How long does it take to become dependent on opioids?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think general agreement is that opioids should be (mostly) reserved for terminally ill patients. Acute pain can be treated with methods as mentioned above. Chronic pain, while able to be managed by opioids, has the problem of long-term use, hence potential addiction, potential overdose, and potential tolerance, which of course leads back to overdose and addiction

So how should chronic pain be treated?

Opioids make chronic pain worse, believe it or not.

Chronic pain is really difficult to treat, and the best treatment depends on the type of pain. If it’s neurological, then medications that work on the central nervous system are prescribed, such as antidepressants and anti-epileptics. Physical therapy helps with many types of pain. Meditation and biofeedback help reduce perception of pain and physical tension, which increase pain, as well as the stress caused by pain. In some cases anti-inflamatories or cannabis can be appropriate. But a lot of the time there is no pill that makes chronic pain go away; the best that one can hope for is a reduction in pain and/or an increase in function.

Please tell me you don't actually believe the crap you are spreading. You've obviously never had to deal with brutalizing, chronic pain.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For some people, one dose.

For others, it's more.

Question is, do you think it's worth the risk to find out?

Do you think it's worth the risk to try alcohol? Some people become addicted, you know.

Do you think it's worth the risk to drive a car? Fly in a plane? Some people have died that way.

Do you think it's worth the risk to try losing a few pounds? Some people become addicted to exercise, calorie restriction, laxatives...

Do you think it's worth the risk to find out if you are allergic to the dyes they use when you get certain types of MRIs? You won't know until you're injected.

The state of our education system right here. None of this is remotely analagous to opioids. It is proven that these can become addictive and/or deadly immediately for many people and in most cases, there are better and safer alternatives.

Opioids are not cohol, plane rides or dyes. Seriously.

Under the supervision of a doctor and taken as directed--as in used, not literally abused--they are effective and fine for most people.

Liar.

[Anonymous]

The Sacklers would tell you never while they are counting their money.

[Anonymous]

Wasn’t there a recent news piece about how the Sackler’s are getting blacklisted in London?

The Brits don’t want their filthy money anymore.

Finally!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:For some (me)it only eases pain and produces no high whatsoever, just nausea and irritability. I couldn’t stop it soon enough.

Same. I have been prescribed them a few times. And never felt high. I had a bottle lying around my house for the longest time with no desire to take them for fun.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For some people, one dose.

For others, it's more.

Question is, do you think it's worth the risk to find out?

Do you think it's worth the risk to try alcohol? Some people become addicted, you know.

Do you think it's worth the risk to drive a car? Fly in a plane? Some people have died that way.

Do you think it's worth the risk to try losing a few pounds? Some people become addicted to exercise, calorie restriction, laxatives...

Do you think it's worth the risk to find out if you are allergic to the dyes they use when you get certain types of MRIs? You won't know until you're injected.

The state of our education system right here. None of this is remotely analagous to opioids. It is proven that these can become addictive and/or deadly immediately for many people and in most cases, there are better and safer alternatives.

Opioids are not cohol, plane rides or dyes. Seriously.

Under the supervision of a doctor and taken as directed--as in used, not literally abused--they are effective and fine for most people.

Liar.

Show me where the majority of people who take opioid medications prescribed by and supervised by their doctor, as directed, have problems with them. Show me.

[Anonymous]

I react badly to them so I’ve never finished a Rx and no longer accept them except by IV in hospital. However, I think I could definitely get addicted to something like Valium (took twice and realized I liked it too much).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For some (me)it only eases pain and produces no high whatsoever, just nausea and irritability. I couldn’t stop it soon enough.

Same. I have been prescribed them a few times. And never felt high. I had a bottle lying around my house for the longest time with no desire to take them for fun.

Most people who got addicted didn’t taken for fun. They got addicted after injury or surgery because the dosage and pill amounts prescribed were excessive. Eventually, people are taking them just to avoid withdrawing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think general agreement is that opioids should be (mostly) reserved for terminally ill patients. Acute pain can be treated with methods as mentioned above. Chronic pain, while able to be managed by opioids, has the problem of long-term use, hence potential addiction, potential overdose, and potential tolerance, which of course leads back to overdose and addiction

So how should chronic pain be treated?

Opioids make chronic pain worse, believe it or not.

Chronic pain is really difficult to treat, and the best treatment depends on the type of pain. If it’s neurological, then medications that work on the central nervous system are prescribed, such as antidepressants and anti-epileptics. Physical therapy helps with many types of pain. Meditation and biofeedback help reduce perception of pain and physical tension, which increase pain, as well as the stress caused by pain. In some cases anti-inflamatories or cannabis can be appropriate. But a lot of the time there is no pill that makes chronic pain go away; the best that one can hope for is a reduction in pain and/or an increase in function.

Ok. I’m off to pop an Advil, and meditate my RA pain away.

