The advancement of science and biochemistry has resulted in the creation of countless fantastic new drugs and medications.
It seems that no matter what your ailment is, it can be fixed with a pill.
Whether you're manic, depressed, angry, sad, sleepless or sleeping too much, there is a pill to help regulate your behavior.
One of the most popular forms of prescribed medications are opioids, or pain medication.
These little pills such as OxyContin and Vicodin are incredibly effective at controlling pain, but can also have harsh side effects.
Should you take them? What are some of the side effects? Here's our analysis.
First off, before you even begin taking opioid medication, be sure to check if your family has a history of addiction.
Whether this is gambling, drinking or drug use, a family history of addiction can be a strong indication that you will yourself develop issues with your medication.
Even more strongly, if you have issues with addiction yourself, or have an addictive personality, be incredibly careful of beginning an opioid regimen, because you run a high risk of developing a dependency on these drugs.
Barring that, what can happen if you begin to take them? There are many symptoms that indicate your body is reacting negatively to the new drug, and one of them is trouble breathing.
Because of the chemistry involved with opioids, depressed respiratory systems can occur during which you have to struggle to draw in as much breath as you used to.
This is one of the reasons doctors always start with small dosages so that they can catch such a reaction before it becomes too severe.
Another reaction is potential constipation, due to the effect the opioid has on nerve endings in your gut.
Many doctors encourage their patients to be proactive about constipation, urging them to begin taking laxatives straight away so as to avoid developing this problem.
A third side effect is sexual problems, as the drug can cause both men and women to have trouble orgasming, and erectile dysfunction in men.
Drowsiness and confusion can also be caused by taking these drugs, since they work by inhibiting your nervous system, and thus can make you feel slower, less sharp, sleepy and confused.
Be careful to not drive or handle heavy machinery when feeling like this, because these side effects can simulate driving under the influence of alcohol.
Finally the greatest danger lies in overdosing.
People frequently attempt to take more of a medication in order to increase the effect it has on their pain, and this is of considerable danger with these opioids.
Be sure to follow your doctor's prescription and not go above it without consulting them.