The Truth About Painkiller Addiction

A lot of people worry that taking painkillers can lead to addiction. If doctors prescribe the medication following a certain schedule, it should not be a problem. But if the patient takes it even without feeling physical pain, it might be a red flag.

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There are those who do get addicted to their medication in order to function well. Here are signs that tell that someone might be at risk of painkiller addiction.

They constantly think about their medication.

The first sign of addiction is when the person is preoccupied with thoughts of when the next dose will happen, and whether the supply is enough for days or weeks to come.

There is a confusion between addiction and dependency. Patients can be physically dependent on a certain drug, but it does not always follow that they are addicted to it. When people are physically dependent on medication, the body has built up a high tolerance to it, and will need a higher dosage to get the desired effect. When people are addicted to it, they keep using the drug even without the need for it.

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They take varying amounts than the dosage prescribed.

People who are addicted to medication take more than what is prescribed. There are instances when the medication is “stretched out” to last longer. If the patient is having problems controlling the intake of painkillers, it can be a problem.

They get painkillers from different sources

They stock up painkillers to help ease the pain they feel. They order drugs from other sources like online stores and black markets. Some even steal from others or hurt themselves so they can go to a hospital to get a prescription.

Painkiller addiction is a concern that needs to be addressed. Learn more about it by subscribing to this Dr. Melanie Novak, M.D., blog.

Study: Morphine May Increase Pain Severity

Morphine is one of the go-to medicines of people experiencing severe or chronic pain. The opioid painkiller has long been the gold standard treatment for acute pain, but this might change from now on as a new study suggests an unfortunate irony: instead of providing pain relief, the medication could make chronic pain worse and slow down the recovery in some cases.

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The study, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, offers a glimpse into the possible long-term consequences of opiates like morphine and oxycodone. Researchers at the University of Colorado Boulder used genetic and pharmacological interventions, including the novel Designer Receptor Exclusively Activated by Designer Drugs (DREADD) to demonstrate how a course of morphine after nerve injury doubles the duration of neuropathic pain in mouse models. They've found out that morphine activates spinal immune cells, amplifying pain rather than dulling it, even after the painkilling treatment has been stopped.

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Rat models show that "the pain is effectively transitioned to a chronic state, making the pain itself both more severe and longer lasting.” The opioid activates inflammasome, a specific group of signaling proteins in microglia that sends pain signals up to the brain. Previous studies have shown that opioid painkillers make microglia, the immune cells of the brain, more sensitive to activation that is likely a factor that could explain opioid-induced hyperalgesia.

While the results show fundamental clinical implications for pain, researchers stress that they shouldn't be used as the basis for not giving opioids to people in pain. An awareness of the side effects of pain medications coupled with a deeper understanding of pain and the many non-drug alternatives available for pain management promotes a holistic approach to chronic pain. Stress management, diet, and exercise, and gentle manual medicine could go a long way in conquering pain and maintaining an active life without medications.

Dr. Melanie Novak, M.D., uses a multidisciplinary approach in the diagnosis and treatment of all types of pain. Her practice focuses on providing individualized treatment plans that help patients stay on top of their pain best and enjoy life. Read more about pain management here.