I don’t think opioids are generally recommended for RA. My mom has had severe RA for 50+ years. She uses mostly anti-inflammatory and RA specific medications. She uses flexeril when it’s bad but that makes her pretty sleepy. Celebrex was pretty good for her. Given that it’s a life long condition, I’d be pretty concerned about opioids for it. I’ve tried to get her to try acupuncture over the years, as the studies on it are really pretty good, but she’s just too old school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For some (me)it only eases pain and produces no high whatsoever, just nausea and irritability. I couldn’t stop it soon enough.

Same. I have been prescribed them a few times. And never felt high. I had a bottle lying around my house for the longest time with no desire to take them for fun.

Most people who got addicted didn’t taken for fun. They got addicted after injury or surgery because the dosage and pill amounts prescribed were excessive. Eventually, people are taking them just to avoid withdrawing.

I was prescribed opiates for cancer pain, and after a few weeks I became physically dependant and showed all the signs of drug-seeking behavior. Figuring out how to get a supply of opiates quickly becomes the central tenet of existance. So I am very skeptical that chronic pain sufferers are not hooked the same way I was. Eventually, the pain was gone but I still wanted/needed the pills. It took a few months of walking down my dosage 5-10% per week before I was clean. Faster dosage reductions gave me nasty withdrawal symptoms.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think general agreement is that opioids should be (mostly) reserved for terminally ill patients. Acute pain can be treated with methods as mentioned above. Chronic pain, while able to be managed by opioids, has the problem of long-term use, hence potential addiction, potential overdose, and potential tolerance, which of course leads back to overdose and addiction

So how should chronic pain be treated?

Opioids make chronic pain worse, believe it or not.

Chronic pain is really difficult to treat, and the best treatment depends on the type of pain. If it’s neurological, then medications that work on the central nervous system are prescribed, such as antidepressants and anti-epileptics. Physical therapy helps with many types of pain. Meditation and biofeedback help reduce perception of pain and physical tension, which increase pain, as well as the stress caused by pain. In some cases anti-inflamatories or cannabis can be appropriate. But a lot of the time there is no pill that makes chronic pain go away; the best that one can hope for is a reduction in pain and/or an increase in function.

Ok. I’m off to pop an Advil, and meditate my RA pain away.

I don’t think opioids are generally recommended for RA. My mom has had severe RA for 50+ years. She uses mostly anti-inflammatory and RA specific medications. She uses flexeril when it’s bad but that makes her pretty sleepy. Celebrex was pretty good for her. Given that it’s a life long condition, I’d be pretty concerned about opioids for it. I’ve tried to get her to try acupuncture over the years, as the studies on it are really pretty good, but she’s just too old school.

I have severe RA. I’m on anti-inflammatory drugs, and a biologic for treatment.

Flexeril is a muscle relaxer, and RA causes joint pain, so I don’t have an RX for flexeril. Maybe your mom also has muscle pain, or she’s using it off-label to sleep, which is fine, but not exactly a strong argument in this debate.

Celebrex causes heart problems, so I avoid.

I have been hospitalized twice during particularly bad flares, and administered IV dilaudid. I also sometimes take a prednisone pack as a rescue medication during bad flares. My doctor wrote me a prescription for 7 vicodin for when the pain gets overwhelming, basically to save me from going to the ER. I take one maybe every 6 months. No dependence issues. I think I got the RX 18 months ago, and there are 5 left.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For some (me)it only eases pain and produces no high whatsoever, just nausea and irritability. I couldn’t stop it soon enough.

Same. I have been prescribed them a few times. And never felt high. I had a bottle lying around my house for the longest time with no desire to take them for fun.

Most people who got addicted didn’t taken for fun. They got addicted after injury or surgery because the dosage and pill amounts prescribed were excessive. Eventually, people are taking them just to avoid withdrawing.

Thing is, no one knows for sure what might be “excessive” for each person. It’s always a crap shoot.

[Anonymous]

I was on opioids following spinal surgery for 5 days (given through IV). Never once did I feel high. On day 6 they switched me to an oral dose of a non-opioid pain med. A few hours later I called the nurse, convinced I was having a heart attack, based on my symptoms (chest pain, labored breathing, profuse sweating, intense nausea). She told me no, it was withdrawal. I was floored that it only took five days to be in that state, and I completely understand someone doing anything to avoid feeling like that. If I hadn’t been in the hospital, I’m not sure how I would’ve handled the situation.

[Anonymous]

I was prescribed opioids after surgery. It helped with the pain and I didn’t notice any negative side effects. I didn’t feel high and didn’t get addicted. I used it as directed and it worked as expected. I think that is probably how it is the majority of the time.

[Anonymous]

When I had cancer, I took strong opioids every day, several times a day for over a year. I became dependent in that my doctor slowly weaned me off. But I never became addicted in the sense of wanting the medication for anything other than pain relief. I don’t even really feel high when I take opioids. Mostly just irritable, itchy, and unable to sleep. I have the opposite reaction that most people have. But they do help with pain. I have a friend who ended up in rehab after taking Loritab for four weeks after a car accident. In other words, I think it depends on the person.