Please respond need answers. - Addiction & Recovery Message Board

sTaR_cHyLd · 10-29-2003, 06:48 AM

Hi I am new to this board usually on the fibro board. I have a few questions, I am not an addict, and was recently diagnosed with fibromyalgia, my doctor currently has me on Vicodin ES 4-6 times a day, and will be upping my scrip to Percocet, due to Chronic 24 hour a day 7 days a week pain. Fibro is a chronic muscle and pain disorder, and the pain meds, is the only thing that will help me out of bed in the morning. My question is, with taking these meds 4-6 times a day, and it will probably be for a long time, since my disease is uncurable , will I become addicted, and if so, how long until I do?? I don't want this to happen, but ive tried ABSOLUTELY EVERYTHING for pain ,and nothing works but NArcs because of how much pain relief they offer. Can anyone answer my questioins, your feedback will be greatly appreciated.

Hopefortoday · 10-29-2003, 06:52 AM

Star . . . if you take the meds exactly as prescribed you probably won't become an addict (one with the disease of addiction) but will become physically dependent on the drugs. There's a huge difference between the two. Those who are are physically dependent are more than likely to successfully taper off of the drugs with no problems. You might want to post this on the Pain Management forum as well.

deerme · 10-29-2003, 09:04 AM

I dont care what anybody say. If you take narcotic pain meds. for a long period of time, you will become addicted. You will become addicted even if you take exactly as perscribed. I have been on them for pain for 7 years. One yaer into it I became DEPENDENT/ADDICTED. After awhile the perscribed dose is not effective, then you either take extra to achieve the same effect, or the doctor perscribes stronger meds. YOU WILL BECOME ADDICTED!!!! Its like throwing lit matches at a gas can, it will eventually blow up in your face.

OCPercOS · 10-29-2003, 09:23 AM

You WILL NOT become addicted to the medications if you take them as prescribed. There are clinical studies done on chronic pain patients that prove this fact. If the pills are taken exactly as prescribed, you should be fine. However, you do build up a tolerance to the narcotic, and you will need increasing doseages to have the pills work effectively. That doesn't mean you are addicted, though. Then you will also gain a physical dependence on them, which everyone and anyone taking narcotics will get, addict or not. That means without the medication, you may have withdrawl symptoms. This could be sweating, restless legs, yawning, watery eyes, et cetera.

I hope this helps you! Good Luck!

~Stella

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Medical Student, 4th year(senior) - Boston University Medical School - Applying for Orthopaedic Surgery residency

3 Knee Surgeries - Lateral Retinacular Release, Maquet Procedure, & Arthroscopic Debridement

Unable to walk correctly(limp), very small ROM, 2-3 hrs. of sleep each night due to pain, knee gives out, crunches, clicks, pops, grinds, et cetera...

Physical Therapy 7 times - Best Friend is PTist - Will open joint practice upon (hopeful) finishing of Ortho residency

Engaged to wonderful neurosurgery resident - I love you, David!

Taking OxyCodone products(Percocet, OxyContin) for over a year - Dependent & Addicted to them - trying to get better & stop

deerme · 10-30-2003, 09:11 AM

I am talking from personal experience. I have had 5 major shoulder surgeries. I took and am still taking lortab for seven years. After a period of time my dosage has steadily increased to the point that I am dependent/ADDICTED. My wife is a physical Thearapist of 21 years. She has said the majority of the patients she see`s for chronic back pain and such, are addicted to pain pills. If you keep increasing your dosage of a narcotic pain killer, over a long period of time, YOU WILL BECOME ADDICTED. You shouldnt have a problem with short term use if you take them as prescribed. All the studies in the world arent going to convince me that you wont become addicted over a long period of time, if you follow the doctors instructions. I followed them to the letter, and I am as hooked on them as you can get. I have talked with alot of people when I went in for P/T. and a number of people confided that they were addicted to the pain medicine they were on, and had real concerns that they were not going to be able to stop when the time comes. OCpercOS you said you had the knee surgeries. How did you come about being addicted to pain pills?