For people who struggle with chronic pain or severe pain after surgery, prescription opioids can provide much-needed relief.
However, people who abuse these drugs for a long period of time can quickly become addicted. While these drugs can cause a variety of health problems when abused, opioids and weight loss are tightly linked. Our Delaware drug and alcohol treatment center is sharing more information about the effects of opioids and why they cause weight loss.
What Are Opioids and What Do They Do?
Opiates are naturally occurring substances that are derived from the seeds of opium poppy plants. Opioids include both natural substances and synthetic forms of drugs, such as fentanyl. These drugs work in the central nervous system by changing the way the body perceives pain. However, what makes them so addictive is the feelings of euphoria and pleasure that they produce. This is the result of changes in the levels of chemicals like dopamine and serotonin, which are responsible for reward and mood in the brain.
Opiates are found in many prescription drugs and are considered Schedule II narcotics, meaning they have a high potential for abuse and can lead to psychological and physical dependence.1 Opioids like morphine, codeine, and thebaine are habit-forming drugs that can cause addiction if they are used in any other ways other than how prescribed by a doctor. Morphine is the most common natural alkaloid in the opium poppy plant, and many other opioids, such as codeine, are derived from it.
Despite their dangers, many users become hooked on the sense of euphoria opioids induce. Chronic opioid abuse ultimately leads to addiction. Our prescription pill detox at Banyan Treatment Centers Delaware helps people addicted to medications like opioids safely wean off of them and begin their recovery. This can be a helpful form of treatment for you or anyone you may know who’s struggling to quit using opioids.
Do Opioids Make You Lose Weight?
Yes, opioids can make you lose weight. However, you should never abuse or misuse them for any reason, including to lose weight. Opioids are addictive and can be damaging to the body. Painkillers and weight loss are linked because of the former’s effects on the user’s eating habits and appetite. Opioid symptoms like nausea, vomiting, and constipation can result in a lack of nutrients and cause an imbalance in electrolytes. Nausea and vomiting can also inhibit a person’s appetite, resulting in weight loss. Fatigue caused by opioids can also reduce a user’s metabolic rate, which can also affect their appetite and therefore their weight.
Some common painkillers that cause weight loss may include:
- Oxycodone
- Fentanyl
- Hydrocodone
- Codeine
- Oxymorphone
In addition, people with drug addictions are usually more concentrated on their drug use than their food intake. Any money that they have will most likely be spent on drugs rather than food. However, while opioids can cause weight loss, users who do not experience symptoms like nausea and vomiting may gain weight. Opioids can also cause sedation, which may cause a decline in physical activity. Weight gain after opioid addiction is also common not only because the body is no longer experiencing certain symptoms, but also because people tend to turn to food for comfort when they’re struggling with drug cravings.
Banyan Delaware offers opioid addiction treatment that helps people addicted to both illicit and prescription opioids get sober. We also offer a variety of other substance-specific treatments at our drug rehab facility in Milford. Call us now at 888-280-4763 to speak to one of our team members about our levels of care.
