Signs and symptoms of prescription drug abuse depend on the specific drug. Because of their mind-altering properties, the most misused prescription drugs are:  Opioids used to treat pain, such as medicines containing oxycodone (Oxycontin, Percocet) and those containing hydrocodone (Norco) Anti-anxiety medicines, sedatives and hypnotics used to treat anxiety and sleep disorders, such as alprazolam (Xanax), diazepam (Valium) and zolpidem (Ambien) Stimulants used to treat attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and certain sleep disorders, such as methylphenidate (Ritalin, Concerta, others), dextroamphetamine-amphetamine (Adderall XR, Mydayis) and dextroamphetamine (Dexedrine)  Signs and symptoms of prescription drug abuse Opioids  Constipation Nausea Feeling high Slowed breathing rate Drowsiness Confusion Poor coordination Increased dose needed for pain relief Worsening or increased sensitivity to pain with higher doses  Anti-anxiety medicines and sedatives  Drowsiness Confusion Unsteady walking Slurred speech Poor concentration Dizziness Problems with memory Slowed breathing  Stimulants  Increased alertness Feeling high Irregular heartbeat High blood pressure High body temperature Reduced appetite Insomnia Agitation Anxiety Paranoia  Other signs  Forging, stealing or selling prescriptions Taking higher doses than prescribed Being hostile or having mood swings Sleeping less or more Making poor decisions Being unusually energetic, high or revved up Being drowsy Requesting early refills or continually "losing" prescriptions, so more prescriptions must be written Trying to get prescriptions from more than one prescriber 
signs symptoms prescription drug abuse depend specific drug  mind-altering properties  misused prescription drugs are:  opioids treat pain  medicines containing oxycodone (oxycontin  percocet) containing hydrocodone (norco) anti-anxiety medicines  sedatives hypnotics treat anxiety sleep disorders  alprazolam (xanax)  diazepam (valium) zolpidem (ambien) stimulants treat attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (adhd) sleep disorders  methylphenidate (ritalin  concerta  others)  dextroamphetamine-amphetamine (adderall xr  mydayis) dextroamphetamine (dexedrine)  signs symptoms prescription drug abuse opioids  constipation nausea feeling high slowed breathing rate drowsiness confusion poor coordination increased dose needed pain relief worsening increased sensitivity pain higher doses  anti-anxiety medicines sedatives  drowsiness confusion unsteady walking slurred speech poor concentration dizziness problems memory slowed breathing  stimulants  increased alertness feeling high irregular heartbeat high blood pressure high body temperature reduced appetite insomnia agitation anxiety paranoia  signs  forging  stealing selling prescriptions taking higher doses prescribed being hostile mood swings sleeping making poor decisions being unusually energetic  high revved being drowsy requesting early refills continually "losing" prescriptions  prescriptions written trying prescriptions prescriber 
prescription drug abuse