What Is Britain’s Most Dangerous Prescription Drug?

In the UK, the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) oversees the safety of prescription medications, ensuring they are effective and pose minimal risks to the public. But, each year, thousands of Britons are still facing adverse effects ranging from mild side effects to severe drug dependencies and even death.

This fact has many people wondering – what is Britain’s most dangerous prescription drug? Find out everything you need to know in this article.

 

What Are Prescription Drugs?

Prescription drugs are medications legally prescribed by healthcare professionals. These include both controlled substances, which have a high potential for abuse, and non-controlled drugs, which are typically safer but can still pose risks if misused.

Prescription medications treat a variety of ailments, from chronic pain to mental health disorders. However, their misuse can stem from self-medication, addiction, or even recreational use, leading to serious health issues.

 

What Is Britain’s Most Dangerous Prescription Drug?

It is difficult to identify the most dangerous particular drug specifically.

Benzodiazepines are in the system of most people who suffer death from drugs, but in half of cases, more than one drug is present. So, it is difficult to identify which drug was the actual cause of death.

Opiates were also involved in nearly half of recorded drug deaths in 2022, but it is often difficult to distinguish between heroin, morphine and methadone in toxicity reports post-mortem. For this reason, Opioid prescription drugs, statistically, are involved in the most deaths and could be considered the most dangerous drug type.

One other drug considered dangerous is also Clozapine. This drug, it has been claimed, has been responsible for over 7000 deaths since it was made available in the UK. The British Pharmacological Society also states that the World Health Organisation puts Clozapine as the most lethal prescription drug available in the UK today.

 

Dangerous Prescription Drugs By Type

Opioids

Opioids are potent pain relievers that, despite their effectiveness, are highly addictive. In the UK, opioids like morphine and fentanyl have led to a significant number of addiction cases and overdose deaths.

Opioids in use in the UK include:

• Morphine: Often used for severe pain, morphine is one of the most potent opioids available and is typically administered in hospitals or under strict medical supervision.
• Codeine: This is a less potent opioid used for treating mild to moderate pain. It is often combined with other medications, such as paracetamol or ibuprofen, to enhance its effectiveness.
• Fentanyl: Known for its extreme potency, fentanyl is typically used for severe pain management, often in a hospital setting or for chronic pain in palliative care. It is also available in patches for slow release.
• Oxycodone: Used for moderate to severe pain, oxycodone is available under various brand names and can be prescribed alone or in combination with other pain relievers.
• Tramadol: This is a less potent opioid that is used to treat moderate pain. Tramadol is unique because it also inhibits the reuptake of serotonin and norepinephrine, which can help with certain types of pain.
• Methadone: Used both for chronic pain management and as part of drug addiction detox programs, methadone has a long half-life, which can be beneficial for stable dosing but also risky in terms of overdose potential.
• Dihydrocodeine: Similar to codeine, dihydrocodeine is used for moderate pain and as a cough suppressant.
• Hydromorphone: Known for its strong analgesic properties, hydromorphone is used to manage pain that does not respond well to other opioids.
• Buprenorphine: Often used in the treatment of opioid addiction, buprenorphine is also effective for pain management. It is unique because it is a partial agonist at opioid receptors, making it less likely to cause respiratory depression.

Benzodiazepines

Used to treat anxiety and insomnia, benzodiazepines are another class of medications with a high dependency risk. Withdrawal can be painful and dangerous, making these drugs particularly problematic.

Benzodiazepines in use in the UK include:

• Diazepam (Valium): Perhaps the most well-known benzodiazepine, diazepam is used for anxiety, muscle spasms, and sometimes for alcohol withdrawal symptoms. It also has anticonvulsant properties.
• Lorazepam (Ativan): Used primarily for anxiety disorders, lorazepam is known for its relatively potent effects and is also used for sedation in hospital settings.
• Alprazolam (Xanax): Commonly prescribed for panic disorders and severe anxiety, alprazolam is fast-acting and one of the more potent benzodiazepines, which makes it highly effective but also prone to dependency.
• Clonazepam (Klonopin): This benzodiazepine is used to treat seizure disorders (including epilepsy) and panic disorders. It has a longer half-life, which can be beneficial for providing prolonged effects.
• Temazepam (Restoril): Often prescribed for short-term insomnia treatment, temazepam helps with falling and staying asleep.
• Oxazepam: Typically used for anxiety and alcohol withdrawal, oxazepam is considered to have a lower risk of dependence compared to other benzodiazepines.
• Chlordiazepoxide (Librium): One of the older benzodiazepines, chlordiazepoxide, is used for anxiety and alcohol withdrawal symptoms.
• Nitrazepam (Mogadon): Primarily prescribed for short-term relief from severe, disabling anxiety and insomnia, nitrazepam is known for its sedative properties.

 

Antidepressants

While essential for treating depression and anxiety, antidepressants can have side effects ranging from weight gain to emotional numbness, sometimes complicating recovery.

