Was heroin used for medical purpose?

Answer 1

It's prescribed in the UK for severe pain. It's just very powerful morphine, basically. Heroine is morphine with two acetyl groups added. It has its own narcotic effects and breaks down into morphine.

Answer 2

Heroin is a pain medication and used in acute pain in some countries such as UK and Netherlands.

Some conditions where heroine is used as prescription drugs severe physical trauma/injury, post surgical pain, myocardial infarction (heart attack) and cancer pains of end stage cancer, pain of some terminal illnesses. Heroin is used in severe painful conditions, which can not be treated (pain reduction) with conventional pain killers such as NSAIDs (non steroidal anti inflammatory drugs) or other pain medications.

Reference: http://healthyone.org/medical-uses-of-heroin/

Answer 3

Sure was! Invented by the Bayer company. You know Bayer Aspirin? You used to be able to buy Bayer Heroin. http://www.a1b2c3.com/drugs/opi004.htm Today, heroin is still used for medical purposes... sort of. Oxycontin and Oxymorphone and many other drugs used to treat SEVERE pain are synthetic opiates - just like heroin is. Slightly different drugs, but almost point for point the same in terms of pain relief, addiction potential, abuse, etc.

Answer 4

Heroin was originally developed for use as a painkiller and analgesic. Additionally, it was also developed as an antitussive and anti-diarrhea agent, although for this purpose it was quickly replaced by less potent opiates, typically low to moderate strength ones (such as codeine). It is synthesized from--and very similar to--morphine (its chemical name is diacetyl-morphine) and belongs to the opiate class of drugs (it is a semi-synthetic opiate). It acts as a mu-opioid receptor agonist (meaning, it "plugs" into and "activates" mu-opioid receptors), and it acts in the same area of the brain as other opiates/opioids, some commonly prescribed of which include: codeine, propoxyphene (darvocet), morphine, oxycodone (oxycontin, percocet), hydrocodone (vicodin), and fentanyl.

However, in most of the western world heroin is no longer used as a painkiller and is no longer prescribed, unlike its parent compound morphine which is still in widespread use. So in modern day, it is typically used for recreational & euphoric purposes among drug addicts and opiate-dependent individuals and is mainly produced, distributed, and sold by the black-market rather than by your pharmacist and doctor. Again, heroin's recreational and euphoric effects are similar to those produced by other painkillers mentioned such as oxycodone or hydrocodone; but because heroin is more potent and penetrates the brain faster than morphine it causes a more profound (and euphoric) "rush" when injected. And it is therefore preferred among opiate addicts compared to the previously mentioned drugs.

But in short, to answer your question: heroin is used to achieve the euphoric effects of typical opiates & painkillers like percocet, but with stronger effects and a more intense "rush" when intravenously injected. It causes euphoria, pain relief, anxiety relief, antitussive effects, relief of diarrhea, and relief of insomnia (which could all be listed as reasons for which heroin is "used for"--although its euphoric properties are the most commonly sought out "use" among those who take the drug).

Answer 5

In the US it is only used in closely monitored rehab situations in order to help allay the terrible withdrawal symptoms (in decreasing doses). Methadone is also commonly used for this purpose. There are currently no medical uses for heroin that I am aware of.


Some cities with large numbers of heroin users (such as Vancouver, BC) have places ("shooting galleries", safe havens) to supply addicts with clean needles where they can safely shoot up without worrying about being arrested. Of course, such places don't condone the use of heroin, but instead the purpose is to help prevent spread of blood-borne illness due to sharing of dirty needles. They also have medical personnel nearby in the event of an overdose. I believe they also offer some rehab alternatives. I heard Seattle is considering a similar policy. Apparently the results in BC have been positive thus far (decreasing spread of disease and incidence of overdose). I think they also have a similar program in Amsterdam where you can pretty much do any drug you want anyway.

Answer 6

Yes. Heroin (or its chemical name diacetyl-morphine) acts on the exact same receptor in the brain (the mu-opioid receptor) and has the same very similar effects as other opiates and semi-synthetic opiates--specifically relative to the morphine derivatives--with medicinal properties including: as a painkiller and an analgesic. And to a lesser extent, it is effective as an antitussive and to prevent diarrhea by relaxing the smooth muscle in the gut (again, just like other opiates & opioids), although for these last two purposes heroin was quickly replaced by less potent opiates that give the same relief without the higher propensity for dependency. However, because heroin gives a higher "rush" due to its higher lipid solubility (penetrating the brain more quickly) causing a resulting elevated risk of addiction; it has been replaced with other drugs such as morphine; or transdermal fentanyl for severe pain in which heroin may have otherwise been used.

Other drugs that belong to the opiate class (such as heroin) which are still prescribed for the medical uses mentioned above include: codeine, propoxyphene (darvocet)--which are are of low-to-moderate potency opiates; hydrocodone (vicodin) and oxycodone (percocet, oxycontin)--which are of moderate-to-moderately high potency; and morphine, fentanyl, & hydromorphone (dilaudid)--which are of higher potency. These more potent drugs are more controlled (i.e., such as fentanyl which is usually only available as a "patch".. instead of in pill form which can be more easily prepared for injection) and have therefore largely replaced heroin.

NOTE: In conclusion, heroin effects the same area of the brain as other opiates/opioids and thus produces the samemedical effects (most of the current adverse effects among heroin users such as stroke, heart attack, gangrene, limb amputation, liver damage, & hepatitis are a result of the lifestyles of addicts ~OR~ more often, additives in heroin--and not the chemical itself--mainly because of its distribution by the black market.. these adverse effects would not be common if the drug itself were to be available in pure form). Its perception as a more dangerous, stronger, and potent chemical in the mid 20th century have resulted in its replacement by other painkillers in medicine. In this way, newer opiates provide similar relief, but with less tendency to induce compulsive use or providing less risk of addiction. Furthermore, modern opiates of similar potency of heroin are usually limited to formulations such as extended release pills or transdermal skin-patches (as previously mentioned), which are harder to abuse and/or inject (which is the main reason heroin is a popular recreational drug, due to its "rush"--as mentioned above).

Answer 7

You might get heroin if you were dying of cancer, brain tumour etc. It is mostly perscribed by the doctor as a pain-killer.

Answer 8

hell no unless you want to be hooked on it. smoke mary jane, that has medical use.

Answer 9

Heroin is made from opium which makes it opiate based just like morphine and all its derivatives. These are used as painkillers.