What are the short-term effects of prescription pain relievers?

Relief from pain. In some people, prescription pain relievers also cause euphoria or feelings of well being by affecting the brain regions that mediate pleasure. This is why they are abused. Other effects include drowsiness, constipation and slowed breathing. 

Taking a large single dose of prescription pain relievers can cause severe respiratory depression that can lead to death. Use of prescription pain relievers with other substances that depress the central nervous system, such as alcohol, antihistamines, barbiturates, benzodiazepines, or general anesthetics, increases the risk of life-threatening respiratory depression.

Show All Answers

1. How are prescription medications used?
2. How are prescription sedatives and tranquilizers used?
3. What do prescription pain relievers look like?
4. What do prescription sedatives and tranquilizers look like?
5. What are the long-term effects of prescription pain relievers?
6. What are the long-term effects of prescription sedatives and tranquilizers?
7. What are the short-term effects of prescription pain relievers?
8. What are the short-term effects of prescription sedatives and tranquillizers?