pain meds

[Guest guest]

Hello all,

This is a sticky question as far as I am concerned, but I would like to ask. I

understand pain meds are addicting. I understand also that with the pain we all

are in, or can be in, that that is nothing to be ashamed of, nor truely worried

about, if the meds are used for the correct purpose.

With that said, heres my question. My pain has gotten pretty bad lately.

During the day I will take 1 norco 10. Sometimes everyday, sometimes a few days

out of the week. I haven't taken a one during the day this week! Chalk one up

for me. I just did Lamaze breathing and got through the pain.

At night I take percocet 5's with a 1 mg Xanax. I have been taking the Xanax

for 3 1/2 years. Never more than 1 mg a day PERIOD! For about the last month I

have been taking a percocet 5 (just one pill) at night nearly everynight before

bedtime because at that point I am out of strength to deal with the pain.

Well last night I didn't have to take one as the pain wasn't half bad. I fell

alseep exhausted at 9:30 pm. I awoke at 12:30 a.m. in considerable pain along

with joint pain...something I thought was only associated with my thyroid

condition. Do you think that the late set pain was brought on because I did NOT

take a percocet at bedtime because I have gotten used to it? Or is it that when

I have taken the percocet at bedtime, it is lasting through most of the pain in

the middle of the night? That always seems to be the worst pain for me?

If I sound like I am concerned I might become addicted to the percocet, you

would be right. But I know I only take it when I need too. Can nearly one a

night for a month make you become addicted?

Scared to hear the answer,

Sandy in Ca

[Guest guest]

Hi Sandy,

The idea of addiction is really not a simple idea. As we are different in

physcology and different in pain, and different in how analygesics affect our

mind and body all work to provide many varibles to an determination of

addiction.

Even language gets in the act too. For instance, I am dependent on narcotics

but am I narcotic dependent? Also, as our pain changes how do the narcotics

change, type, amount, interval, usage method, ingestion method, etc.

I can only recommend working with one's own doctor, be that PCP, GI, pain

management, whatever. And trying to be truthful to one's self. In my case I know

that narcotic pain relief works best for me (most relief for least ingested

narcotics) if I am self aware enough to begin taking narcotic remedy ahead of

the pain. To be playing " catch up " to the pain is difficult. Does this mean I

have taken narcotics in anticipation of pain that never materializes, yes it

does on occation.

I think the true touchstone is that if you honestly and repeatedly take

narcotics for mood elevation, then you are really stepping on the " addiction "

line.

All other cases are argueably not addiction.

Physically, most common narcotics are less harmful to the human body than

much other medication. But, do remember that we are still all different in our

reactions and it's very hard to state even the most simple generalities.

Another aspect of addiction is that in general an addict can, to theirselves,

justify almost any action or behavior. That's why it's important to try to be

very honest to one's self.

Best wishes, Poncho - GA

[Guest guest]

Sandy,

no one night a month won't make you addicted, especially as you are

taking it because you are in pain. And yes, the pain in the middle of

the night is probably because you didn't take your normal percocet at

night and so your pain broke through and woke you up in the middle of

the night. As for addiction, as my pain clinic doctors said, as long as

you take it only for pain, you are unlikely to become addicted. You may

become physically dependent, but that isn't the same as addicted.

Addiction is a psychological need for drugs, while depenedence means you

need it to keep living or have a good quality of life. It's the same as

taking insulin for a diabetic. They are dependent upon the insulin to

keep living. People who are dependent on pain meds can stop by slowly

lowering the meds over time at any time or when the pain stops, but

people who are addicted can't or won't stop taking the meds/drugs. Can

you see the difference?

Kimber

--

Kimber

Vallejo, CA

hominid2@...

Note: All advice given is personal opinion, not equal to that of a licensed

physician or health care professional.