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Post by vspindler on Aug 22, 2015 16:56:04 GMT
Worry about being addicted?
Every so often I struggle with this. since my diagnosis I have had to get over my embarrassment and fear about asking for meds, even my birth control. Even so, I usually see my pain med as part of the treatment of my condition. (I have fibromyalgia). But there are times when I am less confident. I currently take Tramadol. I really have no desire to move up in level of meds (my rheumatologist and I have a plan if my pain levels increase further and changing pain meds is like 5 or more steps away from where we are at) but there are times when I worry about being addicted to my meds. I can tell when I am due for a dose, and I start, well, craving isn't the right word, but it is the only one I have at the moment, when the next dose will kick in. I don't get a buzz, at least that I notice, that I am looking for. But the "making me feel better" element of it sometimes make me question of it is the med or the improvement of my pain that I am looking forward to.
it feels sort of silly writing that last sentence, since the point of taking most medications IS to make you feel better. Perhaps the fact I am concerned about it is a sign I don't need to be as concerned. I know I need to take them, as I am able to do the things I need to do better when I have less pain. I wish I would have a good stretch again when I could go off my pain med to reassure myself. Unfortunately it has been some time since I have been in that position.
i guess this is partly mind dump, part PVM, and part request for your own experiences.
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gsquaredmom
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Post by gsquaredmom on Aug 22, 2015 17:14:33 GMT
I get it. Since my car accident I have been on and off pain meds. My goal is not to be on them as much as possible. I have a great fear of addiction. My pain specialist said he wished all his patients were as responsible and thoughtful about meds.
I was on four at one point. Tramadol was one. Even though not narcotic it works on the same receptors in the brain. So, you do get a feeling of well being. I tapered that one because I got headaches when I tried to stop suddenly.
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Post by dewryce on Aug 22, 2015 17:33:13 GMT
I'm sorry, I know it must be scary for you. Don't feel silly at all! You are taking this seriously and trying to be proactive which is a good thing. Just be honest with your doctor and ask her to help you police yourself.
I'm not too worried about becoming addicted anymore, just very aware if that makes sense. But I've never gotten the "feel good" aspect from narcotics that so many people report. Just some pain relief. My biggest concern is my body getting used to them and them no longer being as effective.
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Post by foolana on Aug 22, 2015 17:40:03 GMT
There's a difference between addiction and dependence. If you need to take pain meds to feel better mentally (narcotics) and take more and more to achieve that level, you may be addicted. If you take them as prescribed your body may become dependent, meaning that biologically speaking your body will have symptoms of withdrawal (again narcotics) if you stop taking them abruptly.
If you fear addiction, speak to your doctor.
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Post by Basket1lady on Aug 22, 2015 17:40:43 GMT
I was on some med or another for my back a while back. I mentioned to my dr that I was worried about addiction, as the people in my family tend toward alcohol, substance, food, something... She assured me that she wouldn't let me get to that point, but it made me cautious as to what I took.
We had a dog on Tramadol for years. I never noticed her begging for another dose (she may have--she was a golden lab and food obsessed. She took a med at 5 pm, an hour before she ate. She would look at me at 5 pm, knowing it was time for her pill.).
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vmcm
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Post by vmcm on Aug 22, 2015 17:44:56 GMT
You are not alone. I worry about this as well. I have been on it for almost 2 years. My condition causes my pain to go up and down in an unpredictable way. When my pain is less, I don't take as many doses. When I need it I take it. I don't want to suffer but I do ask myself how much pain I am in. I can sometimes go for weeks and not take it, and I haven't noticed any withdrawal symptoms. I am not ready to go to the next step medication if I can avoid it because THAT would really stress me out.
Hang in there.
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Post by traceys on Aug 22, 2015 18:40:12 GMT
I don't worry, but I do understand the concern, and I certainly think it's a valid one.
I have been on hydrocodone (Lorcet, Vicodin, Norco) for probably a decade to manage back pain. I have scoliosis, and in my 40s, started having disc problems. I had surgery for a herniated disc about eight years ago and could possibly be needing another one down the road. I take a pretty minimal dose most days, but occasionally I have to step it up a little if I've had a really active day. I never get a "high" feeling....just a blocking of the pain. You also have to be reasonable about what you can expect...meds aren't supposed to make you completely 100% pain free in all circumstances, but to minimize it to a reasonable level.
I have always been pretty chemically resistant....it generally takes more of something to affect me. I put down cigarettes after about 15 years without another thought when I found out I was pregnant, as opposed to my ex who literally was physically ill for two weeks when he tried to quit. So I think I'm just genetically lucky in that regard (on the other hand, every single calorie in every single bite of food applies itself to my body with a vengeance! LOL).
The thing that bothers me is that because so many people abuse these drugs, it is harder and more expensive every year for me to get treatment. And of course there are the people who think that they know better than me and my doctor what my pain levels are and that I should just suck it up and take a Tylenol. Had it not been for pain medication, I would not have been able to finish out my career....I wouldve retired on disability years ago. I would not have been able to sit in the stands and watch my kids in sports activities or go places and do things.
