According to the FDA, “Opioids are powerful medications that can help manage pain when prescribed for the right condition and when used properly.” When abused, however, opioids can cause dangerous side effects as well as addiction. Below is a full list of common opioid medications that will allow you to be aware of the substances which fall under this category.

If you are struggling with an addiction to narcotics know that you are not alone. Call 800-934-1582(Who Answers?) toll free to find help today.

List of Prescription Opioids

These drugs are often called pain relievers as well as narcotics, the latter term coming from “the Greek word for ‘stupor'” (DEA). Opioid medications can only be taken legally through a doctor’s prescription, and they can range from Schedule II to Schedule V drugs. Still, they are abused in high numbers for their euphoric and pain relieving effects and cause an extreme amount of emergency department visits, drug overdoses, and deaths.

Medication: Codeine

• Brand Names: Robitussin, Pedituss, Nalex, Antituss
• Street Names: cody, captain cody, sizzurp, lean, purple drank, schoolboy, pancakes and syrup, doors and fours
• Schedule: II, III, and V
• Prescribed Forms: liquid, tablet, and capsule
• Treats: moderate to severe pain and cough

Medication: Hydrocodone

• Brand Names: Vicodin, Lorcet, Lortab, Vicoprofen
• Street Names: vikes, norco, hydros, Watson-387
• Schedule: II
• Prescribed Forms: liquid, tablet, and capsule
• Treats: moderate to severe pain and cough

Medication: Methadone

• Brand Names: Dolophine, Methadose
• Street Names: fizzies, amidone, wafer
• Schedule: II
• Prescribed Forms: liquid, tablet, and dispersible tablet
• Treats: dependence on other opioid drugs and severe pain

Medication: Oxycodone

• Brand Names: OxyContin, Percocet, Percodan, Roxicodone
• Street Names: oxy, O.C., hillbilly heroin, perc, oxycotton
• Schedule: II
• Prescribed Forms: liquid, tablet, and capsule
• Treats: moderate to severe pain

Medication: Hydromorphone

• Brand Names: Dilaudid, Exalgo
• Street Names: footballs, dillies, D
• Schedule: II
• Prescribed Forms: liquid and suppository
• Treats: severe pain

Medication: Morphine

• Brand Names: Duramorph, Roxanol, RMS, Infumorph
• Street Names: M, Emma, monkey
• Schedule: II and III
• Prescribed Forms: liquid, tablet, capsule, and suppository
• Treats: moderate to severe or around-the-clock pain

Medication: Oxymorphone   

• Brand Names: Opana
• Street Names: blue heaven, Mrs. O, O bomb, octagons, stop signs, blues, biscuits
• Schedule: II
• Prescribed Forms: tablet only
• Treats: moderate to severe pain

Medication: Meperidine   

• Brand Names: Demerol
• Street Names: demmies
• Schedule: II
• Prescribed Forms: tablet and liquid
• Treats: moderate to severe pain

Medication: Fentanyl

• Brand Names: Duragesic, Actiq, Sublimaze
• Street Names: friend, Apache, dance fever, China girl, China white, murder 8, jackpot
• Schedule: II
• Prescribed Forms: tablet, buccal tablet, film, lozenge, and sublingual
• Treats: breakthrough pain, often experienced by cancer patients

These are the most commonly prescribed, and the most commonly abused, opioid medications. “Besides their medical use, narcotics/opioids produce a general sense of well-being by reducing tension, anxiety, and aggression.”

Someone looking to abuse the effects of these drugs may crush them instead of taking them as directed. They will then mix the substance with water and inject it or snort it, depending on which method they prefer. Knowing the names and other pertinent information about these substances can be beneficial to you in the future; you may be able to avoid unknown, dangerous drug abuse or save another person’s life.

If you are struggling with an addiction to prescription narcotics know that help is available. Call 800-934-1582(Who Answers?) toll free to find help today.