage, a rare and deadly combination of depressed breathing and a lack of oxygen supply to the brain resulting from excessive decongestant consumption.

Addiction to Sleep Aids

OTC sleep aids such as Exedrin PM, Sominex and Tylenol PM can lead to accidental addiction if taken as a sleep aid for a long period of time or can be abused intentionally or combined with other drugs. Sleep aids act as central nervous system depressants and can be fatal if abused.

Addiction to Diet Pills

Diet pills can be taken in excess in order to get high. This type of use is extremely dangerous. Many teens abuse diet pills for weight loss purposes but become dependent on them in the process. Because of their connection to eating disorders diet pills present a particularly strong risk for psychological addiction.

Other Types of OTC Drug Abuse

The decongestant pseudoephedrine, sold under the brand name Sudafed, can be used in the production of methamphetamine. Nasal sprays can create a persistent nasal blockage that will leave the user completely dependent on the drug in order to breathe properly. The motion sickness drug Dramamine can cause hallucinations when abused. Even aspirin can pose a problem when abused. The bottom line is that there are many OTC drugs that, while perfectly safe when used properly, can be addictive and deadly when abused. Teens are the most common abusers of OTC drugs, and these drugs should be carefully monitored by parents and guardians.

Help Getting Clean from OTC Drugs

If you are concerned that you or someone you love may be dependent on over the counter drugs, please call our toll-free helpline any time of day or night. Many people discount the seriousness of OTC dependency. It is a serious problem that, if left untreated, can lead to major and permanent physical and psychological damage. Please call our helpline and speak with one of our specially trained addiction experts. We can answer your questions and help you find the most effective road to recovery for you.

Reasons for Prescription Drug Addiction

Prescription drug addiction often develops – and worsens – under the radar in many families. Because many addicted individuals begin with legitimate reasons for taking prescription pain medications, anti-anxiety drugs and prescription stimulants, drug use in its early stages appears legitimate – and very well might be at the onset. However, because many of these prescription medications interact with the brain’s natural chemistry – and due to the naturally developing tolerance that arises from ongoing use – addiction becomes apparent with time. Here are just a few of the ancillary reasons that prescription drug use develops and remains difficult to spot and treat until addiction has taken hold.

• Patients with Difficulty Discerning Addiction
  Many patients have difficulty telling whether or not they are addicted to prescription drugs themselves. Because physical dependency tends to exist on a continuum, individuals may experience the desire to take a given medication due to the desire for genuine pain relief, or experience relief when negative psychological sensations such as anxiety or confusion dissipate during prescription drug use. Until patients are professionally assessed for drug addiction, many individuals may not even recognize that they have become psychologically or physically addicted to prescription drugs.
• Inability to Outwardly Assess Medical Conditions
  Because the majority of prescription drugs treat psychological or pain-related conditions, outward assessment of their necessity can be difficult, for both loved ones and physicians. Most frequently, only patients themselves can measure their experiences of pain, concentration problems, anxiety issues or muscular issues. As a result, many physicians err on the side of continued prescription, providing continued access to the drug to addicted individuals.

Affordability of Prescription Drugs

Certain prescription drugs – especially in their generic forms – enjoy such widespread, legal circulation that addicted individuals can find the cost attached to ongoing use does not create immediate financial issues. Many prescription insurance plans cover the cost of medications dispensed by prescription. Additionally, due to availability, street prices of prescription drugs tend to remain low.

Various Dangers of Prescription Drug Addictions

The most commonly abused prescription drugs involve stimulants such as amphetamines, opiates such as morphine and hydrocodone, and anxiolytic drugs such as Xanax and Valium. Collectively, these prescription medications have become widely prescribed due to their effectiveness in treating conditions such as chronic or severe pain, anxiety disorders and Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD). However, when abused, these prescription drugs can lead to a host of physical and mental health problems for patients, usually due to unresolved conditions and damage from extended use of medications.

Unresolved Medical Conditions Due to Prescription Drug Addiction

When prescription drug addiction takes hold, users often are not receiving resolution of the core malady that engendered the prescription in the first place. Over time, opiates tend to lose their potency as the body builds tolerance to analgesics, and anxiety or concentration problems can actually worsen when addiction to stimulants or anxiolytic drugs sets in. Many individuals in the throes of prescription drug addiction simply have not received adequate relief as medications become less effective over time. Additionally, many patients engage in so much medication of symptoms (such as pain or panic attacks) that underlying conditions remain persistent. In many of these cases, curative therapies or alternative modes of treatment may be necessary in order to provide lasting (and possibly non-prescription) measures of relief.

Damage from Prescription Drug Addiction

As drugs take a chemical toll on the body, long-term use can lead to a host of physical symptoms. Long-term use of opiates can cause depression, mood swings, insomnia or even psychosis to set in over time. Additionally, patients may respond to long-term opiate abuse with respiratory issues, elevated blood pressure, heightened risk of cardiac problems, persistent digestive issues, muscular problems and tremors. Continued stimulant use can cause a host of physical issues itself, from rapid and irregular heartbeat to skin disorders, dehydration and dental issues. Continued use of anxiolytic drugs (such as benzodiazepines) can also lead to many physical and psychological issues, including cognitive impairment, dissociative disorders, vertigo, seizures, sensory compromise and dangerously low blood pressure.