How Morphine And Methadone Can Become Addicting

If you have ever been in a major accident, one that was causing excruciating amounts of pain, your physician more than likely prescribed some type of painkiller to help you with the agony you were in. Depending upon how long you are actually on the drug, you might develop a slight addiction. It is possible to become addicted to opiate based drugs, as well as methadone and fentany, which can start you on a spiral descent. Here are some ways to avoid addiction to pain meds, especially opioids and morphine derivatives which can cause you to ruin your life.

Why Opioids Are Addicting

If you have ever taken codeine, Vicodin, or any other opiate-based drug, you have probably enjoyed the euphoria that comes with taking these medications. They become addicting because your brain, specifically mu receptors, become accustomed to getting stimulated. If you only take them once in a while, there is no way that you can become addicted. However, if you are suffering from chronic pain, your physician may recommend opiates as the only way to control or manage the pain you are in. If you have been taking them for several months, or years, it will be very difficult to stop using them. You will go through withdrawals for several weeks, which can be excruciating. Here are a couple tips on how to avoid addiction to opiate based drugs that you can start using today.

Avoiding Addiction To Opiates

When you get a prescription for these drugs, make sure that you avoid taking them everyday. If you have to take them every day, when you come to the end of your prescription, request something else. Although they may not manage your pain in the same way, it is possible to try other things including visualization techniques, regular pain meds, or cutting your dosage in half. All of these tips will help you stay away from addiction to opiate based drugs.