Guest guest Posted April 2, 2001 Report Share Posted April 2, 2001 > Hi Kathy, > > Please explain the difference between addiction and dependency. My brother > had chronic bursis (sp?) knee infection with several surgerys. He had > severe pain and became 'addicted' to his pain medicine, I dont remember the > name, it was a narcotic and his doctor gave him as much as he wanted when > he wanted it. He had to go to a 30 day drug treatment center to get off > it. Was he addicted or dependant? Unfortunately, your brother (as well as a good friend of mine) had a terrible doctor! (Who should have paid for the detox he went through.) IMHO...Addicted. A friend of mine in Palo Alto CA is on > morphine via pump for chronic upper back/neck pain. She calls herself > 'addicted', if they lower the dose, she has withdrawal symptoms. Is this > addiction or dependency? IMHO...dependent and confused. If I don't have my daily dose of synthroid (a synthetic thyroid hormone) I also will go through withdrawals. I am " physically dependent " on it. My body is used to this in its system and will do strange things to me if I don't take it. However, I could care less if I don't take it and if I wasn't tapered off it, I'd go through withdrawals and then never look back. I, personally beyond having my thyroid regulated get nothing out of taking it. I don't get a euphoric feeling, it doesn't help me sleep, nothing for my " mind. " If I'm tapered off it however, my body will slowly (like you with baclofen) get used to not having it in my system and I will have no ill effects from not taking it, pyschologically or physically. (I will however become very overweight and have other problems from having no thyroid hormones in my body.) If they suddenly stopped refilling your pump would you 'feel' any different? Does Baclofen either orally or intrathecally give you a high that you like? Nope, right? However, if they stopped the dosage suddenly, you would more than likely experience withdrawals including but not limited to naseau, vomitting, siezures, headaches, lethargy, etc. If they tapered you off it and you didn't need it anymore because you were magically cured of the condition that requires the drug, you could care less that you didn't have it anymore and would probably look forward to not taking it. When I take my pain meds, which happen to be in the narcotic family, I don't get a " high " from them. I feel no different than before taking them, except my pain is helped. I started on a low dose and initially was tired when I took them. Once that side effect was gone, they upped my dosage until the side-effect was gone, then continued until I received adequate pain relief. Now, this is when it gets tricky with people...if they continued to up my dosage after I received adequate pain relief, I would eventually feel some euphoric effects from them. (This is why a Good pain clinic will never try to give you complete pain relief with narcotics...) If they continued to give this dosage to me and I continued to take it, then yes, I would not only be physically dependent on it, I would be addicted. I would want that high. The medicine now does more for me than just help my pain. For whatever reason people use to take more than needed (be it they can't handle life well, they got in too deep before realizing where they were with the meds, etc), they now feel a physical, brain dependent need to take it. When you exceed what the body needs, there is left over...that left over with narcotics will usually produce a high. Because I take what is needed and no more, I don't ever get that " high " because I was put on them slowly and never, ever take more than necessary. The amount I take attacks pain signals and is just enough to do that. More than that...well, I walk around stoned while it's in my system. Let's say you took Baclofen orally (I use this drug because it's a drug you can relate to.) It does its job and takes care of your spasticity. One night you take too much by mistake and you notice it puts you to sleep really well...you're out like a light (and for argument sake, let's also say you have a sleeping problem so this is really great for you.) The next night you do the same and the next and you eventually " up " the dose because the sensation you get is something you like. Now, if you continue, you will probably be addicted at some point. Not only do you need it to control your spasticity (physical dependence because of the nature of the drug), but you're addicted...your brain needs that drug....you have essentially rewired your brain at some point and you will need help coming off it beyond a regular taper. You'll need to learn to sleep on your own without pills, you'll need to find a way to get through the day without the high (I don't really think Baclofen can give you a high though...although I don't know either.) Addiction is when you are not only physically dependent on a drug, but physcologically also. I could quit smoking tomorrow if all I had to do was to go through three days of withdrawal and it was all over. I've done the three days many, many times...I truly do not physically need that cigarette anymore. But, talk to me on the phone and I NEED that cigarette, give me a meal and afterward, I will NEED that cigarette. That's the addiction part of it. There are many, many drugs that every-day people take that are drugs they will become physically dependent on. Just as strongly as someone taking narcotics will be. High blood pressure meds are notorious for producing horrific side-effects when stopped suddenly, and again, thyroid meds too...there are so many regular old conditions out there that people take the medication for, but the medication is a physically dependent drug. There are some that aren't too. I hope this makes sense...I am by no means an expert on this. I know these terms are used interchangably. However, one is something your body is dependent on and requires, but can handle being without if tapered off...the other is something that not only your body needs, but you need as well and even when your physical being no longer requires it, you still do. Kathy > > Rick > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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