Warning Signs and Dangers of Pain Killer Addiction:
"Pain-pill addiction is a Big problem in America. Many doctors prescribe unnecessary pain medicines hoping to bring their patients short-term relief.
Pain-pill addiction is the inability to stop using pain pills despite the fact that they are causing harm, such as liver damage. There are three steps to pain-pill addiction:
• Tolerance. Your body adapts to the continuous presence of a pain drug. Over time, your body builds up a resistance to the medicine, and you need higher doses of the medication to get the same level of pain relief. This is called building up a tolerance, and is normal.
• Physical dependence. When your body has grown accustomed to the presence of the pain medication, you may go through withdrawal symptoms if you suddenly stop taking the medication. This is physical dependence.
• Addiction. Pain-pill addiction is a pathological condition. This is characterized by the addict using the drug regardless of dangerous, destructive effects on the body, relationships, and other parts of his/her life.
Which pain medications are most addictive?
Opioids — sometimes called narcotics — are among the most addictive pain medications. These include:
• Codeine
• Fentanyl (Duragesic, others)
• Hydrocodone (Vicodin, Lortab, others)
• Hydromorphone (Dilaudid, others)
• Meperidi"
People who develop pain-pill addiction tend to have a genetic tendency towards this. Studies have shown that most of them have family members who abuse drugs or alcohol. A personal history of substance abuse also increases the risk of addiction, along with anxiety, depression and loneliness.
What are the warning signs of addiction to pain medication?
• You take more than the recommended dosage
• You see many different doctors for pain pills
• You use alcohol, street drugs, or other medications to heighten the effects of the pain medication.
• You take pain medication to deal with other problems, such as anxiety or stress.
• Your doctor, friends or loved ones express concern about your use of pain medication.
The key to avoiding pain pill addiction is being honest with your doctor, and sharing your personal history and/or family history of substance abuse problems, so that your doctor can devise a pain management strategy that will work best for you.
Warning Signs and Dangers of Pain Killer Addiction: