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PrescAddict_031106.sPubDate = "3/30/2005 7:24:24 PM GMT";
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PrescAddict_031106.appHeader = "FACT FILE | &#39Scripts that addict";
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PrescAddict_031106[i-1].body = "A record 36 million Americans have abused prescription drugs at least once in their lifetime, a government study found. To find out more about some of the most commonly abused prescription painkillers, select a medication above.";

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PrescAddict_031106[i-1].body = "<b>Maker:</b> Purdue Pharma L.P.    <p>Known as the &#39hillbilly heroin,&#39 OxyContin is the brand name for an opioid analgesic prescribed for chronic moderate to severe pain. Its active ingredient Oxycodone is more potent than hydrocodone and has a greater potential for abuse. Oxycodone is also found in at least 45 other drugs on the market, including Percocet. Since hitting the U.S. market in 1996, OxyContin has become one of the most popular -- and most abused -- medical painkillers. More than 7.2 million prescriptions were dispensed in 2001, according to the company. It is a time-released narcotic which provides continuous relief for up to 12 hours.    <p>Like other opioids, it works primarily through interaction with the mu opioid receptors, especially in the brain and spinal cord. It produces a euphoric effect.<p>Because of its time-release function, the medication comes in large doses and can be fatal if it is crushed or chewed. According to published reports, maker Purdue Pharma is researching for a method to mask the drug&#39s effects if it is crushed, a common way it is abused by addicts.";

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PrescAddict_031106[i-1].body = "<b>Maker:</b> Knoll Pharmaceutical    <p>The drug taken in large doses by Rush Limbaugh and that nearly killed &#39Friends&#39 star Matthew Perry, Vicodin is the brand name of an opioid analgesic similar to heroin and morphine. One of the most frequently prescribed medications for moderate to severe pain such as migraines, back pain and cancer, Vicodin&#39s active ingredients are hydrocodone bitartrate and acetaminophen, which work on pain receptors in the brain. It can become physically addictive after only several weeks of use. In fact, it is one of the top 20 most abused controlled substances in the United States, according to drug addiction researchers. It is an older drug than OxyContin and is effective for only a 3-4 hour period. Chronic use of opioids can result in tolerance, which means that users must take higher doses to achieve the same effects.     <p><b>Side effects:</b>   <br>Dizziness, drowsiness, lightheadedness, constipation, nausea, or vomiting. Some doctors assert that abuse of Vicodin can cause hearing loss.";

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PrescAddict_031106[i-1].body = "<b>Maker:</b> Endo Pharmaceuticals    <p>Prescribed for moderate to severe pain, Percodan is the brand name for a combination of two pain-killing drugs, the narcotic oxycodone and aspirin. Percocet combines oxycodone and acetaminophen. Both are in a class of opioids that includes morphine, heroin, Demerol and others. It works by blocking pain signals from the brain and spinal cord. Available in tablet, capsule, and liquid form, it is taken every 6 hours by mouth.    <p><b> Side effects:</b> Sleepiness or dizziness, nausea or vomiting and constipation. People taking the drug should avoid alcohol or any other medications containing aspirin or acetaminophen.";

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