REMEDIES FOR THE SIDE EFFECTS OF NARCOTIC DRUGS
Main Article Content
Keywords
Narcotic drugs, opioids, side effects, constipation, nausea, drowsiness, respiratory depression, itching, urinary retention, treatment remedies.
Abstract
Narcotic drugs, or opioids, are widely used for their potent analgesic effects, particularly in the management of severe pain. However, their use is frequently accompanied by a range of side effects that can impact patient quality of life and complicate treatment. These side effects include constipation, nausea, drowsiness, confusion, respiratory depression, itching, and urinary retention. Addressing these adverse effects is crucial for improving patient outcomes and adherence to opioid therapy.
This review explores various remedies and treatments available for managing the side effects of narcotic drugs. For constipation, options include polyethylene glycol, lactulose, docusate sodium, methylnaltrexone, and naloxegol, which help alleviate bowel irregularity. Nausea and vomiting can be managed with medications such as ondansetron, promethazine, and metoclopramide. Drowsiness and sedation may be mitigated with stimulants like modafinil and methylphenidate, while confusion and mental cloudiness might be addressed with donepezil. Respiratory depression, a potentially severe side effect, can be countered with naloxone. Itching and rash are often treated with diphenhydramine and topical corticosteroids, and urinary retention may be managed with tamsulosin.
Additionally, this review examines complementary approaches, including herbal remedies and lifestyle modifications, that may offer supportive benefits in alleviating these side effects. The integration of these remedies with conventional treatments provides a holistic approach to managing opioid therapy-related complications, ultimately aiming to enhance patient comfort and adherence to pain management regimens.
References
2. Richard H. Blum, Lauraine Ikaunstein, “Mind-Altering Drugs and Dangerous Behavior: Narcotics” Narcotics and Drug Abuse, 1976, 8, 49.
3. Dimitri Gerostamolus, Jennifer Schumann, “Drug-Impaired Driving Encyclopedia of Forensic Sciences, Third Edition”, 2023, 2, 176 - 185.
4. Matthew J. Matava, “Ethical Considerations for Analgesic Use in Sports Medicine” Clinics in Sports Medicine, 2016, 35(2), 227 – 243.
5. Kenneth C. Jackson II, Mellar P. Davis, Columba Quigley, “Opioid Pharmacokinetics” Opioids in Cancer Pain, 2009, 2, 29 – 38.
6. S Young-McCaughan, C Miaskowski, “Definition of and mechanism for opioid-induced sedation” Pain Manag Nurs., 2001, 2(3) , 84 – 97.
7. Adil E Bharucha, Arnold Wald, “Chronic Constipation” Mayo Clin Proc., 2019, 94(11), 2340 - 2357.
8. J I Gómez-Arnau, J L Aguilar, P Bovaira, F Bustos, J De Andrés, J C de la Pinta, J García-Fernández, S López-Alvarez, L López-Olaondo, F Neira, A Planas, J Pueyo, P Vila, L M Torres, “Postoperative nausea and vomiting and opioid-induced nausea and vomiting: guidelines for prevention and treatment” Res Eep Anestesiol Reanim, 2010, 57(8), 508 – 524.
9. Eladio Fernández-Liz, Maria Estrella Barceló-Colomer, Laura Gómez-Ganda, Carlota Varon-Galcera, Pilar Lalueza-Broto, Francisco Javier Medel-Rebollo, Maria Angeles Hortelano-García, Elisabeth Martín-Gracia, “Prevalence of Gabapentinoids and Central Nervous System Depressant Drugs, and Their Association with Risk Factors for Respiratory Depression in Primary Care Patients” Clin Drug Investig., 2022, 42(5), 417- 426.
10. F Boureau, M Luu, A S Koskas-Sergent, J F Doubrere, “Need of risk re-evaluation in morphine dependence in pain patients” Therapie., 1992; 47(6), 513 - 518.
11. Meiling Deng, Wangyuan Zou, “Noncoding RNAs: Novel Targets for Opioid Tolerance” Curr Neuropharmacol., 2023, 21(5), 1202-1213.
12. M Fazzi, P Vescovi, A Savi, M Manfredi, M Peracchia, “The effects of drugs on the oral cavity” Minarva Stomatol., 1999, 48(10), 485 - 492.
13. A D Rosenberger, R Treudler, U Blume-Peytavi, C C Zouboulis, W Schaffartzik, C E Orfanos, “Allergies and pseudo allergic reactions to anesthetics. The clinical symptoms, risk factors and the diagnostic possibilities” Hautarzt., 1997, 48(11), 791 – 799.
14. Chang Yong Lee, Chul Sung Kim, Won Jin Cho, “Characteristics of urinary retention in female inpatients managed with medical treatments” Korean J Urol., 2015, 56(12), 817 - 822.
15. Christoph Stein, “New concepts in opioid analgesia” Expert Opin Investig Drugs., 2018, 27(10), 765 - 775.
16. Cathryn M Corns, “Herbal remedies and clinical biochemistry” Annals of Clinical Biochemistry, 2003, 40(5), 489 – 507.
17. Martins Ekor, “The growing use of herbal medicines: issues relating to adverse reactions and challenges in monitoring safety” Front Pharmacol., 2013, 4, 177.
18. Diego A Bonilla, Yurany Moreno, Camila Gho, Jorge L Petro, Adrián Odriozola-Martínez, Richard B Kreider, “Effects of Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) on Physical Performance: Systematic Review and Bayesian Meta-Analysis” Funct Morohol kinesiol., 2021 ,6(1), 20.
19. Salve J, Pate S, Debnath K, Langade D., “Adaptogenic and Anxiolytic Effects of Ashwagandha Root Extract in Healthy Adults: A Double-blind, Randomized, Placebo-controlled Clinical Study” Cureus., 2019, 11(12), e6466.
