Chronic Pain Support Group
Physicians and professionalsdefine pain as chronic if it lasts longer than three to six months and is persistent. It's distinct from acute pain that is a direct result of injury or trauma. This support group is dedicated to those suffering from chronic pain. Discuss treatments that have worked for you, find advice for your specific experience, and find support. You're not...
Addiction vs. Dependence on Pain Medications
Pain expert Dr. Scott Fishman answers questions about pain medication:
Q: What is the difference between being addicted and being dependent?
A: Fear of addiction has prevented many physicians from prescribing needed pain relief and many patients from controlling their pain and reclaiming their lives.
Pain doctors have known for years that taking opioids over long periods of time for medical reasons does not have to lead to addiction. More than a decade ago, neurologist Russell Portenoy, who was most recently President of the American Pain Society, reviewed studies of almost 25,000 cancer patients. Most of those patients had been on opioid therapy for many years. Of the whole group, very few showed any signs of drug abuse, drug craving, or drug-seeking behavior.
Every one of these cancer patients was dependent on their medication. However, their physical needs were worlds away from addiction. Addiction is a biological and psychological condition that compels a person to satisfy their need for a particular stimulus and to keep satisfying it, no matter what.
It is a compulsive behavior that demands more and more drugs, regardless of the consequences that lead to dysfunction. A person who is addicted to opioids has a disease that undermines optimal function and drives one to compulsively use a drug, despite the negative consequences.
The pain patient who is effectively treated with opioids finds life restored-even if he is dependent on them. With the pain muted by stable and steady controlled use of long-acting opioids, a patient can reclaim his life, go back to work, return to family life, and pursue favorite pastimes. Dependence is a physical state that occurs when the lack of a drug causes the body to have a reaction. Physical dependence is solely a physical state indicating that the body has grown so adapted to having the drug present that sudden removal of it will lead to negative consequences such as a withdrawal reaction. This can occur with almost any kind of drug.
A good example of dependence is a heavy coffee drinker's use of caffeine. If you are used to drinking several cups of coffee each day, you soon learn about physical dependence when you miss a day or two. This does not mean you are addicted to the caffeine; it only means your body is surprised not to see what it has come to expect.
In the case of opioids, a certain amount taken every day fills the glass, and no more may be needed or desired. If the medication is removed, the consequences are physical (sweating, running nose, diarrhea, racing heart, or nausea), not psychological.
As any diabetic will testify about insulin, or any heart patient will testify about blood pressure medication, dependence is not necessarily indicative of addiction or drug abuse. In fact, regular use of these medications may be essential for good health.
The difference between a patient with opioid addiction and a patient who is dependent on opioids for chronic pain is simple. The opioid-dependent patient with chronic pain has improved function with his use of the drugs and the patient with opioid addiction does not.
http://health.howstuffworks.com/mental-health/addiction-v-dependence-on-pain-medications.htm
Pain expert Dr. Scott Fishman answers questions about pain medication:
Q: What is the difference between being addicted and being dependent?
A: Fear of addiction has prevented many physicians from prescribing needed pain relief and many patients from controlling their pain and reclaiming their lives.
Pain doctors have known for years that taking opioids over long periods of time for medical reasons does not have to lead to addiction. More than a decade ago, neurologist Russell Portenoy, who was most recently President of the American Pain Society, reviewed studies of almost 25,000 cancer patients. Most of those patients had been on opioid therapy for many years. Of the whole group, very few showed any signs of drug abuse, drug craving, or drug-seeking behavior.
Every one of these cancer patients was dependent on their medication. However, their physical needs were worlds away from addiction. Addiction is a biological and psychological condition that compels a person to satisfy their need for a particular stimulus and to keep satisfying it, no matter what.
It is a compulsive behavior that demands more and more drugs, regardless of the consequences that lead to dysfunction. A person who is addicted to opioids has a disease that undermines optimal function and drives one to compulsively use a drug, despite the negative consequences.
The pain patient who is effectively treated with opioids finds life restored-even if he is dependent on them. With the pain muted by stable and steady controlled use of long-acting opioids, a patient can reclaim his life, go back to work, return to family life, and pursue favorite pastimes. Dependence is a physical state that occurs when the lack of a drug causes the body to have a reaction. Physical dependence is solely a physical state indicating that the body has grown so adapted to having the drug present that sudden removal of it will lead to negative consequences such as a withdrawal reaction. This can occur with almost any kind of drug.
