Re: debra van ness, addiction verse dependency

[Guest guest]

I so agree with this, and I know I am at this point dependent on my pain

med.also.

And I have always know there is a diffence as I my work history up until

unable to continue working anymore this Aug. was the healthfield, and passing

out meds. I have also talked this over with my Dr, who knows my concerns, as I

don't like being even dependent, but like u want to keep moving, functioning,

and continue with some quiality of life, and this means the taking of meds,

others don't agree on. I have tried every other possible TX out there with no

success, vitamans don't cut taking pain away. BUT what I wanted to thankyou for

was posting this comment because it just turned on a light as to why I am in

SUCH A STATE the past mo or so, and can't get relief pain med, muscle relaxant

and sleep aid has NOT helped, which we that do take pain meds, must keep in mind

over time, there probably will come the time it won't work and move on to a

different one. WELL what I need to get at is I had tried all of the

antideppressants, Cymbalta we hoped would work, but didn't

anyway got on the last one not tried EFFEXor was happy to as it did not have

weight gain potential, was on it for pain controlled as I have luckily not had

deppression, though looking back 20 yrs ago did, but was not diagnoised.

Effexor turned on me 1 mo's ago and got side effects that had me D/C it, and I

did it on my own decreasing it a day at time. But nothing has been taken in

place. I wonder?, is this what has happened to me am I in this big flare-up,

because withdrawel state? I never thought of it on this drug. Thanks for

jopening me up to possible unbearable pain, discouragement.

Sharon

debra van ness wrote:

Just a thought. People who are taking narcotic pain meds for pain are

not always " addicted " . They are " dependent " because the body does not withdraw

from them without some kind of withdrawals if they are taken away suddenly.

However, this goes to say with alot of other drugs that are NOT narcotic. For

example... lets say steroids like prednisone that some people take for chronic

inflamation. If you have been using prednisone for an extended period of time...

it is to be TAPERED off because it can throw your adrenal glands into a crisis

and make you very ill. That is why steroids are prescribed with gradual

decreasing doses after long term use in order to stop them. Lets say SSRI

antidepressants such as Zoloft, Paxil, Celexa, Prozac and others of its class. I

am NOT addicted to Zoloft ... however if I stop it suddenly I can promise you I

will be in major pain and have a fibro flare out of proportions. (I know this

because I had stopped my prozac once cold turkey).

The list goes on and on of drugs you cannot suddenly stop without some kind of

response from the body.

Now, if I was addicted to my pain pills, I would crave them. I would continue to

pop them when I was not in pain to reach a euphoric high. I would continue to

seek higher doses to achieve that high. (legally or not legally). Kind of like

any street drug out there that people take to " feel high " . I do not crave them.

I take it only for pain. BUT I PROMISE YOU if I dropped hydrocodone today cold

turkey, yes I would go through some major withdrawals within a day or so. This

does not constitute addiction.

Ok, now lets say you stop your blood pressure medication that you have taken for

many years. You WILL get a very high blood pressure and feel like crap unless

you have put another one in its place to take over. Maybe even have a stroke.

I know people who take prednisone would not be " addicted " to it..... but would

suffer consequences of withdrawing it suddenly after long term use. THEY would

not CRAVE prednisone. But they would be sick.

See what I mean? Just a thought. I refuse to give up the only medication I have

ever found that lets my pain up and allows me to function without the fibro

beast taking over. If I ever have to, I will certainly try to reason with a

doctor that takes them away and ask him to PLEASE wean me off them.

love and hugs,

Debra V.

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