However, new research has shown that opioid dependence can lead to other health concerns as well. According to the results of a recent study, patients are 95 percent more likely to suffer from obesity if they regularly take opioids. Not only that, they are also more prone to developing diabetes, stroke, or heart disease. This information comes courtesy of researchers from the University of Newcastle, who analyzed a total of 133,401 people taking drugs for a variety of conditions.
From its list of more than 100,000 participants, the researchers isolated 7,423 people who were also taking prescription meds, including opioids, for chronic pain. The participants also gave info on their activity levels, alcohol intake, average hours of sleep per night, and individual smoking status.
Results of the study
The researchers found that the patients who were taking opiates alongside drugs for diabetes, heart disease, and stroke were a shocking 95 percent more likely to be obese. These patients were also said to be 82 percent more likely to have a "very high risk" waist circumference, as well as 63 percent more likely to develop high blood pressure.
The reason for these increases may be linked to the fact that pain medication can cause sedation, which leads to a reduced desire to exercise. It should also be noted that such drugs have also been linked with insomnia and disturbed night breathing, both of which can lead to an increased risk of obesity.
Certain pain medications, such as amitriptyline, gabapentin, and pregabalin are known to affect individual metabolism, which of course leads to weight gain. The study authors note that their results go along quite well with what is already known about the effects of opiates while also giving some new information.
According to the study's lead author Dr. Sophie Cassidy, patients who take pain medicines can end up in worse conditions than those who do not. "We already know that opiates are dependency-forming but this study also found patients taking opiates have the worst health. Obesity rates are much higher and the patients reported sleeping poorly," explained Cassidy. "These results add further weight to calls for these chronic pain medications to be prescribed for shorter periods."
Further complications on the horizon
To make matter worse for patients who need to take chronic pain medication, drug traffickers, particularly from China, are reportedly producing more potent and more dangerous variations of opioids in order to hook new users harder. Even the European Monitoring Center for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA) has said that there is a growing threat from these synthetic opioids.
According to the EMCDDA's scientific director Paul Griffiths, these synthetic items could lead to major problems. "We have seen in the last 18 months the rapid emergence of new highly potent synthetic opioids, mostly fentanyl derivatives," said Griffiths. "Their potency means they pose a significant risk to those that consume them or are accidentally exposed to them."
Read more about addiction on Opioids.news.
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