An opioid-dependent pain patient has improved function with the use of the drug while an opioid-addicted patient does not have any improvement. Although detoxification is not actually a treatment for pain killer addiction, it can help relieve withdrawal symptoms while the patient adjusts to being free of pain killers or other prescription drugs. Common side effects and adverse reactions of pain killers are nausea, vomiting, drowsiness, dry mouth, contraction of the pupils, orthostatic hypotension which often happens when rising too fast when getting out of bed in the morning, urinary retention, constipation and fecal impaction.
Opioids used as the doctor has prescribed are not supposed to be dangerous according to some well-established medical groups; but if this is the case, why are so many people addicted to them? Chronic pain affects one out of four adults. Millions of people suffer from chronic, severe disabling pain. Once a patient who is addicted to pain killing drugs, has completed detoxification, the treatment provider must then work with the patient to determine which course of treatment would be best for the patient.
More than 415,000 people received treatment for pain killer abuse or addiction in the past year. There are many side effects and serious adverse reactions that can occur with the use of opioids as pain killers. When one is addicted physically to a drug, like pain killers or alcohol, etc., it’s because you’ve suppressed or shut down your body’s production of endorphins, which are the body’s natural opiate pain killers. When this happens you start craving the drug that you replaced the endorphins with whether it’s alcohol, pain killers or any other drug.
Addiction is usually both a biological and psychological condition. Many other drugs can interact with the opioids and cause a variety of symptoms, which can be fatal. Opioids should never be taken when drinking alcohol or when alcohol may still be in the system.
Many chronic pain patients may be under-treated as a result of doctors trying to gain control over pain killer addiction, it’s reported. A person will exhibit compulsive behavior to satisfy their craving for a pain killer or pain medication even when there are negative consequences associated with taking the pain killer or drug. Patients can innocently start taking pain killers after a moderate injury or because of a severe injury in an automobile accident, fall or for post surgical pain for example.
It’s important to get help and not try getting off pain killers on your own. Find out from your local health professionals where the closest to home and best pain killer addiction treatment centers are. You must make a change in your lifestyle to prevent you from taking pain killers and or other drugs again.
It’s important to go through rehab following your detox. Make it a big part of your plan of action. If you can’t do in-patient rehabilitation, find out how you can do outpatient rehab and pay for it under your insurance plan. Check your insurance policy to see what is covered. You absolutely must leave the routine responsibilities of your life for a week or two or suffer the inevitable outcome and bad health effects of prolonged drug addiction.
The potential for pain killer addiction in patients with serious or chronic pain conditions is often overlooked by doctors. Avoiding addiction should be a priority for patients who have to be on pain killers. Substitute a non-addictive type of pain killer if possible or find other ways to minimize the pain. Researchers are steadfastly working on different ways to optimize pain relief while reducing the risk of drug abuse.