To wonder how people get addicted to prescription drugs?

[popcornwizard]

Just that really. I've been given a few bottles of oramorph for pain relief. It works, I can see how people get addicted to its warm fuzzy, but the complete inability to function must of the time is very frustrating. So how does the addiction thing happen? Do people lie about the pain? Or would the GP keep prescribing it if I staged a sit in and made demands? Or is it acquired by illegal methods? Never really given it much thought, just hear the 'addicted to prescription drugs' phrase bandied about.

Long term opiate use leads to addiction by accident in many cases. My friends mum is a tramadol addict, started taking it for rheumatoid arthritis pain over 10 years ago - is now well and truly physically dependant on it. Can't function without. Google codeine addiction, people start taking it for a simple complaint and then struggle to stop too. These are normal people not "smack heads" who want to get high.

All of the above really. People with chronic pain are afraid to stop taking them if they finally get on top of things and eventually they really cannot stop. Codeine is the usual suspect, and yes the GPs often do just keep issuing repeat prescriptions without reviewing the patient. I am a midwife and have looked after many many many women who are addicted to codeine, most manage to wean down to a couple of tablets a day but I have yet to see any actually manage to stop it altogether. It is an addictive substance, it is as hard as quitting smoking or alcohol for those who become dependant.

I used to take prescription painkillers for extreme back pain. For the first week or so i got the fuzzy, barely able to function feeling but like everything, once i got used to it i was fine. The problem is when you depend on that painkiller to be able to do anything - if i didn't take it, i could barely get out of bed some days. Then as i got more used to it, the dosage got upped because the effectiveness wore off. Once i hit the max limit i realised i needed an alternative solution so weaned off them, but it was hard. If those tablets are the only thing controlling your pain, psychologically you can become very dependent very quickly

I have read posts on here from women who commenced codeine for chronic pain knowing they were likely to become addicted but they still felt it was worth it to control the pain - don't underestimate how debilitating chronic pain is, it is absolutely soul destroying!

I take cocodomol from my back. I try not to take too many per day but if I don’t I get all sweaty and start getting flushes.

It’s easy enough to wean yourself just by gradually reducing the dose, I’ve done it a few times when my symptoms have improved.

Sadly at the moment I’m in constant pain and need something stronger but araid to ask 😔

The fuzziness goes away. I’ve been on daily Oramorph (70mg per day) for five years. I’m physically dependent as it’s literally impossible not to be after taking it regularly for so long. I function great, I don’t get any mental effects and can work and drive perfectly well.

If your pain is never going to go away you have to keep taking the painkillers, eventually you become physically dependent. Addiction is different, that’s why you’re taking it even when you don’t need to, or misuse it. Physical dependency is an inevitable side effect of using medication that promotes physical dependence, and for a lot of us if we want to live our lives we have no choice but to take the meds.

But I think the OP is asking about the practical side. How do you keep getting the drugs?

I was prescribed Tramadol after surgery and nobody said anything about it's addictive properties. I was told "take these" and sent home. 6 weeks later when I decided to come off it the withdrawals were horrendous. It was only then that I discovered that it was a synthetic opiate responsible for ruining countless thousands of lives. I was, and still am, absolutely furious at the breathtaking arrogance of the doctors who dish these things out without explaining what they are and the potential consequences.

Took me over a month to get through the withdrawal, which started 4 hours after the first missed dose with a blinding headache from hell that remained for weeks. There's a very good documentary on Netflix about prescription opiate addiction. Absolutely heartbreaking. Still, that's big pharma for you. They couldn't give a shit about people.

I think OP means how do they get hold of it. Any GP I've had errs on the side of caution and won't over/repeat prescribe so while I can understand that a few might, I also find it hard to imagine how people get a steady supply, unless they're going private (though private GPs I've known have also been reticent to subscribe opiates in any quantity) or buying it online maybe? Presumably the OTC co-codomol isn't strong enough for someone who is addicted? I understand it more in the US where the medication culture is different, but here it's truly shocking if GPs aren't more wise to the risks.