You know your body and what you need and can tolerate. If you and your doctor feel ok, you probably are. :-)
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Post by mirabelleswalker on Aug 22, 2015 18:48:49 GMT
If you are truly concerned you could ask for methadone for your pain. It is used in pain management in lieu of narcotics.
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georgiapea
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Post by georgiapea on Aug 22, 2015 19:12:48 GMT
I've taken the same dosage of Relefin for over 10 years and have never felt a moment's worry about addiction. I have forgotten to take it several times over the past 10 years and the pain is suffered (which is what clued me in that I'd forgotten) was enough to make me well aware of how essential it is. With all the hype about medication addictions it's not surprising many people would be concerned. If I had to keep increasing my dosage I'd be worried too, but as the same amount has kept me stable this long I'm not going to worry needlessly.
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Post by foolana on Aug 22, 2015 19:26:10 GMT
I've taken the same dosage of Relefin for over 10 years and have never felt a moment's worry about addiction. I have forgotten to take it several times over the past 10 years and the pain is suffered (which is what clued me in that I'd forgotten) was enough to make me well aware of how essential it is. With all the hype about medication addictions it's not surprising many people would be concerned. If I had to keep increasing my dosage I'd be worried too, but as the same amount has kept me stable this long I'm not going to worry needlessly. Relafen is not a narcotic, it's an NSAID. There is no possibility of addiction. While tramadol is technically not a narcotic, it has narcotic like properties and the jury is still out on the possibility of addiction or dependence.
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pridemom
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Post by pridemom on Aug 22, 2015 19:41:45 GMT
I have Juvenile RA. thought Tramadol is one with low addiction risk? I can make a bottle of hydro codone last a year because I only use it when I am really, really bad.oTramadol does nothing for me but give me bad dreams.
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scorpeao
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Post by scorpeao on Aug 22, 2015 20:56:23 GMT
If you are truly concerned you could ask for methadone for your pain. It is used in pain management in lieu of narcotics. My sister has been taking methadone for fibromyalgia for the last ten years. It seems to work for her in that she can get out of bed most days. She has, however, had a major personality change that started about two years after she began taking it, and it's not for the better. It could just be my sister, but I'd still be leery of taking it on a regular basis.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 22, 2015 21:24:59 GMT
Mine was a temporary narcotic need when I slammed my knee into a ship deck and broke it into three extra pieces.
I was medicated for seven weeks and was grateful for a husband who kept a close eye on the pain meds.
I loved the Dilaudid. If I were going to use, that would be my drug of choice.
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Post by cindyupnorth on Aug 22, 2015 21:34:11 GMT
I think it is wise to worry. At least you are aware of what you are taking and doing. Granted, the people I see that have chronic pain, and on long term pain med's are usually a MESS when they come in to the hosp. Lots of pain, and it's usually hard to control. Those on Methadone are the WORST. The more you can decrease any pain med's the better off you are overall. I know it's hard. I don't think addicts get the "high" per say from pain med's..ie oxy, like some thing. It's more a dullness, or numbness they experience, vs a high.
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Post by femalebusiness on Aug 22, 2015 21:57:58 GMT
I have Juvenile RA. thought Tramadol is one with low addiction risk? I can make a bottle of hydro codone last a year because I only use it when I am really, really bad.oTramadol does nothing for me but give me bad dreams. Tramadol was absolutely worthless for me. Water relieved my pain better. In addition to making me depressed it made me constipated. I tried it twice and then threw it away. Hydrocodone is great but like pridemom one prescription lasted me over a year, in fact I still have a few left, because I only took them when the pain was really, really bad. Luckily I don't need pain meds anymore.
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happymomma
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Post by happymomma on Aug 23, 2015 0:04:25 GMT
I've been on narcotics for a few years now for my Intractable Chronic Migraines. There is no doubt I am dependent. Neurologists don't even like to use narcotics for migraine because of the rebound effect it can have, but I have been on the 'let's try this' medicine merry go round since age 9. When they finally tacked on Intractable to my Chronic Migraine diagnosis, I gave up trying every dang thing that they could pull out of their bag of tricks. Nothing worked for over 30 years and often the side effects were as bad as the head pain. Now, even the Norco is becoming less effective. It still works to keep the pain level down to a point where I am not wanting to put a gun to my head, but I have a real fear of what is going to happen in the future. I have been off of it a few times and I simply NEED it to get through the days with a low-ish pain level. Chronic pain is a bitch, no way around it. I've dealt with it my whole life but it has gotten so much worse in the past 5 or 6 years. If I have to be on narcotics to enjoy any quality of life, so be it. I understand your concerns but at this point, I have come to the conclusion that 'it is what it is.' Sorry for those of you that hate that phrase, lol, but that sums it up.
