What's Medical Marijuana: Dangers Of Percocet, Vicodin & Morphine

In February of 2010 investigators the University of California Center for Medicinal Cannabis Research publicly announced the findings of a series of randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trials on the medical utility of inhaled cannabis. The studies, which utilized the so-called 'gold standard' FDA clinical trial design, concluded that marijuana ought to be a "first line treatment" for patients with neuropathy and other serious illnesses.

DEA Director, Asa Hutchinson, recently stated, "We all have sympathy for folks that need medication, but we have to listen to the scientific and medical community, and they're saying that marijuana has no legitimate medical purpose."

The fact of the matter is that their are many in those specific communities who have called for patients to have immediate access to medical marijuana as a FIRST LINE TREATMENT.

Here are a few:

THREE POPULAR PRESCRIPTIONS FOR EASING PAIN THE GOVERNMENT ENDORCES

PERCOCET

COMMON SIDE EFFECTS:

Constipation; dizziness; drowsiness; flushing; light-headedness; nausea; vomiting.

SERIOUS SIDE EFFECTS:

Severe allergic reactions (rash; hives; difficulty breathing; tightness in the chest; swelling of the mouth, face, lips, throat, or tongue; unusual hoarseness); burning, numbness, or tingling; change in amount of urine produced; confusion; fainting; fast, slow, or irregular heartbeat; fever, chills, or persistent sore throat; hallucinations; hearing loss; mental or mood changes (eg, agitation, anxiety, depression); seizures; severe or persistent constipation; severe or persistent dizziness, headache, or light-headedness; shortness of breath; slow or difficult breathing; stomach or back pain; symptoms of liver problems (eg, yellowing of the skin or eyes, pale stools, dark urine, persistent loss of appetite); tremors; trouble urinating; unusual bruising or bleeding; unusual tiredness or weakness; vision changes.

Serious adverse reactions that may be associated with Percocet tablet use include respiratory depression, apnea, respiratory arrest, circulatory depression, hypotension, and shock.
The most frequently observed non-serious adverse reactions include lightheadedness, dizziness, drowsiness or sedation, nausea, and vomiting. These effects seem to be more prominent in ambulatory than in nonambulatory patients, and some of these adverse reactions may be alleviated if the patient lies down. Other adverse reactions include euphoria, dysphoria, constipation, and pruritus.
Hypersensitivity reactions may include: Skin eruptions, urticarial, erythematous skin reactions. Hematologic reactions may include: Thrombocytopenia, neutropenia, pancytopenia, hemolytic anemia. Rare cases of agranulocytosis has likewise been associated with acetaminophen use. In high doses, the most serious adverse effect is a dose-dependent, potentially fatal hepatic necrosis. Renal tubular necrosis and hypoglycemic coma also may occur.
Other adverse reactions obtained from postmarketing experiences with Percocet tablets are listed by organ system and in decreasing order of severity and/or frequency as follows:

Body as a Whole: Anaphylactoid reaction, allergic reaction, malaise, asthenia, fatigue, chest pain, fever, hypothermia, thirst, headache, increased sweating, accidental overdose, non-accidental overdose

Cardiovascular: Hypotension, hypertension, tachycardia, orthostatic hypotension, bradycardia, palpitations, dysrhythmias

Central and Peripheral Nervous System: Stupor, tremor, paraesthesia, hypoaesthesia, lethargy, seizures, anxiety, mental impairment, agitation, cerebral edema, confusion, dizziness

Fluid and Electrolyte: Dehydration, hyperkalemia, metabolic acidosis, respiratory alkalosis

Gastrointestinal: Dyspepsia, taste disturbances, abdominal pain, abdominal distention, sweating increased, diarrhea, dry mouth, flatulence, gastro-intestinal disorder, nausea, vomiting, pancreatitis, intestinal obstruction, ileus

Hepatic: Transient elevations of hepatic enzymes, increase in bilirubin, hepatitis, hepatic failure, jaundice, hepatotoxicity, hepatic disorder

Hearing and Vestibular: Hearing loss, tinnitus

Hematologic: Thrombocytopenia

Hypersensitivity: Acute anaphylaxis, angioedema, asthma, bronchospasm, laryngeal edema, urticaria, anaphylactoid reaction