Because the GP prescribes them for the pain. People don't use them for fun, they use them because they can't function without them. The addiction is a side effect.

I have a relative who is addicted to Tramadol. She knows that she is, but she has tried other painkillers which either don't work, or have horrible side effects.

But I think the OP is asking about the practical side. How do you keep getting the drugs?

Yes, that's what I mean. Could I just keep going to the doctor and asking for more?

Lax prescribing, prescription hopping and using other people's prescribed drugs.

Street purchasing as well.

But I think the OP is asking about the practical side. How do you keep getting the drugs?

Some GPs just keep prescribing. I was on a high dose of benzoes for years, and some previous GPs were also pretty quick to prescribe co-codamol. My DM (not in the UK) has also had prescribed codeine for a cough for as long as I can remember.

You can obviously also buy them illegally, if that's the route you want to take. I have done this once, I'm sorry to say. It was someone who I believe had been prescribed them themselves, but decided to sell them instead. I'm obviously now very sorry I ever did that - it's immoral to say the least, and hardly was helpful to me either.

I was prescribed codeine for arthritic pain. Worked really well and allowed me to function normally (albeit with restricted mobility). Following a hip replacement the pain was gone so I stopped taking the codeine. It was a horrible experience.

I’ve since been told that for every month you’ve been taking codeine you need to allow a week to come off it. In my case that would have been reducing to zero over 5 weeks instead of 2 days

The pain clinic prescribed it for me after several years under their care trying everything else, and then the GP took over the prescribing. The consultant specialist had to initiate the medication and the GP just follows their treatment plan. I don’t think I’d be taken off it without returning to the pain clinic and being assessed by the pain consultant for what else to try, but as I’ve been through every single other medication and procedure I’m pretty much at the end of the line.

Watch the Louis Theroux documentary about it.

Prescription hopping is very common, and easy for patients who are registered at very busy, multiple-doctor surgeries. Also, if the patient is in pain, the doctor's remit is to deal with the pain, which puts them in an awful position.

There are also (sadly) some lazy GPs who do everything by repeat prescription and don't review patients often enough. And of course, there is an awful lot of stuff you can buy online.

I love Louis and have time on my hands, do you know what it's called? Will look on i player.

Lots of people used to go to private doctors if NHS stopped prescribing. There seems to have been a clampdown in recent years, but from what I heard it was very easy to get prescriptions privately.

Second watching the Louis Theroux documentary

It's called Dark States: Heroin Town, think it's still on iPlayer

It took me months to be prescribed tramadol when i was struggling. Once i had it i had regular reviews with the GP.

This time i have been given codeine whilst waiting for a rheumatology appointment, but it isn't on repeat & i have to review before i get more. I guess some GPs are lax but it is also very easy to purchase prescription painkillers on the streets sadly

Street purchasing for some. Though I'm of sure if dealers are selling drugs obtained through prescriptions and pharmacies or illegally produced/smuggled knock offs.

I'm in the States and when I broke my foot and tore the ligaments (was worse pain than having ds totally drug and gas and air free) could get more than ONE co codamol that you can get otc in the UK.

Much as this was fucking ridiculous and meant I didn't sleep at all for weeks I get why.

The UK needs to seriously tighten their dispensing of painkillers or you'll end up like the States.

(Some) Benzodiazepienes are incredibly addictive. And that addiction is a physical process that changes the way the brain works, sudden withdrawal can lead to seizures and death.

DW was put on a benzo indefinitely aged 17 (for MS), and - over 30 years later is still forced to take the fuckers. Given that they're not really advised in pregnancy, she tried to stop - until it nearly killed her. No one questioned it until it was "too late".

(It's one reason why I am a little leery of doctors wringing their hands over things like cannabis, when they are quite happy to dish out benzos.)

It really depends on the doctor. DH has 3 slipped discs and requires quite a cocktail of painkillers to be able to get out of bed. One of the GP's will prescribe the absolute bare minimum dose which is non negotiable, whereas another one will happily write a prescription after a telephone consultation.