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lesley
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Post by lesley on Aug 23, 2015 2:24:13 GMT
I take cocodamol regularly (acc to Wiki this is called Tylenol 3 in the US ?) Codeine can be addictive so every few days I try to skip a day and just take NSAIDS instead,
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Post by mellyw on Aug 23, 2015 2:49:09 GMT
There were times in the past that I worried, but I'm way over it now. My list of medical conditions/shenanigans reads like a horror story. Brain tumor at 5 that helped cause Orbital Cellulitus I was not expected to live thru. 5 pound dermoid ovarian cyst that tried to eat my insides, gall bladder that stopped functioning right, bouts of kidney stones, other ovary kept producing painful cysts, a nasty case of Trigeminial Neuralgia that doesn't want to go away, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Sjogrens Syndrome, Raynauds Disease, & my latest, Ulcerative Colitis. And that's just some of the crap I've been thru in 42 years.
So I no longer worry about what I have to take to simply get thru a day. I have literally head to toe chronic pain, & this messed up body of mine just keeps adding new problems.
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MsKnit
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Post by MsKnit on Aug 23, 2015 3:51:52 GMT
I take Lyrica for fibromyalgia. The Neuro also gave me Tramadol. But, I can't take it. It gives me terrible vertigo. I took it twice. Once during the day and once at night. The vertigo woke me up.
Now, I do worry about the Lyrica. I've been trying to reduce my night time dose for months. But, I just can't. I've been in a flare since March. No relief and the pain flares even worse at times. It's been a rough go. I know when I can cut the dose back, because the present dose makes me feel drunk in the morning when I am doing well.
As for worries...I worry about addiction. I worry about what the meds are doing to my system. I worry about what the future is going to hold and how bad the pain will get.
I hope that medical marijuana becomes legal in my state, so that I have that option open. I hope I don't need to resort to that, though.
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scrapaddie
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Post by scrapaddie on Aug 23, 2015 4:36:11 GMT
I was on some med or another for my back a while back. I mentioned to my dr that I was worried about addiction, as the people in my family tend toward alcohol, substance, food, something... She assured me that she wouldn't let me get to that point, but it made me cautious as to what I took. We had a dog on Tramadol for years. I never noticed her begging for another dose (she may have--she was a golden lab and food obsessed. She took a med at 5 pm, an hour before she ate. She would look at me at 5 pm, knowing it was time for her pill.). My dog does this for his heart meds. I think he is looking forward to the cheese I put the pill in!
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scrapaddie
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Post by scrapaddie on Aug 23, 2015 4:42:36 GMT
I think it is good to be concerned. Discuss it with your dr. Unfortunately, too many people hVe become addicted using dr prescribed doses. My son in law's step mother was found driving around at 2 am looking for a husband that had been dead a year. She foind a way o convince 2, Drs that she needed the meds... But the addiction began with a prescribed dosage from one dr.
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Post by gorgeouskid on Aug 23, 2015 5:52:58 GMT
Yes. I had complications from a surgical procedure and was on percocet for 10 months. I was terrified to an extent that I wouldn't be able to stop taking them. I tapered, and eventually came off altogether. I was also worried that I would seek for the buzz, but I never did, thank goodness.
I have a prescription for Tramadol for breakthrough arthritis pain, but fortunately the meloxicam takes care of it pretty much.
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Post by pjaye on Aug 23, 2015 10:59:58 GMT
If you are truly concerned you could ask for methadone for your pain. It is used in pain management in lieu of narcotics.
Methadone is just a synthetic opioid, it still has the risk of addiction as all of the other opioids. It also has the same side effects and risks associated with all of the others. This drug isn't a "replacement" for narcotics, it's just a different one.
It is used in drug addiction treatment for a variety of reasons (it's cheap to make, it lasts longer in the body, doesn't have the same sedative effect and doesn't give the same sensation of a 'high' as some of the others) therefore it is used to replace illegal drug use with a legal/controlled/prescribed/safer version.
But make no mistake it is a highly potent narcotic and it can still be addictive, even when used at the prescribed doses.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 23, 2015 11:10:35 GMT
My mom takes a fairly high dosage of Dilaudid every day. At the hospital they give her 18 mg of long acting and 2- 3 mg whenever she needs short acting for breakthrough pain. We joke that if she gets addicted and it stops working there's always something else they can give her. The doctor and I joke about her becoming a druggie as in the doctor suggests Mom take something for pain. My mom seriously worries about dependence and it not working for her anymore. The doctor and I just look at her and remind her it's ok now to take this. Really. If it makes you feel better it's ok, Mom.
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Post by foolana on Aug 23, 2015 15:52:00 GMT
I take Lyrica for fibromyalgia. The Neuro also gave me Tramadol. But, I can't take it. It gives me terrible vertigo. I took it twice. Once during the day and once at night. The vertigo woke me up. Now, I do worry about the Lyrica. I've been trying to reduce my night time dose for months. But, I just can't. I've been in a flare since March. No relief and the pain flares even worse at times. It's been a rough go. I know when I can cut the dose back, because the present dose makes me feel drunk in the morning when I am doing well. As for worries...I worry about addiction. I worry about what the meds are doing to my system. I worry about what the future is going to hold and how bad the pain will get. I hope that medical marijuana becomes legal in my state, so that I have that option open. I hope I don't need to resort to that, though. Please don't worry about the Lyrica; there's no addictive properties to worry about. I too am hoping for medical marijuana in a form that removes the part that makes you high and keeps the pain control part.
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