Methylphenidate is the generic version of specific medications that are used to treat Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder or ADHD, Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) and narcolepsy. Methyl ER is one brand name of this medication and is available in other brand names, such as Concerta, Metadate CD, Metadate ER, Methylin, Ritalin LA, Ritalin-SR and Daytrana.
While Adderall is an important medication for those suffering with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), there are others who find the medication to be useful for non-medical reasons. According to a recent post in NWTN Today, Adderall is being increasingly abused by college students.
Read more about Adderall – The College Student’s Pill of Choice
Valium (or diazepam) is an anti-anxiety drug found in the family of drugs called benzodiazepines, home to Xanaz (alprazolam), Ativan (lorazepam), and Klonopin (clonazepam) among others. Valium is used to help treat and manage anxiety disorders as well as agitation, alcohol withdrawal, and seizures. The drug works by enhancing the effects of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)—a neurotransmitter—in the brain in order to produce a calming effect.
Valium (diazepam) was developed by the Swiss pharmaceutical company Hoffmann-La Roche in the early 1960s and was approved for use in 1963. It was the second benzodiazepine to be invented by Dr. Leo Sternbach and was two and a half times more effective then its predecessor Librium. Sales of valium quickly skyrocketed and it became the top-selling drug in the United States from 1969 to 1982, reaching its peak in 1978 when 2.3 billion tablets were sold.
Before taking Valium, it is important to share your complete medical history with your doctor. Certain medications can negatively interact with Valium, so it is imperative that your physician is aware of all the drugs you currently take before prescribing valium. You should not use Valium if you are allergic to diazepam or if you have liver disease, a breathing problem, sleep apnea, or if you are pregnant as it can cause birth defects to an unborn baby. Do not drink alcohol while taking valium. Valium may be habit forming and should only used as your doctor has prescribed. Do not share the medication with others and keep it in a secure location, especially away from children and individuals with a history of drug abuse.
Since Valium is habit forming, the medication should only be used for short-term therapy. Individuals who are prescribed the drug for long periods of time have a higher chance of experiencing withdrawal symptoms once they discontinue taking the drug. Withdrawal symptoms include sweating, trouble sleeping, stomach pain, and muscle cramps.
Valium has a range of side effects. Some of the most common ones include: drowsiness, insomnia, impaired motor function, and memory problems. Some serious side effects that require immediate medical attention are: thoughts of suicide, hallucinations, muscle tremors, and flu-like symptoms. If you experience any of the serious symptoms listed above, call your doctor at once.
Valium has the potential for abuse and for many long-term users it can lead to dependence. It is usually taken as a secondary drug of abuse, mainly used to increase the effectiveness of the “high” caused by the primary drug. Overdosing on valium, especially if taken with alcohol, can lead to coma, respiratory failure, and in the most severe instances death.
For more information on valium, consult with your doctor or pharmacist.
Xanax, also known by its generic name Alprazolman, belongs to the class of medications called benzodiazepines and is a Schedule IV controlled substance under the Controlled Substance Act (CSA). The drug affects the chemicals in the brain by enhancing the effects of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), a chemical in the body that is naturally calming. When the GABA receptor is affected by the drug certain nerve signals in the brain are slowed down or stopped, relieving the patient from feelings of panic and depression.
Opioid is critical for those needing chronic pain treatment. At the same time, this drug has been a part of countless instances of misuse, serious injuries and overdose deaths. In response to this growing problem, Canadian colleges of physicians and surgeons have created a new guideline for opioid use with chronic non-cancer pain.
Read more about Canadian Guideline Offers Methods for Opioid Use in Chronic Non-Cancer Pain
A new study shows that gender appears to play a role in the risk of abuse of prescription pain drugs. Predictors of such abuse are different in men and women, researchers say, and knowing this could help doctors adopt treatment plans that are less likely to cause misuse of opioid medications.
Read more about Gender May Play Role in Prescription Drug Abuse
Prescription drug poisoning is now the second leading cause of death from injury in the US. A recent study by the Injury Control Research Center in West Virginia showed that hospitalizations for accidental overdoses of painkillers and sedatives rose by one-third from 1999 to 2006. Although the overdoses were accidental, the patients had all be intentionally abusing the prescription drugs, including Vicodin, Pecocet, Valium and Ativan. Intentional overdoses jumped by one hundred and thirty percent during the same period. In comparison, hospitalizations due to use of illegal drugs, such as heroin, rose only by one fifth.
Read more about Hospitalizations for Prescription Drug Abuse on the Rise
In an effort to combat OxyContin addiction and abuse, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has given approval to Purdue Pharma for a new OxyContin formula. This new version of OxyContin is the first in what the FDA hopes is a long line of enhanced abuse prevention features in narcotic drugs.
Read more about OxyContin Addiction Addressed by Tablet Redesign
In the United Kingdom, approximately 1.5 million people are addicted to benzodiazepines, a group of sedatives often prescribed for anxiety. Many of these addicts are elderly people who were prescribed the drugs decades ago and may still suffer debilitating side effects such as paranoia, lethargy, fatigue, dizziness, and memory loss. Jo Waters of the Daily Mail UK writes that many people don’t realize the drugs are the problem.
While cases of performance-enhancing substance abuse by professional athletes are not unfamiliar to national headlines, what may go unnoticed is the flip-side to the story: drug dependency among pain-stricken athletes. Participating in the most grueling and physically demanding contact sport, American football players are expected to endure pain and continue playing. To maintain performance, players are often advised to take pain medications to numb injury, and inevitably ignore early indications of serious complications.
Read more about Prescription Drug Abuse and Chronic Pain among NFL Players