When you consider the threats of opioids, you likely think of the most extreme danger: overdosing. That’s only natural – death is the most-discussed effect of this class of drugs. However, you’d do well to reflect on the other (yet still severe) physical health risks of opioid addiction. These other complications can still do a serious number on you. To that end, let your Kansas City addiction specialist lay out four common ones for you.
Drowsiness
A rather routine effect of opioid addiction is severe drowsiness. This outcome may seem harmless at first, but it can present a severe threat to your health.
You see, opioids tend to slow down the user’s brain activity. The result of this slowdown is sleepiness, which is useful for people recovering from surgery or managing pain. Such drowsiness can impair daily functioning, though, making accidents like falls or car crashes more likely. This danger only increases if one takes opioids for extended periods, or if their work involves driving or operating machinery.
Nausea & Vomiting
Opioid users tend to experience nausea and vomiting, especially when they first start using the drug. As a result, they can suffer both discomfort and bodily harm.
The issue is that opioids affect the brain region responsible for nausea control. In doing so, they can easily (and quickly) make a user queasy enough to vomit. These symptoms often subside as the body adjusts to the opioid, but they’re still uncomfortable in the interim. They’ll also limit a person’s ability to eat nutritious meals and stay hydrated.
Organ Damage
If you abuse opioids long enough, you’re likely to suffer some organ damage. This form of harm will cause long-term problems for your body.
Opioids are known to cause several kinds of organ damage. For instance, prolonged use of them (in combination with acetaminophen) can injure your liver. Research shows that prescription opioids like Vicodin and Percocet are toxic to the liver in high doses, resulting in hepatitis or liver failure. Similarly, opioids can damage your kidneys by reducing the flow of blood to them; this leads to severe dehydration.
Weakened Immune System
Nursing an addiction to opioids can also trigger a weakened immune system. From there, you’ll be at greater risk of developing long-term health problems.
When you take opioids over time, the drugs suppress your immune response by altering immune cells. These alterations can then make you more susceptible to infections – pneumonia, skin conditions, respiratory illnesses, etc. The increased vulnerability can also be especially dangerous for those with weak health due to other problems.
If you’d like, we’ll gladly tell you about other physical health risks of opioid addiction. Just call our office or book a consultation with us!
About the Practice
B&L Medical Group is based in Kansas City. Led by nurse practitioner Laura Lindsay, our practice strives to help patients manage, work through, and conquer opioid and alcohol addictions. We do so by offering medication-assisted treatments, which are highly beneficial when combined with talk therapies. These procedures apply drugs like Buprenorphine and Naltrexone to soothe cravings and halt withdrawal symptoms, ensuring a smooth recovery. For more details or to book a visit, please contact us on our website or by phone at (913)-713-1238.