The public is becoming more and more aware of the opioid crisis. While many patients have valid reasons for getting prescriptions of this powerful drug, the true addictive nature and counterproductive results are causing doctors to re-evaluate how many opioid prescriptions they’re giving out. However, sometimes opioids aren’t just used in pain medications. Did you know that the IBS drug Viberzi is an opioid which means that it is categorized as a controlled substance?
Viberzi (eluxadoline) is part of a new classification of drugs called “mu-opioid receptor agonists”. It works by using a certain type of opioid that relaxes the intestines to prevent diarrhea in patients that struggle with Irritable Bowel Syndrome with Diarrhea (IBS-D).
According to the Controlled Substances Act (CSA), drugs have different levels of severity based on medical usage and potential for abuse. Medications containing opioids are considered Schedule II narcotics which means that they have a high potential for abuse including severe psychological or physical dependence.
In clinical studies involving Viberzi, it was reported that patients could experience euphoria or feeling drunk after taking 75 mg and 100 mg doses of Viberzi. In two other studies that focused on the potential for substance abuse, researchers found that oral doses of Viberzi (300 mg and/or 1000 mg) and intranasal doses of Viberzi (100 mg and/or 200 mg) caused the adverse reaction of euphoria. If you or a loved one had a past drug addiction, you should avoid taking Viberzi since this medication has the potential to be habit forming.
If you have IBS-D, your options aren’t limited to just Viberzi. There are a variety of ways that you can manage your condition through diet, lifestyle changes and other medications that don’t pose the risk of addiction.
You don’t have to be dependent just on Viberzi to ease your IBS-D. Knowing your options can help you to have long term success with minimal risk.
