How to Know If You're Addicted to Pain Killers

Prescription drug use and addiction has dramatically increased throughout the country. In fact, it’s become an epidemic. And if you’ve been prescribed prescription drugs to recover from a surgery or injury, then you might wonder about the safest way to take these drugs. Because these drugs can make a person feel good – they not only take away physical pain, they can also take away emotional and psychological pain – it’s easy to want to take more and more of these drugs.

Fortunately, if you’re taking these drugs as a result of a prescription and you’re following the direction of your doctor, then you’re taking the drug in a safe way. Once you begin to use these drugs in a way that’s different than the directions on the prescription, it is considered abuse. Also, having an understanding about dependence and addiction to these drugs can let you know whether you need to get help.

To get an understanding about whether you’re addicted to prescription pain pills, you might ask yourself the following questions:

• Do I need to take painkillers because I fear having withdrawal symptoms?
• Am I taking painkillers because I’m genuinely in pain?
• Or am I taking painkillers even when I’m not in pain?
• Do I experience withdrawal symptoms such as shakes, chills, headaches, or vomiting?
• Do I take more of the medication than what’s been prescribed to me?
• Am I taking more of the medication in order to feel the same effects I once did?

If you feel that you need to take more of the medication in order to feel the same effects you once did, then you may have developed a dependence to the drug. However, if you feel that you do in fact need more medication in order treat the pain you’re experiencing, then it may be best to speak to your doctor. Having to increase the amount of painkillers you take in order to avoid feeling pain and the dependence that may be developing may make it harder to quit in the future. Furthermore, there may be an addiction developing.

Signs of an addiction to painkillers include:

• Dependence 
• Withdrawal symptoms
• Difficulties stopping when you want
• Tolerance - requiring more of the drug to feel better

If you feel concerned about your use of painkillers, there are steps to take in order to safely stop taking the drug. First, speak to your doctor. He or she can develop a plan for slowly tapering off the drug. You can also talk to your doctor about using another medication (benzodiazepines) which can help minimize the withdrawal symptoms when you withdraw from the painkillers. Your doctor should be able to prescribe you a type of benzodiazepines.

It’s important to stop addiction to painkillers right in its tracks. Too many people get caught in the harmful cycle of addiction with painkillers. As mentioned above, this type of addiction is affecting thousands of Americans around the country. In order to be safe when taking this type of medication, stay communicative with your doctor and get help when you need it.