Some people experiment with prescription drugs because they believe that will help even more fun, lose weight to fit into a certain group and even to study better. Prescription drugs can be achieved more easily than illicit drugs: it is likely that a family member or friend has a prescription. But in some cases, prescription drugs are sold on the street like other illegal drugs.
But prescription drugs are only safe for people who have been prescribed. This is because a doctor has examined these people and know they will not have adverse drug reactions. The doctor also told them exactly how to take the medication and what to avoid while you take: as alcohol, tobacco or other drugs.
Canadian Prescription drugs that are used most often are classified into three categories:
Opioides
Examples: oxycodone (OxyContin), hydrocodone (Vicodin) and meperidine (Demerol).
Medical uses: Opioids are used to treat pain or relieve coughs or diarrhea.
How they work: Opioides attach to opioid receptors in the central nervous system (brain and spinal cord) and prevent the brain from receiving pain messages.
Central nervous system depressants (CNS)
Examples: pentobarbital sodium (Nembutal), diazepam (Valium) and alprazolam (Xanax).
Medical uses: CNS depressants are used to treat anxiety, tension, panic attacks and sleep disorders.
How they work: CNS depressants slow down brain activity by increasing the activity of a neurotransmitter called “GABA". As a result, you get a sedative or drowsiness.
Stimulants
Examples: methylphenidate (Ritalin), amphetamine / dextroamphetamine (Adderall) and atomoxetine (Strattera).
Medical uses: Stimulants can be used to treat narcolepsy, attention deficit disorder with hyperactivity (ADHD), depression, obesity and asthma.
How they work: Stimulants increase brain activity, resulting in a heightened state of alert, more attention and energy.
Tips for taking prescription drugs
What to do if a doctor prescribes a medicine and are afraid of becoming addicted? If you are taking the medicine as your doctor gives you said, you can relax: Doctors know exactly how much medication to prescribe. In adequate doses, the drug will relieve your symptoms without making you addicted.
If a doctor prescribes a pain medication, stimulant, or CNS depressant, follow their directions exactly. Here are some tips to protect yourself:
- Keep all appointments with your doctor. Your doctor will want you to visit often to monitor the effects of the medication and adjust the dose or switch medications, if necessary. Some medications must be discontinued or changed after a while so that the person does not become addicted.
- Write down the best Canadian pharmacy drug’s effects on your body and your emotions, especially during the first few days as your body adjusts to them. Share this information with your doctor.
- It retains the information you give your pharmacist about any drug or activity that you should avoid while you take the medicine prescribed. Reread these instructions often to remember what things you should avoid. If the information is too long or complicated, ask your parent or your pharmacist to tell you the most important things.
- Not increase or decrease the dose of your medication without first consulting your doctor, no matter how you’re feeling.
Finally, never use medicines that were prescribed to another person. And do not let a friend use your medication. Will not only be risking your friend, but you could also suffer: pharmacists do not sell a prescription drug again if it ends before it should. And if you are now giving drugs to another person, you could end up in court because it is a crime.