Metabolic and Nutritional: Hypoglycemia, hyperglycemia, acidosis, alkalosis

Musculoskeletal: Myalgia, rhabdomyolysis

Ocular: Miosis, visual disturbances, red eye

Psychiatric: Drug dependence, drug abuse, insomnia, confusion, anxiety, agitation, depressed level of consciousness, nervousness, hallucination, somnolence, depression, suicide

Respiratory System: Bronchospasm, dyspnea, hyperpnea, pulmonary edema, tachypnea, aspiration, hypoventilation, laryngeal edema

Skin and Appendages: Erythema, urticaria, rash, flushing

Urogenital: Interstitial nephritis, papillary necrosis, proteinuria, renal insufficiency and failure, urinary retention

OVERDOSE:
A Percocet overdose can occur when an individual accidentally or intentionally takes more of the drug than the body can process. Percocet is a narcotic that is combined with acetaminophen for the synergistic effect on pain. Some brand names for Percocet are Roxicet and Tylox; these medications are dispensed in tablet form in doses to be taken orally; chewing or crushing the pills so that the drug can be snorted or injected, sill greatly increase the risk of a potentially fatal Percocet overdose.
Although Percocet is often praised by the medical community because of its ability to relieve pain, it is also one of the most widely abused prescription drugs in the United States. Ordering the drug illegally over the internet increases the risk of a Percocet overdose, because medication amounts are not regulated. Percocet should never be combined with alcohol or other types of certain drugs that include antispasmodic drugs such as Cogentin and Donnatal; tranquilizers such as Thorazine and Mellaril; other types of narcotic painkillers such as Demerol and Darvon; sedatives such as Phenobarbital and Seconal; and tranquilizers such as Xanax and Valium, just to name a select few. Combining this medication with any of these various types of drugs could result in a potentially fatal Percocet overdose.

VICODEN

COMMON SIDE EFFECTS:

Blurred vision; constipation; difficulty breathing; dizziness; drowsiness; flushing; lightheadedness; mental/mood changes; nausea; vomiting.

SERIOUS SIDE EFFECTS:

Severe allergic reactions (rash; hives; itching; difficulty breathing; tightness in the chest; swelling of the mouth, face, lips, or tongue); anxiety; change in the amount of urine; change or loss in hearing; fear; interrupted breathing; mental or mood changes; unusual tiredness.

Central Nervous System: Drowsiness, mental clouding, lethargy, impairment of mental and physical performance, anxiety, fear, dysphoria, psychic dependence, mood changes.

Gastrointestinal System: Prolonged administration of Vicodin Tablets may produce constipation.

Genitourinary System: Ureteral spasm, spasm of vesical sphincters and urinary retention have been reported with opiates.

Respiratory Depression: Hydrocodone bitartrate may produce dose-related respiratory depression by acting directly on the brain stem respiratory center.

Special Senses: Cases of hearing impairment or permanent loss have been reported predominantly in patients with chronic overdose.

Dermatological: Skin rash, pruritus.

The following adverse drug events may be borne in mind as potential effects of acetaminophen: allergic reactions, rash, thrombocytopenia, agranulocytosis, Stevens-Johnson syndrome, toxic epidermal necrolysis.

General: The adverse effects of hydrocodone are generally similar to the adverse effects observed with other narcotic analgesics. Acetaminophen is generally well-tolerated when administered in therapeutic doses.

Nervous System: One study has suggested that the respiratory depression caused by hydrocodone may be of benefit in the treatment of dyspnea related to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and restrictive lung disease. However, the potential for the precipitation of respiratory insufficiency makes such use of hydrocodone hazardous and such use should be undertaken, if at all, only with extreme caution.

Nervous system side effects of hydrocodone include: mental depression, dizziness, lightheadedness, respiratory depression (which is sometimes fatal), stupor, delirium, somnolence, agitation, and dysphoria.

Other: Other side effects have included withdrawal symptoms, after either abrupt cessation or fast tapering of narcotic analgesics. Such symptoms may include agitation, restlessness, anxiety, insomnia, tremor, abdominal cramps, blurred vision, vomiting, and sweating.

