People often use the terms opiate vs opioid interchangeably. However, there are some differences between the two classifications of drugs. Regardless of the difference, both drugs can be highly addictive after repeated use. People who take prescription medications may develop a dependency on opiates or opioids due to their potency. Opiate vs opioid withdrawal symptoms and side effects differ depending on the type of drug a person uses and the severity of the addiction.
Opiates
You can derive opiates from the opium plant. The ingredients extracted from the opium plant occur naturally in the sap of the opium poppy. Doctors use them to treat pain. However, pharmacists can also create opiates synthetically, as well as naturally. The synthetic versions of these opiates are known as opioids. Moreover, these synthetic versions are human-made using a combination of other drugs or substances.
Opiates are highly addictive and can lead to long-term dependency. People use them both recreationally and medicinally. In short, you can also find them anywhere, from the pharmaceutical market to the streets. Examples of opiates include:
- Morphine
- Codeine
- Thebaine
- Papaverine
- Narceine
In their medical or pharmaceutical form, people use opiates to reduce or eliminate pain. However, if a patient suffers from ongoing or severe pain, they may want higher doses of opiates to offset the suffering. As a result of the higher doses, more powerful pain killers can lead to more severe addiction.
Opioids
Opiate vs opioid effects on the brain are mostly the same. The difference is that opioids are synthetic — i.e., artificial. In other words, scientists create opioids in laboratories. However, beyond the addition of synthetic compounds, there is very little difference between opioid vs opiate medication. Furthermore, opiates are a sub-class of opioids. All drugs in this classification are essentially opioids.
Below are some examples of semi-synthetic and fully-synthetic opioids:
Semi-Synthetic
- Heroin
- Hydrocodone (Vicodin and Lortab)
- Hydromorphone (Dilaudid)
- Oxycodone (OxyContin and Percocet)
- Oxymorphone (Opana ER)
Fully Synthetic
- Methadone
- Fentanyl
- Meperidine (Demerol)
- Tramadol (Ultram and Ultracet)
In short, if you need an opioid detox program or an opioid addiction treatment program, don’t hesitate. Contact Recovery Ways today.
Side Effects of Opiate vs Opioid
Since opiate vs opioid products come from the same plant, you may experience some of the same side effects, including:
- Anxiety & agitation
- Watery eyes & runny nose
- Muscle aches
- Excessive sweating
- Insomnia or yawning
- Dilated pupils
- Stomach cramps, diarrhea, nausea, or vomiting
Many of the side effects of opioids do not start occurring until you are already addicted to the drug. By the time you start experiencing severe side effects, you may have already been taking the pills for several months.
Opiate vs Opioid: Get Help for Your Addiction
If you are addicted to your pain medication, then now is the time to get off of the pills and stay off. Recovery Ways offers recovery programs for opiate vs opioid addictions. Additionally, we can help you find the right treatment and get on the road to lifelong recovery. To find out more about our addiction treatment center in Utah, call us today at 888.986.7848.
