To think that doctors in the UK/EU are stigny with benzos/opioids?

[janef001]

I understand how addictive these drugs can be but I think the pendulum is swung too far on the other side. I know a woman who had to have a painful root canal and wisdom tooth extraction. She wasn't given any strong post-operative painkillers but instead told to take panadol . OTC Codeine and tramadol never worked for her as she was deficient in the liver enzyme that metabolises them. She ended up having to get a friend from America bring her Vicodin.

I've heard the same things with benzos. Many GP's and psychiatrists just refuse to hand them out and instead put patients on SSRI after SSRI even when they say that they don't work.

@ChangedMyNamrButStillMe disgraceful!

Agree on the pain relief front. I had a dental abscess recently from a cracked root. 50% of my face was swollen to the point I could barely see / open my mouth. Nothing the dentist could do until I'd taken a course of antibiotics so I managed the pain through combined Paracetamol & ibuprofen, This took the edge off such that the pain was bearable but did not completely remove it. Once the root had been fixed, the pain abated. Pain is hard to endure, but I think there is a lack of understanding as to the influence opioid drugs have on the brain, how addictive they are and therefore why these drugs are reserved for the worst kinds of pain as a measure of last resort.

Benzo's on the other hand... they can really mess you up big time. Years ago I don't think there was a full appreciation as to the impact of long term benzo use and what it does to you (& what happens when you stop taking them) hence prescribing may have been more widespread. Given there is greater awareness, it makes sense to me that they are now used only in very limited controlled ways.

As other posters have said just because it comes with a prescription from a doctor doesn't mean it isn't as dangerous as a ''street'' drug.

I agree with going to the oldest GP. Terrible back pain from a lifting injury 4 few years ago. Same GP for 10 years who knew me/history. Was prescribed codeine and diazepam which is exactly what was needed. Full recovery with private physio and didn’t need all the codeine as the diazepam stopped spasms which helped me do the physio.

Having said this the addiction rates in the US and over prescribing there is TERRIBLE. There is a trade off. Don’t think the NHS always get it right as per this thread but I also don’t think Joe Public is getting drugs off the dark web or street dealers.

I suppose over indulgence in alcohol doesn't affect a person's ability to escape from a plane!

Honestly, there are far far more people addicted to and affected by alcohol in the UK than there ever will be from the occasional script for valium.

No, and I hope it stays that way. Opioids are too addictive to mess around with.

Go and watch DopeSick.
opoids are NOT for tooth ache. They are HIGHLY addictive and thank god our Doctors in the U.K. don’t make money from dealing them out.

They are absolutely bloody right to be stingy with it. It's controlled for a very good reason and I hope it stays that way for times to come.

I know there are people living in constant pain and sometimes there is no other way but for things like a tooth ache, come on...that kind of pain is temporary but you could spend a lifetime trying to kick the addiction.

They deny boarding to people they deem too drink to fly, and they won't serve you alcohol on board if they think you're drunk.

You wouldn't say this if your son became a life long addict on the back of that. It's not something he would chose, it would be a reaction to the drug. It's not always in your control.

Many, many people who otherwise lived an ordinary life became addicted, new mothers following births, fathers after shoulder surgeries, daughters after back injury and so on.

Read about it.

I do think people need adequate pain relief and that's often not provided. However, having spent 3 days in hospital on a patient controlled morphine thing I can see how you would quickly get addicted to that stuff. Better it's heavily restricted than high rates of addiction like in the US (Dopesick was very educational).

I was very surprised how willingly my GP gave me a small dose of diazepam when I had muscle spoon my neck. Did t get on with it so won't take it again. My friend has got really bad anxiety at the minute and is taking some 10 years
Old lorazepam that he had stashed away.

What a coincidence, I’ve just been discharged from hospital with a prescription for paracetamol, ibuprofen and oramorph. Not taken any of the morphine yet, I’m too scared! Pain levels are creeping up though.

A member of my family has battled lifelong Benzodiazepine addiction caused by years of irresponsible prescribing when she was a young woman
So was I. In the States in the 90s. I didn't really need them but I didn't question it. Was on it for months, twice a day. I had no issues at all coming off them. I just did one day when I realised I didn't need them.

That's the issue, for some, addiction will kick in very quickly. For others, it can be taken there and then with no addicting affect.

I'm suprised that you can even get OTC codine there, in Australia it's prescription only.

Watch dopesick on Disney!..I’m glad we don’t just dish them out.

Many people don't become addicted to them. Having unnecessary pain because some people may become addicted is unfair.

And yes I understand that our brain pathways can be helped to tune out the pain. I understand lot's of people, gor example, have issues with bulging discs and have zero pain whereas for others it becomes chronic pain.

I feel quite cross that I was put on 6 months of shitty amatriptoline (long term use of this drug can lead to dementia) shitty codeine (that made me depressed and emotional) and would have had surgery if it wasn't for two weeks of diazapam that relaxed my back spasms enough to start living my life again. I had 6 months off work fgs, imagine if I had ended up with surgery and further time off work, or being managed out due to ill health all for want of two weeks muscle relaxant. If I had been giving two weeks at the beginning of my pain I might not have lost 6 months of my life.

Watch 'Dopesick' to see where just happily dishing out these type of meds got America!

Because of the long term harm that can be caused by the "relief"?

Oh that’s too horribly true 😥

My DH was prescribed diazepam every couple of years for back pain for as long as I can remember

If diazepam is so dangerous why is it recommended for short term use for the relief of anxiety and muscle spasms, if prescribed safely and used safely it can really help people. Doctors and nurses need to be mindful of the problems but that shouldnt mean it shouldnt be prescribed.

woman who had to have a painful root canal and wisdom tooth extraction...She ended up having to get a friend from America bring her Vicodin.

OP's friend must have had a long duration of post-dental-work pain. Coz it takes a week to get stuff from USA unless you order express, would be faster to get something from Europe. And presumably the lady tried other types of pain relief first. Plus I can't find anywhere to buy vicodin mailed express from USA. Or France, but presumably this lady was a lot more resourceful than me.

I wonder how she proved she had a prescription.

It shouldn't be easy to get opiods and benzos.

My ex husband became addicted to opiods. He completely changed as a person and his behaviour now means he is no longer allowed to see our children. Which in turn has affected them for the rest of their lives. Not to mention how they will feel when they learn of the things their father has done since becoming addicted (which is plastered over the Internet).

My partners sister died in her sleep last year aged 25 because of her addiction to opiods. She took slightly more then usual and her breathing suppressed and she just died in bed. Wasn't found until much too late. Stories like these are far too common even with all the restrictions in place. Imagine how it would be if they relaxed them?

Addiction’s more painful than any physical
discomfort. And often fatal.

Japan: I ran out of tramadol for sciatica whilst in Japan. I went to a hospital and was told tramadol was illegal, and the doctor tried to confiscate my few remaking pills. I grabbed them back and flew home the next day.