A prescription like Pentazocine-Naloxone is designed to help you manage pain but it’s history as a medical treatment was also an unlikely source of addiction. As a power pain killer, pentazocine was originally introduced to the public fifty years ago with great expectations. The medical community was excited about it due to it’s positive effects against pain and its non-habit forming qualities. It was the replacement for morphine as a non-addictive treatment in helping those with chronic pain. As morphine had a reputation of being highly addictive and misused, pentazocine seemed like the perfect solution to a long occurring problem. The thought was that those who suffered from chronic pain weren’t at risk of addiction.
Pentazocine Wasn’t Non-Addictive as Originally Believed
The medical field was convinced they didn’t have to lock up pentazocine and it was placed in accessible aid kits fallout shelters. They believed it was non-addictive and not in jeopardy of being stolen by street addicts. Unfortunately, all the hype on the safety of this new pain killer was just hypothetical as four years later, scientists were focusing their studies on Pentazocine addiction risk and abuse. Scientists discovered that there is a risk of addiction and it can be abused in many ways. Pentazocine is a narcotic painkiller, an opioid (like heroin). Prescription opioids are considered one of the more addictive medications. It is made from synthetic materials with ingredients including coal tar. About 38 mg of Pentazocine is considered to be the equivalent of 10 mg morphine, it begins working within 20 minutes and peaks at about 90 minutes.
Pentazocine, the Poor Man’s Heroin
Known as T’s and blues, the combination of pentazocine and tripelennamine, was being abused as a heroin substitute. In the late 70’s and early 80’s, it gained popularity on the streets due to the low quality of heroin being sold at the time. The statistics on the toll it took on people on the streets include people dying violently from toxic shock. In fact, thousands of people became addicted to Pentazocine both in the U.S. and Europe. Pentazocine and Ritalin were combined and named the “Poor Man’s Heroin,” which gave people a high much like speedball which is a combination of cocaine and heroin. Antihistamines were combined with Pentazocine as well that would bring a kind of euphoria to the user. Heroin is a highly addictive substance so when a prescription drug can cause a similar high, it should be considered a very risky drug to prescribe.
Why Naloxone was Added to Pentazocine
The Pentazocine-Naloxone mixture was introduced as a way of counteracting the abuse surrounding Pentazocine. As it’s an opioid pain medication and Naloxone blocks opioids from getting to the brain, it was thought to be the right combination to prevent abuse and addiction risk. The number of people abusing this mixture had decreased for some time but it’s making a comeback. Although Naloxone blocks the euphoric feeling of Pentazocine, people are abusing narcotic painkillers more than ever before. Pentazocine-Naloxone is now considered a “drug of concern” by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency.
Pentazocine-Naloxone Side Effects
Many who take pentazocine-naloxone don’t experience traditional side effects compared to other medications. Hopefully, you will have had your background checked which includes your family history and your own history with substance use. Your doctor will make an informed decision and considered whether the side effects were a greater benefit to you than the risks. Side effects can include:
- Nausea
- Constipation
- Light headedness
- Dizziness
- An increase of sweating
- Headaches
- Dry mouth
Serious side effect-Fatal Respiratory Depression One of the risky side effects of taking pentazocine-naloxone is fatal respiratory depression, or hyperventilating. This is the reason that those taking pentazocine-nalaxone for the first time should be closely monitored. The risk is higher when pentazocine-nalaxone is first prescribed or the dose is increased so patients should be monitored closely for a period of 24-72 hours. Sometimes, the greater risk of pentazocine-nalaxone abuse comes from those who weren’t given the subscription in the first place. Your children may decide to dabble in pentazocine-nalaxone or it may even be taken by mistake. The problem is, even one dose of pentazocine and naloxone tablets, especially by children, can cause death due to overdose. It’s important to understand the serious risk of addiction or abuse when taking pentazocine-naloxone by you or someone you’re in contact with.
Pentazocine-Naloxone Abuse
Pentazocine-naloxone is a Schedule IV controlled substance as it’s part of the opioid family which means there is a risk of addiction and abuse. Pentazocine-naloxone can easily be abused when it is combined with alcohol, illicit drugs, or opioids. It can cause serious effects like nervous system 7 It is possible that those taking pentazocine-naloxone could be referred to prescription drug addiction detox under certain conditions. For those who have previously been subscribed narcotics and became dependant on them may be at risk of experiencing withdrawal symptoms after taking pentazocine.
Pentazocine-naloxone and Addiction Risk
It’s not quite known what the risk of addiction is for everyone, which makes it a risk in itself. A doctor will access every individuals level of risk for opioid addiction or abuse before prescribing pentazocine-naloxone. They will practice due diligence like assessing your personal or family history of past substance abuse or mental illness. The risk of addiction is higher when there’s past family history of substance abuse. Medical professionals are aware of the potential risk of addiction so they do what they can to prevent it. Even for patients who don’t abuse pentazocine and naloxone tablets and take the prescribed amount, there is a risk of addiction. There is no difference between abusing the medication or sticking with your doctors’ recommendations. Know the risks, pentazocine-naloxone is an opioid, which is a substance that drug abusers and those with addiction disorders seek out. Pentazocine-naloxone has the potential to cause addiction because you can become physically dependant on it. You can also develop a tolerance of it’s effects which can lead to misuse or abuse, taking more than subscribed to you. It’s possible to develop drug cravings and start mimicking drug-seeking behavior. This is dangerous because you put yourself at risk of overdose. While all of this is happening, often you won’t seek medical help. If you start to feel like you’re spinning out of control, there are warning signs if addiction.
Pentazocine-naloxone-Other Risks
If you attempt to take yourself off Pentazocine-naloxone, you will likely go into withdrawal. If you become addicted to combinations of pentazocine and anti-histamines or Ritalin, the withdrawal is even more challenging. The risk of Pentazocine-naloxone abuse can be high in some and not in others. It’s important to use extreme caution when beginning treatment. Combining psychoactive substances with this pain medication can lead to death. There are many factors behind addiction but is characterized by behaviors that include: the inability to control yourself from stopping use, compulsive use, cravings and continued use despite the potential danger. Drug addiction is treatable but relapse is also very common. The risk of addiction is high when taking pentazocine-naloxone. It’s to the point where doctors and other medical professional are starting to question opioid pain killers more as abuse of these medications are becoming an epidemic in the U.S. Deciding to use this drug for pain means using it responsibly and with caution. Further risks include abusing this opioid based pain medication for something non-medical related. Despite naloxone blocking the pleasures of opioids to the brain, there are people abusing pentazocine-naloxone tablets.