Hepatic: Alcoholic patients may develop hepatotoxicity after even modest doses of acetaminophen. In healthy patients, approximately 15 grams of acetaminophen is necessary to deplete liver glutathione stores by 70% in a 70 kg person. However, hepatotoxicity has been reported following smaller doses. Glutathione concentrations may be repleted by the antidote N-acetylcysteine. One case report has suggested that hypothermia may also be beneficial in decreasing liver damage during overdose.

OVERDOSE:
Vicodin overdose occurs when an individual accidentally or intentionally ingests more of the drug than their body can sufficiently process. Vicodin is a combination of two pain relieving products, hydrocodone and acetaminophen, which are used in combination to relieve moderate to severe pain. The hydrocodone found in Vicodin is a semi-synthetic opioid that is a narcotic pain reliever and cough suppressant. Acetaminophen is a pain reliever and fever reducer commonly found in non-prescription over-the-counter medications such as Tylenol. The effects of Vicodin are similar to that of morphine and like most opioid narcotics, Vicodin produces feelings of euphoria, lessens anxiety and gives the user a pleasant experience. The drug is commonly used in medical settings, but has a very high risk of abuse, dependence and other related serious problems.

Vicodin overdose can occur both in individuals who have been legitimately prescribed the drug, and in individuals who have been abusing the drug recreationally. Overdoses can occur under a variety of circumstances. For instance, an individual may accidentally take too much of the drug because they are not getting pain relief from their normal dose. Vicodin overdose is also common in individuals addicted to Vicodin who may be trying to beat withdrawal symptoms, and unintentionally take too much of the drug. Vicodin overdose could also occur in individuals who are using it to achieve a "high" and have not yet built up a tolerance to the drug and unknowingly take a potentially fatal dose.

On its own, the hydrocodone component in the drug can cause Vicodin overdose. This opioid component is known to cause respiratory depression and other severe adverse reactions including heart failure, heart attack, pulmonary failure, liver or kidney failure, jaundice, amnesia, seizures, blackouts, and coma. Individuals who combine Vicodin with other substances such as alcohol, cocaine, amphetamines, methylphenidate, benzodiazapines, barbiturates, and other medications are at higher risk of Vicodin overdose and the resulting consequences.

The acetaminophen component in the drug can also by itself put the user at risk of Vicodin overdose. The acetaminophen that is part of the chemical mixture of Vicodin is metabolized solely by the liver, so there is a risk of fatal overdose due to hepatotoxicity, which is basically chemically-induced liver damage. This is especially true when mixed with alcohol or other substances. Mixing acetaminophen and alcohol can alone cause serious damage to the liver, kidneys, and stomach wall.

MORPHINE

The side effects that are related to this powerful opiate can be severe and life threatening, as in a potentially fatal Morphine overdose.

COMMON SIDE EFFECTS:

Constipation; warmth, tingling, or redness under your skin; nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, diarrhea, loss of appetite; dizziness, headache, anxiety; memory problems; or sleep problems (insomnia).

SERIOUS SIDE EFFECTS:

shallow breathing, slow heartbeat; seizure (convulsions); cold, clammy skin; confusion; severe weakness or dizziness; or feeling light-headed, fainting.

The adverse effects of hydrocodone may be more likely and more severe in patients with liver disease.
Hepatic side effects including severe and sometimes fatal dose dependent hepatitis have been reported in alcoholic patients. Hepatotoxicity has been increased during fasting. Several cases of hepatotoxicity from chronic acetaminophen therapy at therapeutic doses have also been reported despite a lack of risk factors for toxicity.

Gastrointestinal: Gastrointestinal side effects with the use of acetaminophen are rare except in alcoholics and after overdose. Cases of acute pancreatitis have been reported rarely.

Gastrointestinal side effect including nausea, vomiting, constipation, and dry mouth are relatively common effects of narcotic analgesics.

One study has suggested that acetaminophen may precipitate acute biliary pain and cholestasis. The mechanism of this effect may be related to inhibition of prostaglandin and alterations in the regulation of the sphincter of Oddi.

Genitourinary: Genitourinary side effects including ureteral spasm, spasm of vesicle sphincters, and urinary retention have been reported.

