question about addiction - Page 4

hyacinth003 · ‎03-12-2010

@Terri1920 wrote:
Somewhere on a thread here, I read something about being addicted to painkillers. Can someone please explain the difference between addiction to painkillers and addiction to other types of pills?

I have a neighbor who is in her mid-fifties. She goes to a pain clinic run by a reputable anesthesiologist. Anyway, she is on painkillers.. I don't know if it's oxy or hydro whatever. She never appears to be loopy, her speech is never slurred but she takes these pills every day. She has for years.

On the other hand, I take thyroid pills. If I stop taking them, I guess my body will tell me? I have no idea what would happen since my thyroid was removed years ago, so I have to take the pills.

Would I be in the same position as she is? Am I addicted to my thyroid pills the same way she is addicted to the pills she takes? I realize she would go into withdrawal if she stoppped taking her pills and if I stopped taking my thyroid pills, wouldn't my body go into some type of withdrawal too?

You are in no way ADDICTED to your thyroid medication. Since you don't have your thyroid, you need the pills to take over the function of a thyroid. Your situation is in NO WAY like your neighbor's.

If you stopped taking them, you would get symptoms of hypothyroidism and not feel well. Thyroid function is essential to life. It would be dangerous not to have the function.

Talk to your doctor if you are having questions or thoughts about taking the thyroid medication.

Hyacinth

Laura14 · ‎06-09-2014

@pitdakota has it down. Two completely different drugs and actions in the body.

I'm currently studying pharmacy and the pain reliever (in this case an opiate) works on the central nervous system and mimics the body's natural endorphins which is your natural or in the meds case unnatural "high". It doesn't remove your pain. Only your perception of it. It literally alters your reality.

Synthroid or whatever version you are taking is a synthetic hormone that replaces the natural hormone your body isn't making on its own. It targets and works on a completely different organ by replacing what's missing there. No alteration or interaction with the central nervous system hence no addiction.

If you stop taking your synthroid, your hypothyroidism would worsen and you would get your symptoms back. Weight gain, cold, tired, low blood pressure, etc...

Having typed this, you've received excellent advice to speak to a real doctor if you ever have questions about medication. And the best one is your pharmacist the next time you pick up your prescription. He or she will be happy to help explain all about it.

henderson · ‎03-18-2010

I have pain all the time with my back. Have been taking hydrocodone for over a year and according to my pain mgmt dr. it's a low dosage -- 10 mg twice every 12 hours. With that being said, I can feel withdrawal effects as it nears the 12th hour. When I first started taking it, I took much more and finally weaned myself down. I get very sleepy in the afternoon so I usally take a nap or rest.

spent2much · ‎03-10-2010

@Reba055 wrote:

The unfortunate problem with the pill mills and addiction has once again cast a negative light on those that take and need opiate pain meds. And the media and some law enforcement has made it seem like anyone taking painkillers everyday is an addict, or will become an addict. Just not true.

Yes, it's a very real problem. If you have chronic pain and take pain meds every day, you really don't want to be telling people. They're very judgmental and who needs the hastle?!

ETERNITY: your choice... smoking or non smoking!

pattypeep · ‎06-06-2011

No I am not addicted

Women and cats will do as they please, and men and dogs should relax and get used to the idea-Robert A. Heinlein

SahmIam · ‎04-16-2010

If your body needs the medication to function normally due to a disease (diabetes, thyroid disease, etc ) without the medications, your body will have serious complications that can lead to death (in some cases).

Addiction to a medication (not talking booze, food, gambling) occurs when the medication affects the mind as well as the body. Without the drug, the body will go into physical withdrawal (which can lead to death in some cases) and causes the person to seek additional relief to keep away the negative physical side effects as well as the mental ones that may occur. People often become addicted to pain pills due to surgery or an accident; when they NO LONGER need the pills, they realize that they either like how they feel while on them OR have the negative side effects and down the path of addiction they go.

For those who need them due to medical issues, the road to getting pain relief via opiates is a dangerous and difficult one; now more than ever. Having those pills is the difference between living and not living on a daily basis; take that any way you wish.

A doctor at the Mayo Clinic told me "those who take pills but need them are addicts. Those who take pills because their body is broken and can't be fixed are not addicts".

Maybe. But then you ask which came first, you know?

SeaMaiden · ‎03-10-2010

I was on heavy pain meds after each of my jioint replacement....about 7 weeks each surgery. I never became high or addicted. I just quit taking them and switched to tylenol when I felt I could. Never craved them. I have bags of left over pain meds.

sidsmom · ‎11-25-2011

@Zhills wrote:
I've wondered about this fact myself. I have taken Vicodin and Lorcet after surgery and my auto accident and they only kill the pain. I never "felt good or high" on them.

However, when I was in the ER recently they gave me Morphine and I was loopy...I knew I was loopy...can't imagine anyone wanting to feel like that!

I always have pain pills left over because I don't like to take them and as soon as Tylenol will work, pain pills are gone.

I wouldn't call thyroid meds any more addicting than insulin for a diabetic. It is just necessary to help an organ function properly.

Type 1 diabetic, yes.

Type 2? When there are cures out there? Why wouldn't someone explore proven programs to eliminate their Type 2 status? Proven studies/programs will support Type 2 can be prevented/reversed. Choice? Or is the change too hard/scary?

ScarletDove · ‎07-11-2010

These questions need to be discussed with your doctor! You need to know the reason why your body requires thyroid pills after the removal of your thyroid and your doctor is the source of that information!

ladyroxanne · ‎03-09-2010

what absolutely kills me are the doctors who refuse pain meds to elderly patients because they may become an addict. what difference does it make. give these people a pain free existence for the rest of their days. i think it's cruel.