20. Singh N, Bhalla M, de Jager P, Gilca M., “An overview on ashwagandha: a Rasayana (rejuvenator) of Ayurveda.”, Afr J Tradit Complement Altern Med., 2011, 8(5), 208 - 213.
21. Filippone A, Ardizzone A, Bova V, Lanza M, Casili G, Cuzzocrea S, Esposito E, Campolo M, Paterniti I., “A Combination of Xyloglucan, Pea Protein and Chia Seed Ameliorates Intestinal Barrier Integrity and Mucosa Functionality in a Rat Model of Constipation-Predominant Irritable Bowel Syndrome”, J Clin Med., 2022, 11(23), 7073.
22. Calvo-Lerma J, Paz-Yépez C, Asensio-Grau A, Heredia A, Andrés A., “Impact of Processing and Intestinal Conditions on in Vitro Digestion of Chia (Salvia hispanica) Seeds and Derivatives.”, Foods. 2020, 9(3), 290.
23. Knez Hrnčič M, Ivanovski M, Cör D, Knez Ž., “Chia Seeds (Salvia hispanica L.): An Overview-Phytochemical Profile, Isolation Methods, and Application.”, Molecules., 2019, 25(1), 11.
24. Khalid W, Arshad MS, Aziz A, Rahim MA, Qaisrani TB, Afzal F, Ali A, Ranjha MMAN, Khalid MZ, Anjum FM., “Chia seeds (Salvia hispanica L.): A therapeutic weapon in metabolic disorders.”, Food Sci Nutr., 2022, 11(1), 3 – 16.
25. Savage K, Sarris J, Hughes M, Bousman CA, Rossell S, Scholey A, Stough C, Suo C., “Neuroimaging Insights: Kava's (Piper methysticum) Effect on Dorsal Anterior Cingulate Cortex GABA in Generalized Anxiety Disorder.”, Nutrients., 2023, 15(21), 4586.
26. Shinomiya K, Inoue T, Utsu Y, Tokunaga S, Masuoka T, Ohmori A, Kamei C. “Effects of kava-kava extract on the sleep-wake cycle in sleep-disturbed rats.”, Psychopharmacology (Berl). 2005, 180(3), 564 - 9.
27. Bian T, Corral P, Wang Y, Botello J, Kingston R, Daniels T, Salloum RG, Johnston E, Huo Z, Lu J, Liu AC, Xing C., “Kava as a Clinical Nutrient: Promises and Challenges.”, Nutrients. 2020, 12(10), 3044.
28. Arring NM, Millstine D, Marks LA, Nail LM., “Ginseng as a Treatment for Fatigue: A Systematic Review.”, J Altern Complement Med., 2018, 24(7), 624-633.
29. Malík M, Tlustoš P., “Nootropic Herbs, Shrubs, and Trees as Potential Cognitive Enhancers.”, Plants (Basel)., 2023, 12(6), 1364.
30. Bittles AH, Fulder SJ, Grant EC, Nicholls MR., “The effect of ginseng on lifespan and stress responses in mice.”, Gerontology., 1979, 25(3), 125 - 131.
31. Ratan ZA, Youn SH, Kwak YS, Han CK, Haidere MF, Kim JK, Min H, Jung YJ, Hosseinzadeh H, Hyun SH, Cho JY., “Adaptogenic effects of Panax ginseng on modulation of immune functions.”, J Ginseng Res., 2021, 45(1), 32 - 40.
32. Shinjyo N, Waddell G, Green J., “Valerian Root in Treating Sleep Problems and Associated Disorders—A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.”, Journal of Evidence-Based Integrative Medicine., 2020, 25.
33. Kenda M, Kočevar Glavač N, Nagy M, Sollner Dolenc M., “Medicinal Plants Used for Anxiety, Depression, or Stress Treatment: An Update.”, Molecules., 2022, 27(18), 6021.
34. Caudal D, Guinobert I, Lafoux A, Bardot V, Cotte C, Ripoche I, Chalard P, Huchet C., “Skeletal muscle relaxant effect of a standardized extract of Valeriana officinalis L. after acute administration in mice.”, J Tradit Complement Med. 2017, 8(2), 335-340.
35. Tassell MC, Kingston R, Gilroy D, Lehane M, Furey A., “Hawthorn (Crataegus spp.) in the treatment of cardiovascular disease.”, Pharmacogn Rev., 2010, 4(7), 32 - 41.
36. Zhang X, Li H, Jiang G, Wang X, Huang X, Li C, Wu D, Dai Q., “Effects of enzyme supplementation on the nutrient, amino acid, and energy utilization efficiency of citrus pulp and hawthorn pulp in Linwu ducks.”, Trop Anim Health Prod., 2018, 50(6), 1405 - 1410.
37. Nitzan K, David D, Franko M, Toledano R, Fidelman S, Tenenbaum YS, Blonder M, Armoza-Eilat S, Shamir A, Rehavi M, Ben-Chaim Y, Doron R., “Anxiolytic and antidepressants' effect of Crataegus pinnatifida (Shan Zha): biochemical mechanisms.”, Transl Psychiatry., 2022, 12(1), 208.
Article Sidebar
Article Details
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
All articles published in JPTCP are licensed under Copyright Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
Shah Krishna
Department of Pharmacy, Khyati College of Pharmacy, Palodia, Ahmedabad.
Tarang Chauhan
Department of Pharmacy, Khyati College of Pharmacy, Palodia, Ahmedabad.
Nadim Chhipa
Associate Professor, Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Khyati College of Pharmacy, Palodia, Ahmedabad
Pragnesh Patani
Principal and Professor, Department of Pharmacology, Khyati College of Pharmacy, Palodia, Ahmedabad