Pain Killer Addiction FAQs

FAQ Number 1:

What exactly is pain killer addiction and how can we recognize this problem, in ourselves or among friends or family members?

First, it will be best to define the difference between the terms addiction, dependence and tolerance.

Addiction is used much too casually these days, but it is actually a behavioral phenomenon characterized by compulsive use of the pain killer, along with lack of control over the habit and over yourself so that you focus too much on the drug and doing all you can to take it again.

Physical dependence simply means developing withdrawal symptoms during a period of abstinence. If you are taking some pain killers, say based on opioids, and you suddenly stop taking it, it will be normal to feel withdrawal symptoms since you have already developed some form of physical and physiological dependence.

Tolerance, on the other hand, is a physiological process wherein you would feel the need for increased dosage of the pain killer in order to experience the desired effect. This refers to the increased dosage needs in order to the same degree of alleviation that they felt before, when they were on lower dosage.

These nuances are very important when it comes to pain management and misunderstanding and lack of knowledge on these concepts might pose a major problem when it comes to treatment.

FAQ Number 2:

There are a lot of pain killers available in the market. All prescription pain killer medications are not the same, right? So which are more likely to be abused and why?

Pain killers do come in various shapes and sizes. There are anti-inflammatory non-steroid based medications, which do not contain morphine and are in no way addictive. They are usually the first line of drugs mainly used for people who suffer from pain. However, these non-steroidal agents have side effects like gastric pain that it is not advisable for some people, particularly the elderly. Also, when these first line of agents do not control the patient's pain, there is a need to resort to opioid drugs which contain either morphine or codeine. They are the kinds that are more likely to become addictive

FAQ Number 3:

So, does this mean that some pain killer medications are safer than others?

Absolutely. Some opioid pain killers are much safer to use than others. These days, there are now opioid drugs that are designed to have longer lasting effects rather than short-lived. Pain killers such as Percocet or Darvocet tend to be short acting: they get built-up in your bloodstream but quickly get depleted. Longer lasting meds such as MS Contin are designed to be released slowly into your bloodstream and to remain there in a steady and stable state. These are less likely to become addictive.

FAQ Number 4:

What should one do if someone in the family is abusing pain killers?

It is important to make sure that your loved one really is addicted to a particular pain killer. Check the dosage by which he is taking his pain killer and try to see if he is using it the way the doctor prescribed.

If you confirm that there really is an abuse happening, you should first inform his physician about what is happening. There are psychiatrists who specialize in treating pain killer addictions. If the abuse has gone overboard, you may want to look around for treatment facilities which will properly help him get over his addiction.

For more questions on pain killer addiction, you can check out http://www.mypainkilleraddictions.com. This site offers detailed information on various topics concerning pain killer addiction, and other forms of opiate addiction.

I also explain my story of my pain killer addiction that plagued me for years.