PAIN, PART 2

Facts about narcotics that doctors assume patients know (and therefore don't address):

• Narcotic medications are addictive. Period. Even if you really need them, you can still be addicted. There was a big scandal recently which revealed that some drug companies had mislead doctors and patients about the dangers and addictive qualities of narcotics, so everyone needs to be aware.
• "Narcotics" aren't just illegal drugs like heroin. Narcotics are also those "pain pills" you get as a prescription. Sometimes the doctor asks if you've ever been dependent or addicted to drugs- THESE COUNT, and doctors assume you've never had a problem if you say no.
• TOLERANCE: The more narcotics you take, the more your tolerance builds up. Then when you experience even more pain, you need more medication. It's excruciating to watch people who are dependent on narcotics after surgery or an injury experience excruciating pain that we can't control because your body has such a high tolerance....
• DEPENDENCE: Just like any other drug- heroin, cocaine, alcohol- you feel good at first, but then it becomes necessary in order to go to work, get up out of bed.  At some point you cross a line- The amount of drug you need to stave off withdrawal turns into a toxic amount that your body can't handle. 
• It's REALLY easy to overdose on prescription painkillers. It happens EVERY DAY. 
• Narcotics have a LOT of side effects: nausea, dizziness/falls, confusion, euphoria, to name a few (taking away pain and giving a "high" makes them even more addictive!)
• They make you REALLY CONSTIPATED, PEOPLE!!!!  Seriously, this is not a good feeling.  I can't tell you how many times people come to the doctor's complaining about constipation, not realizing it's related to the painkiller (and the doctor assumes they know), so they have to take 50 stool softeners (or enemas, yuck) to balance everything. Your GI tract does NOT like narcotics!

Here are some other facts taken from emedicinehealth:

Narcotics users can develop tolerance, as well as psychological and physical dependence to opioids when they take them over an extended period of time.

Psychological dependence refers to compulsive drug use in which a person uses the drug for personal satisfaction, often in spite of knowing the health risks