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URL of this page: https://medlineplus.gov/prescriptiondrugmisuse.html

Prescription Drug Misuse

Also called: Prescription Drug Abuse

Summary

If you take a medicine in a way that is different from what the doctor prescribed, it is called prescription drug misuse. It could be:

  • Taking a medicine that was prescribed for someone else
  • Taking a larger dose than you are supposed to
  • Taking the medicine in a different way than you are supposed to. This might be crushing tablets and then snorting or injecting them.
  • Using the medicine for another purpose, such as getting high

Misusing some prescription drugs can lead to addiction. These include opioids, sedatives, tranquilizers, and stimulants.

Every medicine has some risk of side effects. Doctors take this into account when prescribing medicines. People who misuse these drugs may not understand the risks. The medicines may not be safe for them, especially at higher doses or when taken with other medicines.

NIH: National Institute on Drug Abuse

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Journal Articles References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)

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The information on this site should not be used as a substitute for professional medical care or advice. Contact a health care provider if you have questions about your health.