Symptoms of Painkiller Addiction

• Doctor shopping

Doctor shopping is the practice of seeing numerous doctors for the same problem in order to obtain more prescription painkillers. If a person receives several painkillers from different doctors at once, this is incredibly dangerous. Neither doctor can accurately supervise their patient’s habits, and this can interfere with their care, and also lead to increased risk of overdose.

If a person frequently ‘loses’ their prescription or visits more than one doctor at once for the same health problem, they are probably doctor shopping and are addicted to painkillers.

Vicodin, or hydrocodone, and oxycontin are some of the most widely abused painkillers in the United States. These drugs are the most commonly prescribed and are more available than other painkillers.

Over half of people who have abused painkillers or are actively addicted to painkillers receive them from a friend or an acquaintance. Only 18% of addicts get their drug of choice from a doctor through a legal prescription.

Withdrawal symptoms typically last about one week. They can start as soon as six hours after last use, and tend to peak about three days after cessation. Symptoms of withdrawal include the following:

Addicts may experience long-term psychological problems related to prescription painkiller abuse, such as depression and anxiety. Fortunately, these problems can be successfully treated with antidepressants and therapy.

Mixing alcohol and painkillers is incredibly dangerous. Both types of substances act as depressants, and the most dangerous side-effect of combining the two is a decreased respiratory rate. This can cause seizures, coma, and even death. The perilous symptoms of mixing alcohol with painkillers can include the following:

Mixing alcohol and painkillers enhances the effects of both substances, and combining them has lead to a rise in overdose deaths in the United States. Call 911 if you suspect a drug overdose immediately. Even if a person survives a drug overdose, they can experience lifelong brain damage. It is crucial to get them the help they need before they experience a seizure or a coma. 

People who are addicted to prescription painkillers need integrated, intense care to help them beat this incredibly difficult addiction. Because a lot of people who abuse painkillers also genuinely need pain management for severe injuries and illnesses, they require a specialized, customized treatment plan with a team of doctors and therapists. They may be able to receive lower doses of painkillers under a doctor’s supervision at an inpatient detox facility. Or get relief from non-opioid analgesics.

A detox facility can help them manage the painful symptoms of withdrawal with legal, safe prescription medications, and they can still get help for any chronic pain they may have. Despite the serious nature of prescription painkiller addiction, with help from supportive, trained professionals and counselors, people can make a full recovery from the scourge of addiction.

The abuse of prescription painkillers has become a serious problem in our country. And the people who find themselves addicted to these dangerous prescription medications often never believed they could find themselves in the situation they do—especially since many of them started with a prescription from their doctor or physician.

However, the abuse of painkillers is not without consequences. The plain truth is these types of medications can kill in overdose. Windward Way frequently receives referrals to our addiction treatment program to provide help for people addicted to opioid prescription painkillers.

Some of the early signs of painkiller addiction include:

• An itchy skin. Nearly all opioid-based painkiller drugs have this side effect.
• A person hides or keeps multiple pill bottles.
• An abuser of these types of drugs can appear sleepy, or paradoxically “wired” and energetic.
• The drug abuser is always short of money, begs, borrows or steals to sustain his habit.
• Damaged work or family relationships.
• Frequent use of laxatives. Opiate use causes constipation and slows the bowel.

The yellowing of the whites of a person’s eyes—many prescription painkillers also contain acetaminophen (Tylenol®) which can be damaging to the liver.

Prescription painkillers like OxyContin®, Percocet®, Opana®, Fentanyl, or Vicodin® are all dangerous to abuse. When used appropriately, they can serve effectively as a way to greatly reduce the pain a patient may be undergoing for a related illness. However, if abused, a full-blown painkiller addiction is usually not far behind.

Because these opioid-based medications work through affecting the receptors in the brain that influence comfort and reward, people who have been using prescription painkillers often find themselves using more than what was prescribed to them.  Withdrawal from painkillers can also become intensely uncomfortable—insomnia, profuse sweating, pain, intense anxiety, vomiting, diarrhea, and drug craving are not at all uncommon.

Windward Way’s clinically supervised painkiller detox center and drug rehab can give you precisely the assistance you need to get off these prescription medications. We’re standing by right now to customize a plan for you, the Windward Way. Just call (855) 491-7694.