Question about morphine addiction?--see answers pls.
by 
DA BEN DAN yanggui zi COAT
ANSWERS: 5
-
Presently I take large amounts of morphine. Enough to keep a steady high supply in my body. I also take other narcotics called 'breakthrough pain' pills which I take when the morphine will not control the pain. I have been told that when your body is in severe pain that it 'burns' off the morphine and you never really become addicted to it at this point...Only when you stop needing it to control the pain does it stay in your body long enough to cause addiction problems...and that this is how they will wean me off of morphine at the end of my treatment. Does anyone have any experience with pain management and do you know if this , in fact, is true? I know that when I am taken off the morphine that I will sleep through extended periods of 'withdrawal'. Maybe they induce the sleep to help me. But does anyone know if the premise that --'as long as you are in severe pain your body burns the morphine off right away'--- is, in fact true?
-
Not true, one can become dependant on narcotics even if they are being used correctly. But let's differentiate between dependance and the term 'addiction'. You will most likely develop a dependance on narcotics BUT that is NOT saying an addiction. You will probably notice some effects when you discontinue the use of narcotics but you will NOT (likely) have the psychological dependance (which is hallmark in addiction). EDIT: On a side note once when I was very, very ill I was taking about 1000 mg of vicodin every 4 to 6 hours for approximately 4 weeks. When I discontinued use I did notice some symptoms: Headaches, fatigue, sleep disturbances and irritability. But I never felt the 'urge' to take a pill...I just noticed these symptoms for a few days...which is from developing a small physical dependance to the narcotic.
-
The experience of most people who take morphine is that they are not addicted when it is withdraw. People vary, and some become addicted, but this is considered a reasonable risk by doctors in consideration of the patient's comfort during the treatment or illness. You probably won't become addicted, but you'll have to cross this bridge when you get to it, since you seem to need the morphine and there aren't many choices to be made in these circumstances. Opiates slow the intestines, and many folks have a worse problem with extremely painful constipation when the morphine stops. Doctors know this but many fail to suggest things the patient can do with their diet to avoid intestinal pain and discomfort later. Pain does not increase the body's natural metabolism of morphine, I think this is an urban legend. But many people receive high dose morphine during severe illness/operations and do not become addicted, so you shouldn't stress over this now.
-
The morphine doesn't "burn" off the pain, it only temporarily numbs it. The more pain you have the stronger your pills have to be, but they never burn pain off. I am currently dependent on pain killers myself because I have taken them for a long time, so even if you take them as prescribed if you take them long enough you will become addicted physically and have withdrawals if you stop taking them, especially something strong like morphine. I only take Lortab and it doesn't take long for your body to be addicted. You can go to a medical facility to detox and they can put you to sleep for the 3-4 days it takes to withdraw. I personally will begin Suboxone treatment to wean off of the Lortab next week. You should google Suboxone and try it if you do end up becoming addicted, it's cheaper than the medical facility and you can do it at home.
-
I understand... and it's not true. I’m a cripple and I am, very much an addict, morphine oxy an vicodin all to manage pain... I only take the morphine if it gets really bad... but if you take those away I’ll start to detox... its not pretty! I had it bad last time... I stopped breathing; I only detoxed to prove I wasn't an addict! I hate it! Detoxing isn't just sleeping, the pain is magnified six or seven times, you can't sleep no matter how tired you get, you sweat, everything in your boy is jonesing for a fix and you know that if you get one the pain won't be half as bad. It’s hell... especially if you actually need the narcotics! My friend and I made a bet... if I can stay off the drugs for two weeks then he'd pay for my new bike. It was stupid, I threw up every hour and I started cutting to get my mind off of the pain! DON’T DETOX ALONE!
RELATED QUESTIONS
Copyright 2023, Wired Ivy, LLC