Dermatologic: Dermatologic side effects including narcotic-induced rashes have been reported. General erythematous skin rashes associated with acetaminophen have been reported, but are rare. A rare case of bullous erythema associated with acetaminophen has been reported.

Renal: Renal side effects of acetaminophen are rare and include acute tubular necrosis and interstitial nephritis. Adverse renal effects are most often observed after overdose, from chronic abuse (often with multiple analgesics), or in association with acetaminophen-related hepatotoxicity.

Acute tubular necrosis usually occurs in conjunction with liver failure, but has been observed as an isolated finding in rare cases.

The adverse effects of hydrocodone may be more likely and more severe in patients with renal insufficiency.

Hematologic: Hematologic side effects including rare cases of thrombocytopenia associated with acetaminophen have been reported. Acute thrombocytopenia has also been reported as having been caused by sensitivity to acetaminophen glucuronide, the major metabolite of acetaminophen. Methemoglobinemia with resulting cyanosis has also been observed in the setting of acute overdose.

Hypersensitivity: Hypersensitivity side effects to acetaminophen have been reported rarely.

Respiratory: Respiratory side effects have included a case of eosinophilic pneumonia which has been associated with acetaminophen.

Metabolic: In the case of metabolic acidosis, causality is uncertain as more than one drug was ingested. The case of metabolic acidosis followed the ingestion of 75 grams of acetaminophen, 1.95 grams of aspirin, and a small amount of a liquid household cleaner. The patient also had a history of seizures which the authors reported may have contributed to an increased lactate level indicative of metabolic acidosis.

Metabolic side effects including metabolic acidosis have been reported following a massive overdose of acetaminophen.

OVERDOSE:
A morphine addiction occurs when an individual accidentally or intentionally uses more of the drug than the body can process. Morphine has long been reported to be one of the most effective analgesic and narcotic drugs that is used by physicians for the treatment of severe pain, and is often used as the standard by which the effectiveness of the newer analgesics are measured. Morphine is available in both generic and brand name products, such as MS-Contin, Oramorph SR, Roxanol, and Kadian. Morphine is available in a variety of forms which include oral solutions, immediate and sustained-released capsules, suppositories, and via injectable preparations; morphine is normally injected when it is used for preoperative sedation, as a supplement to anesthesia, or as analgesia. Morphine is reported to be an extremely effective pain medication, when it is used properly.

The abuse and addiction potential for morphine has been reported to be among the highest as compared to a large number of other types of similar drugs that are currently being used for the treatment of chronic pain; additionally, morphine drug overdose rates have increased dramatically in comparison to other similar types of opiate based drugs. Drug researchers at Brown University have conducted studies in relation to morphine that have indicated that as little as a single dose of the drug of the drug could potentially contribute to addiction; additionally, in a study that was conducted by Japanese researchers concluded that mice that received just 10mg. of morphine, twice a day for as little as five days, exhibited withdrawal symptoms.

Unfortunately, there are many downsides to morphine that should be considered prior to the drug's use. Morphine is an extremely powerful narcotic that directly affects the central nervous system. Although morphine has been reported to be one of the best medications for the treatment of severe pain, it can also impair a person's mental as well as physical performance. Many individuals have reported than morphine use has significantly decreased their sex drive; additionally many women who take morphine have reported an interruption in their menstrual cycles. The most dangerous downside to the use of the drug is the risk of a morphine overdose, which can occur when a person takes more of the medication than has been prescribed.

The withdrawal symptoms that are commonly associated with morphine addiction can be experienced shortly before the time of the next scheduled dose, and in many instances, are reported to occur within a few hours of the last administration of the drug. Morphine withdrawal symptoms can include, but may not be limited to: watery eyes, severe depression, insomnia, diarrhea, runny nose, restlessness, loss of appetite, body aches, severe abdominal pain, nausea, tremors, and an even more stronger and intense craving for the drug has been reported to occur as the withdrawal syndrome further progresses. Morphine withdrawal symptoms will usually peak between 48 and 96 hours after the last dose of the drug and will usually begin to subside after about a week.

Resources:
http://norml.org/, http://www.drug-overdose.com/, http://www.drugs.com/, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia

All photos are believed to be in the public domain.

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Monday, March 19, 2012

Dangers Of Percocet, Vicodin & Morphine