Antidepressants in use in the UK include:

Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs)

• Fluoxetine (Prozac): Used for depression, OCD, and panic disorder.
• Citalopram (Celexa): Commonly prescribed for depression and sometimes for anxiety.
• Sertraline (Zoloft): Used for depression, panic attacks, and OCD.
• Paroxetine (Paxil): Effective for depression, anxiety disorders, and PTSD.

Serotonin and Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitors (SNRIs)

• Venlafaxine (Effexor): Prescribed for depression, anxiety, and panic disorders.
• Duloxetine (Cymbalta): Used for depression, anxiety, and certain types of pain.
• Desvenlafaxine (Pristiq): Mainly prescribed for major depressive disorder.

Tricyclic Antidepressants (TCAs)

• Amitriptyline: Used for depression and a range of chronic pain syndromes.
• Nortriptyline (Pamelor): Effective for depression and also used in chronic pain management.
• Clomipramine (Anafranil): Typically prescribed for OCD and depression.

Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors (MAOIs)

• Phenelzine (Nardil): Used for depression and certain anxiety disorders.
• Isocarboxazid (Marplan): Effective for depression, especially when other treatments have failed.

Atypical Antidepressants

• Mirtazapine (Remeron): Known for its use in major depressive disorder and also helps with insomnia.
• Bupropion (Wellbutrin): Used for depression and as an aid to quit smoking.
• Trazodone: Commonly prescribed for major depression and insomnia.

Others

• Agomelatine: Used for major depressive episodes and to regulate sleep.
• Vortioxetine (Brintellix): Relatively new and used for treating major depressive disorders.

 

Prescription Drug Stimulants

Stimulants are commonly prescribed for ADHD but are also prone to abuse due to their energy-boosting and attention-enhancing effects.

Stimulant Prescription Drugs include:

Methylphenidate

• Ritalin: One of the most well-known forms of methylphenidate used to treat ADHD.
• Concerta: A long-acting form of methylphenidate that provides sustained symptom control throughout the day.
• Equasym XL: Another formulation of methylphenidate that is used for managing ADHD symptoms.

Dexamphetamine

• Dexedrine: Used primarily for treating ADHD. It helps increase attention and decrease impulsiveness and hyperactivity in patients with ADHD.
• Vyvanse (lisdexamfetamine): A prodrug of dexamphetamine that is only activated once ingested and metabolized. It’s used for ADHD and binge eating disorder.

Modafinil

• Used for the treatment of narcolepsy and other sleep disorders to help maintain wakefulness and reduce excessive daytime sleepiness.

Atomoxetine

• Strattera: Although technically not a stimulant, atomoxetine is often grouped with stimulants because it is used to treat ADHD. It works by selectively inhibiting the reuptake of norepinephrine in the brain, helping to manage symptoms of ADHD.

 

Antipsychotic Medicines

In the UK, antipsychotic medications are primarily prescribed to treat various psychiatric disorders such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and severe depression. These medications help to manage symptoms such as delusions, hallucinations, and severe mood swings.

Here’s a list of some commonly prescribed antipsychotics:

First-Generation Antipsychotics (Typical Antipsychotics)

• Haloperidol (Haldol): Often used for its effectiveness in controlling delusions and hallucinations.
• Chlorpromazine (Thorazine): Used to treat a variety of mental health disorders, including schizophrenia and the manic phase of bipolar disorder.
• Fluphenazine: Typically prescribed for managing the symptoms of schizophrenia.

Second-Generation Antipsychotics (Atypical Antipsychotics)

• Risperidone (Risperdal): Used to treat schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and irritability associated with autism.
• Olanzapine (Zyprexa): Effective for treating schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. It is known for its efficacy in controlling mania.
• Quetiapine (Seroquel): Often prescribed for schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and as an add-on treatment for major depressive disorder.
• Aripiprazole (Abilify): Used for schizophrenia and bipolar disorder and as an adjunct treatment for major depressive disorder.
• Clozapine (Clozaril): Reserved for treatment-resistant schizophrenia and for reducing the risk of suicidal behaviour in schizophrenic or schizoaffective patients. Due to its risk of severe side effects, such as agranulocytosis, its use is highly regulated.

Third-Generation Antipsychotics

• Aripiprazole (mentioned above in second-generation) is also considered part of this newer class of atypical antipsychotics due to its unique mechanism of action as a dopamine system stabilizer.

Antipsychotics are powerful medications and can have significant side effects, including weight gain, diabetes, and sometimes irreversible movement disorders such as tardive dyskinesia.

The choice of antipsychotic and the dosage are carefully considered based on the patient’s specific symptoms, other health issues, and the side effect profile of the drug. Treatment with antipsychotics is usually accompanied by regular monitoring and follow-up appointments to manage and mitigate potential side effects.

 

Get Help For Prescription Drug Addiction

If you feel like you are addicted or becoming addicted to any of the drugs above, we can help you here at Addiction Advocates. Our admissions team can discuss your issues and find the best rehab programme that falls within your budget, location and severity.

Contact us today or call on 0800 012 6088 for free, confidential advice.