An estimated 16.3 million Americans intentionally or mistakenly misuse prescription medications each year, according to a National Center for Drug Abuse Statistics (NCDAS) report. And around 12% of the 16.3 million people who misuse prescription medications eventually become addicted to them, the report goes on to note.
Some of the more commonly misused prescription medications in the U.S. include opioids, central nervous system depressants, and stimulants. One study from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) found that misuse of human growth hormone (HGH) medications is also becoming quite common, especially among teens and young adults. Along with addiction, misusing prescription medications can have a wide range of adverse health consequences, including loss of life.
The High Price Some People Pay for Misusing Prescription Medications
Multiple factors dictate how misusing prescription medication will affect someone, some of which include their age, the medication they are taking, medication dosage, and genetics. Of course, that’s only a few; many other factors can potentially come into play. Data from the Mayo Clinic notes that misusing opioids, which physicians routinely prescribe to combat pain, can lead to a reduced respiration rate. It can also trigger drowsiness, confusion, nausea, and even feelings of euphoria. Popular and commonly misused opioid medications include OxyContin, Percocet, and Norco.
Ritalin, Concerta, Adderall XR, Dexedrine, and other stimulants commonly prescribed to treat ADHD and certain sleep disorders can trigger an irregular heartbeat, high blood pressure, appetite suppression, and, like opioids, feelings of euphoria when misused. Anti-anxiety medicines and sedatives that physicians often prescribe to treat anxiety, depression, and other mental health disorders can trigger similar effects.
As far as the risk of addiction, the more someone misuses certain types of medications, the more likely they are to build a tolerance. That increased tolerance, in turn, requires that they increase the dosage or take more of the medication to derive the same effects. In doing so, many end up developing an addiction, especially those with a family history of addiction.
Generally speaking, most people take prescription medications for legitimate reasons, such as pain relief or to combat symptoms associated with a mental illness, but eventually get hooked on them. That is especially the case for opioids, anti-anxiety, stimulants, depression, and other prescription medications.
Prescription Medication Withdrawal Symptoms
When someone abruptly stops taking prescription medications, they usually encounter a barrage of unpleasant withdrawal symptoms, many of which begin within minutes or hours of taking their final dose. Some of the ones related to misusing opioids and other pain relievers include abdominal, muscle, and bone pain. Agitation, anxiety, insomnia, and dilated pupils are also common. Withdrawal symptoms associated with the abrupt cessation of anti-anxiety and sedative medications include seizures, tremors, insomnia, tachycardia, profuse sweating, confusion, and anxiety. Those associated with abrupt cessation of stimulants include the following:
- Depression
- Insomnia
- Irritability
- Lucid dreaming.
What More People Should Know About Human Growth Hormone Medications
Physicians often prescribe human growth hormone (HGH) medications to individuals struggling with an HGH deficiency. These medications, such as Sogroya, Humatrope, Saizen, and Serostim, stimulate the pituitary gland and the brain’s hypothalamus to secrete more HGH into the blood. These drugs are considered a godsend for the roughly 6,000 adults diagnosed with a growth hormone (GH) deficiency every year in the U.S. Symptoms typical of a hormonal imbalance of this kind can include the following:
- Anxiety and depression
- Chronic fatigue
- High cholesterol
- Low libido
- Osteogenesis imperfecta
- Reduced muscle mass, strength, and stamina
- Weight gain
While most people take HGH medications as prescribed, some do not. Instead of taking these medications to boost low HGH levels in their blood and to alleviate related symptoms, some take and misuse them for other reasons.
Who Is Most Likely To Misuse Human Growth Hormone Medications?
In a study published in Sage Journals, a trusted academic publisher of books, journals, and library resources, researchers found that human growth hormone replacement medications have become a target of abuse in the sporting world, with most people misusing or abusing them to gain muscle or to improve sports performance. While it is not possible to become addicted to HGH medications, taking excessive amounts can be harmful in other ways. Studies show that misusing and abusing human growth hormone medications can trigger diabetes, fluid retention, joint and muscle pain, hypertension, and carpal tunnel syndrome.
The risk of experiencing these and other side effects is much higher when someone buys HGH online from pharmacies that do not require a prescription. These medications are often counterfeit, contaminated, the wrong drug, outdated, or contain incorrect dosages. Because of this, it is best to only buy HGH medications from trusted, reputable pharmacies that ask for a prescription. It is also a good idea to avoid Googling “how to get HGH without a doctor’s prescription.” Receiving a prescription for an HGH-boosting medication requires first being formally diagnosed with a human growth hormone deficiency. That requires undergoing diagnostic tests and having their medical history and symptoms reviewed by a licensed physician.
In summary, misusing any prescription medication, including those prescribed to boost low human growth hormone levels in the blood, can give way to numerous physical and even psychological problems. Those who believe they need to be on a particular medication or feel they need to be on a higher dosage should consult with a physician first. Doing so can lower the risk of encountering such problems.
