Newbie

Posts: 2
From:Hollywood, Florida, United States
Registered: Feb 2003

posted 02-12-2003 06:29 PM            

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I signed up for Healthboards.com because today I started taking a medication called Kadian for a degenerative disc disease. My dosage is 50mg twice daily and my major concern is addiction. I am an alcoholic (sober more than 3 years), and though my Doctor says this medication is not like taking a short acting narcotic such as Percocet, but I would like to get opinions from the real world through this forum. I have never abused Rx drugs, but with addictive tendencies, it certainly is a concern. AA is anti anything that alters mood or mind, so I get no support from my AA sponsor. My back pain has slowly but steadily, escalated to this point. I would like to hear from people who have similar concerns, especially those who have experience with Kadian.

[This message has been edited by jseaton (edited 02-12-2003).]

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Senior Member

Posts: 228
From:Anchorage Alaska USA
Registered: Jan 2003

posted 02-12-2003 11:49 PM            

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First of all I'd like to say I'm happy with you being sober for more than 3 years. I'm sure it took alot of willpower to get to the point you are today. While I don't know the medication you are on I at least wanted to tell you that.

I went to a pain resource fair awhile back and a nurse told us that it is possible to treat someone who is in AA and not have them turn to the drugs as an addiction.

I would make sure that your DR knows your past history and fears about falling off the wagon. It is a shame that your AA sponsor has taken this need to take meds the wrong way. Is there perhaps another support group you could belong to? Maybe ask your DR.
If not does at least your family and friends know your fears? It seems like the more support you have the better your chances of any addiction happening again.

Of course we are here,too. Wishing you the best.

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Veteran

Posts: 448
From:PA
Registered: Feb 2003

posted 02-13-2003 12:19 AM            

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Dido...What Irish said!!!! I applaud your courage for recovery. I am sorry, I don’t have any info on the medication you are taking either. However, I have been told the same thing as Irish stated. Have you checked into going to a chiropractor for your condition? That may help a great deal too, thus the need for less medication. It’s just a thought. Keep in touch and let us know how it is going.

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Senior Member

Posts: 127
From:mesa,az.usa
Registered: Feb 2003

posted 02-13-2003 01:43 AM            

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Jseaton,Kadian is a form of Morphine, if you are a chronic pain sufferer it will cause you dependence over time,but not addiction! Addiction I'm sure you know is a Pyschological condition meaning to take drugs purely for the purpose of "getting high". If you are in true chronic pain, you take your medication for pain relief! We,in chronic pain are dependant on our pain medication just like the diabetic is dependant on insulin or the asthmatic is dependant on steroids or the high blood pressure patient is dependent on clonidine....all these medications make the one using them dependent,NOT ADDICTED!! All of these patients will go thru withdrawl if they stop there meds immediately, that's what dependent means. Before you start throwing the word "Addiction" around,know what you are talking about!!

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Senior Member

Posts: 228
From:Anchorage Alaska USA
Registered: Jan 2003

posted 02-13-2003 02:25 AM            

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I always figured that it was an addiction if one uses something (drugs,drinking,whatever) when one knows it is bad for you and is then in turn making a mess of one's life. Dependance is needing something to get through the day(pain drugs,insulin,again whatever)in order to have a life.

But maybe I'm wrong.

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Member

Posts: 33
From:
Registered: Jan 2003

posted 02-13-2003 02:38 AM            

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Hi. Congrats as well. Kadian can be very psychologically and physically addicting. It's true though, that longer acting painkillers are less addictiving than fast acting ones.

Remember that addiction and dependance are two separate things. But now that once on Kadian, you may become dependant very quickly. It doesn't mean that you're addicted. If you suddenly stop at that dosage, you may experience a lot of withdrawal.

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