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The term narcotic is used
for the sedative agent, For
pain control medications of
both narcotic and nonnarcotic varieties. Today,
the term "narcotic" refers
tosubstances that bind to
opioid receptors in the
brain.
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The term "narcotic" is believed
to have been coined by the
Greek physician Galen to refer
to agents that numb or deaden,
causing loss of feeling or
paralysis. It is based on the
Greek word ναρκωσις(narcosis),
the term used
by Hippocrates for the process
of numbing or the numbed
state. Galen
listed mandrake root, altercus
(eclata). seeds, and poppy
juice (opium) as the chief
examples. Opium was the
first opioid to be used.
Narcotics are classified by
various drug schedules by
the DEA, with regard to
their potential for abus e,
dependence, and
addiction .
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Narcotics are used as:
analgesics for
pain control, such as after oral surgery,
for severe menstrual cramps, or for
temporary pain relief in
other outpatient surgical
procedures. Intravenousnarcotics are also
used for palliative care in relieving pain of
patients diagnosed with terminal cancer.
As antitussives, narcotics are commonly
used as cough suppressants. Codeine is a
common ingredient in prescription cough
medications.
Narcotics are also used as antidiarrheal
medications; Paregoric, a liquid tincture
containing powdered opium, anise oil and
glycerine is sometimes prescribed for
severe diarrhea.
Narcotics have a number of physical side effects, including:
Constipation
Drowsiness
Euphoria
Visual impairmnt ,
respiratory depression,
Nause , skin
irritation,sedation, etc.
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Narcotics are highly addictive
substances with a great potential
for abuse and dependence.
Tolerance to narcotics is
established within two to three
days of continue d use.

Cessation of narcotics results in
withdrawal symptoms, which can
perpetuate addiction due to unpleasant
physical and psychological sensations.
Most addicts need the aid of
a treatment center orrehab to quit
using narcotics.

Sweating
Shaking
Muscle spasms and cramps
Nausea
Vomiting
Insomnia
Joint and bone pain
Lack of appetite
Anxiety
Depression
Fever
Irritability
Rapid heart rate and
breathing.

Because tolerance to
narcotics builds up after
short use, individuals
addicted to narcotics
must use higher and
higher amounts of the
drug to achieve the
initial effect, which can
lead to serious health
problems, coma and
death.
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Narcotics are classified into
three groups according to their
origins.
Natural derivatives of opium
include morphine and codeine.
Partially synthetic drugs derived
from morphine include heroin,
oxycodone, hydromorphone,
and oxymorphone.
Synthetic compounds that
resemble morphine chemically
include fentanyl, levorphanol,
meperidine, methadone, and
propoxyphene.
.

Codeine : Codeine is
an opiate known for its
pain-relieving, cough
relieving and
antidiarrheal
properties. Among the
opiates, it is the most
widely used, and is
probably the most
commonly used drug
in the world.

Demerol, also known as
pethidine or
meperidine, is a fastacting narcotic
analgesic. It is used for
the treatment moderateto-severe pain
associated with many
medical procedures.
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Of all the opioids, fentanyl
is the most powerful,
possessing 80 times the
potency of morphine. With
its powerful properties,
fentanyl is used extensively
for anesthesia and analgesia,
as well as in cancer therapy
and other chronic pain
management.
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Heroin is one of the
most-used, most-rapidly
acting, and most highly
addictive opiate. Made
from morphine, it is one
of the most abused
synthetic opiate. It
usually appears in white
or brown powder form
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Hydrocodone is an orallyactive narcotic analgesic
and cough suppressant.
First synthesized in
Germany in 1920, It is
commonly compounded
with paracetamol or
ibuprofen, and is
marketed under many
brand names.
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Hydromorphone is
commonly used in
medicine as an
alternative to
morphine and as a
cough suppressant,
especially for
patients suffering
from dry cough.
Like most opiates, it
is potentially
addictive.
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Methadone is a unique
opioid in the sense that
rehabilitation facilities
commonly offer this
drug to treat heroin
addicts. But since
methadone itself could
be addictive, there is a
risk that a heroin
addiction would be
replaced with a
methadone addiction.
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Morphine is one of the
best known opiate
analgesics in history.
Highly potent, morphine
is also highly addictive.
Nevertheless, it remains
widely in use in hospitals
for cancer patients and
patients suffering from
chronic pain.
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Oxycodone is a strong
narcotic analgesic and
antitussive. Quite
similar to codeine in
structure and action, it
is regarded as having
superior benefits over
morphine and other
older opiates.
Oxycodone, however,
has a high addiction
and abuse potential.
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Percocet is a
combination of
oxycodone and
acetaminophen. It is
used to treat
moderate to
moderately severe
pain. Its
acetaminophen
content also makes it
effective against
fever.
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Vicodin is a brand
name for a narcotic
analgesic that is a
combination of
hydrocodone and
acetaminophen.
Usually in tablet form,
Vicodin is not usually
abused because of its
acetaminophen content,
which could be toxic
when taken in large
doses.
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Thebaine,
papaverine,
oxymorphone,
acetyldihydrocodeine
, buprenorphine are
also classified as
narcotics