Illinois General Assembly: Long Term Effects Of Opiates On Organs

Wednesday, February 27, 2019

Long Term Effects Of Opiates On Organs

The long term effects of opiates on organs covers many different areas of the body and each person who abuses opioids or becomes addicted will have a reaction somewhat unique to them. Not only can sustained use of opiates lead to physical dependence and addiction the long term effects of opiate abuse may cause irreversible damage to the body affecting the organs the brain and other bodily systems in a number of negative ways.

Opioid Abuse In Chronic Pain Misconceptions And Mitigation Strategies Nejm

In other words long-term opioid use has been found to cause significantly decreased pain tolerance.

Long term effects of opiates on organs. For some users they can experience prolonged periods of nausea and vomiting which is known as Cyclical Vomiting Syndrome. Long-term opioid use also can bring about structural and functional changes in the brain. As a result dependent opioid users lose the ability to cope with pain on their own without the use of pain relievers.

This condition is characterized by prolonged periods of nausea vomiting abdominal pain and headaches. In other words long-term opioid use has been found to cause significantly decreased pain tolerance. The consequences do not stop with opioid chemical dependency.

Long-term effects of opioid use also can trigger structural and functional changes in the brain that cause users to lose much of their ability to cope with pain naturally without the use of pain medication. People who become addicted to the drug sometimes have trouble recreating happy feelings on their own. Over time vital organs are starved of oxygen risking shutdown and failure of key bodily.

At sufficient doses respiratory arrest can deprive the brain and body tissues of oxygen. Long-term opiate use can also affect your ability to handle natural stress. The brains reward system literally begins to rewire itself after its exposed to opioids.

Damage to the overall digestive system including the stomach throat and intestines due to vomiting. Chronic use of opiates can cause infections of the heart lining and valves as well as a greater risk of clogged blood vessels. The Effects of Opiates on the Respiratory System Overdosing on opioid painkillers or heroin can lead to respiratory depression a slowing of breathing.

Repeated use damages parts of your brain. The most common side effects of opioid usage are constipation which has a very high incidence and nausea. This prevents your brain and organs from getting enough oxygen which can lead to damage and severe injury to your organs.

Not only do these drugs wreck havoc on an individuals body causing a number of serious medical complications but they can also lead to severe mental health concerns or exacerbate pre-existing ones. No one would argue that the long term effects of opiates can be devastating on an individual. If your rate of respiration slows too much it can lead to respiratory arrest.

As opioids depress the central nervous system they directly interfere with the bodys breathing mechanisms. They can include the following. Less common side effects may include delayed gastric emptying hyperalgesia immunologic and hormonal dysfunction muscle rigidity and myoclonus.

Another long term effect of opiate use is the risk of heart damage. Additionally users begin to experience pain more intensely since they dont consistently have high. Regarding how opiates destroy your body in the long-term.

And that is one consequence of long-term opioid use a roller coaster of physical dependency and withdrawals. However these particular symptoms are also considered long-term effects of heroin use. Opiate use can also cause other types of bacterial infections as well as the formation of abscesses boils.

The long-term effects of opioids on the bowels are significant but it is the damage they do to the respiratory system that is behind most of the overdoses and fatalities that are related to opioid use.

Introduction National Institute On Drug Abuse Nida