Americans and Canadians are the two largest consumers of painkillers in the world. Prescriptions of opioids develop exponentially and are controversial because they are considered dangerous to health.
What is opioids?
Opioids are potent analgesic drugs. The medical use of prescription opioids is to alleviate pain, including certain advanced cancers, cough, diarrhea, and the treatment of addiction to other opioids. Abused opioids can lead to addiction or even death.
Discover the ranking of the 10 most prescribed opioids in the world, their side effects as well as their natural substitutes.
1 Hydrocodone (Oxycontin / Vicodin / Acetaminophen)
Mechanism of action: Narcotic, hydrocodone belongs to the family of antitussive medicines and can lead to addiction in cases of abuse.
Side effects: Under no circumstances should it be given to young children. It can cause, among other things, abdominal ailments, respiratory problems, constipation, head trauma, drowsiness and loss of vigilance, dependence. Hydrocodone may interfere with the development of the fetus in pregnancy and the quality of breast milk.
Natural substitutes: saffron, honey, nutmeg, ginger, cayenne pepper, wild berries, cherries, celery, celery seeds, dark green vegetables.
2 Statins (Crestor / Zocor / Lipitor)
These drugs are prescribed to lower the level of bad cholesterol (LDL) in the blood and for the treatment of cardiovascular diseases.
Mechanism of action: Statins are hypocholesterolemic drugs that act on the liver by inhibiting the enzyme that catalyzes the synthesis of cholesterol in cells.
Side effects: neurological toxicity, renal insufficiency, destruction of muscle tissue, muscle damage, liver or digestive symptoms, hormonal disorders, diabetes, cancer, death.
Natural substitutes: spinach, walnuts, tomatoes, beans, garlic, cranberries, apples, licorice root, Indian saffron, green tea, alfalfa, fatty fish, psyllium, pepper, fragon, fenugreek, hawthorn.
3 Lisinopril (Zestril / Prinivil) and Norvasc (Amlodipine)
Mechanism of Action: Lisinopril is used in patients with elevated blood pressure and congestive heart failure. Norvasc is also used as an antihypertensive agent and also acts on angina (pain in the chest).
Side effects: blood disorders, impotence, tachycardia, depression, liver inflammation, skin infections, hyperglycemia, gingival hyperplasia, cancer.
Natural foods: high vitamin C foods (guava, red pepper, sweet pepper, parsley, thyme, broccoli, dark green leafy vegetables ...), foods rich in magnesium (chocolate, Brazil nuts, cashew nuts, Almonds, pumpkin, green molasses, pumpkin seeds, gable), foods rich in potassium (banana, mushroom, dates, oranges, sweet potatoes), coenzyme CoQ10, known as ubiquinone, coconut oil.
4 Synthroid (levothyroxine)
Mechanism of action: Levothyroxine aims to compensate for the lack of thyroid hormones.
Side effects: bone loss, heart failure, hyperglycemia, adrenal insufficiency, coma, thyroid disorders.
Substitutes: iodine-containing foods (kelp, seaweed, parsley, radish, Himalayan pink salt, seafood, bananas, strawberries). Supplementation with selenium, zinc and copper is beneficial against hypothyroidism.
5 Prilosec (nexium / omeprazole)
Omeprazole reduces or prevents the production of gastric acid. It works against gastric and duodenal ulcers.
Side effects: joint pain, impotence, ringing in the ears, blood pressure, bradycardia, gastrointestinal infections, inflammation of the pancreas, anemia, mucosal atrophy, conjunctivitis, testicular pain.
Natural substitutes: probiotics, grapefruit, manuka honey, broccoli sprouts, red elm, aloe vera gel, licorice, baking soda.
6 Azithromycin and Amoxicillin
Azithromycin and Amoxicillin are used to treat certain infectious diseases, including those of the bronchi, nose, lungs, blood, gums, teeth, ears or throat.
Side effects: inflammation of the stomach and liver, irritation of the colon, ulcer, destruction of intestinal flora, resistance to antibiotics, allergies, obesity.
Natural substitutes: garlic, Indian saffron, vitamin D, coconut oil, sardines, salmon, olive leaf extract, green tea, walnut, oregano oil, rose water, grapefruit seed extract, probiotics, honey Of manuka.
7 Metformin
Metformin is one of the oral hypoglycaemic agents; It helps people with diabetes overweight to regulate their glucose levels and facilitate their passage to the cells of the body.
Side effects: lactic acidosis, hepato-renal insufficiency, hyperthyroidism, bladder cancer, andropose, malabsorption of vitamin B12, cardiac arrest.
Natural substitutes: vitamin D, Indian saffron, coffee, black tea, walnut, cider vinegar, green vegetables, chia seeds, leafy greens, red grape, broccoli, oats, spinach, green beans, strawberries.