A good example of dependence is a heavy coffee drinker's use of caffeine. If you are used to drinking several cups of coffee each day, you soon learn about physical dependence when you miss a day or two. This does not mean you are addicted to the caffeine; it only means your body is surprised not to see what it has come to expect.
In the case of opioids, a certain amount taken every day fills the glass, and no more may be needed or desired. If the medication is removed, the consequences are physical (sweating, running nose, diarrhea, racing heart, or nausea), not psychological.
As any diabetic will testify about insulin, or any heart patient will testify about blood pressure medication, dependence is not necessarily indicative of addiction or drug abuse. In fact, regular use of these medications may be essential for good health.
The difference between a patient with opioid addiction and a patient who is dependent on opioids for chronic pain is simple. The opioid-dependent patient with chronic pain has improved function with his use of the drugs and the patient with opioid addiction does not.
http://health.howstuffworks.com/mental-health/addiction-v-dependence-on-pain-medications.htm
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This isn't really bipolar related but there is never anyone on the parenting groups, this is the most active group I've been in.My 6yr old son has really bad seasonal allergies and they're in full force right now. He gets a terrible cough; he coughs all day and all night, making it hard for him to sleep, and his nose runs.I've tried every allergy medicine, OTC and RX, and none of them affect his...
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Is anyone here allergic to Sulfa that is currently taking Diamox? I have been diagnosed with IH now for almost 2 years. I am allergic to Sulfa drugs meaning that my throat will swell up so my Neurologist put me on Topamax. I was suffering from major loud whoosing noises and the topamax helped that but everyday I still hear those mainly between 6 - 12 pm. I am at my wits end and have not went...
Ya know what bothers me? When people used to say to me that I was gonna get addicted to opiates by taking Oxycodone. What difference does it make when I have to live on them for the rest of my life?!
Thanks!
You are all welcome. I think it is such a great article.
So very accurate and informative.
For pain management you want to take the right meds in the right dose to relieve your pain with the fewest side effects. But that isn't easy to do. Today might be a low pain day and your dose makes you sleepy or elated and tomorrow might be a high pain day when you still hurt. Then your mind kicks in and says today MIGHT be a high pain day so let me take more just in case.
When the fear of pain takes control and you have access to additional medication it's easy to over medicate or combine pain relief. Things like taking a shot of whiskey with your oxys because it works faster that way. And once that starts it's a slippery slope.
I don't think dependence and addiction are that far apart. I depend on a medication to take away pain or treat a condition. I become addicted to the relief it provides and fear the pain.
Being dependent on a medication and being addicted are totally different.
I respectfully disagree with your opinion but to each their own.
Take care.
As I said in my experience the difference comes from a mental perception of need for pain relief. Two patients with identical pain and identical treatment ... one is dependent and one is addicted. The dependent one uses their meds as directed and if necessary will stop. The addicted may use their meds properly but will worry about the next dose and will be in terror of having to stop. They stockpile and scheme and doctor shop because they have a powerful mental pull telling them they need to worry.
I've had friends and family who fall in each category. Hard lesson learned is that even people with real pain can become addicted. And addiction never ends well on it's own.
It is a compulsive behavior that demands more and more drugs, regardless of the consequences that lead to dysfunction. A person who is addicted to opioids has a disease that undermines optimal function and drives one to compulsively use a drug, despite the negative consequences.
You just stated this:
" Most people who take narcotics or opioid on a regular (daily) basis have cognitive deficiencies that they don't even recognize. It generally take testing by a professional to point these out. "
Please tell me where you are getting your facts and show them to me.
Before I was put on Oxy, all I could do was sit in my house and sweat in pain. I had ZERO life! Now, on Oxy, I can hike and climb the beautiful mountains of New Hampshire.
So what does that tell you? Just don't be a jerk and abuse the meds your doc gives you. Too many people get caught up in the high you get when starting pain meds. It took me 2 weeks to not feel that high feeling. Now I just have pain relief.
I wanna live, not get high!
Post 12 is not necessarily true. Sounds good but it's very simplistic and is the excuse many people use who misuse prescription drugs..."I need them for pain relief so therefore I'm just dependent". Also to say that the addict doesn't get relief is just not true. They get relief but will always feel they need more. Addiction for pain management patients is usually not about the "high" but about fear.