Addicted to Pain Medication

Lindsey Root - Monday, March 08, 2010

If you’ve suffered from chronic pain due to illness or injury, you’ve probably been prescribed a painkiller before. When you take your prescription exactly as your doctor instructs, you run very little risk of becoming addicted. If, however, you begin to take more than your doctor prescribed, or you find that you need to take the medicine more frequently than you were told to, the danger for addiction becomes very real very quickly. 

Pain medicines such as Oxycodone, Vicodin, Demerol, and Morphine carry powerful opiates that your body can become dependent upon very quickly. It is normal for someone who takes a pain medication for a very long period of time to build up a resistance to the drug, which means your doctor will need to prescribe higher doses to give you the same pain relief. If you follow your doctor’s advice you should be fine. If you begin to alter your regimen on your own, however, you may find that you begin a spiral of taking more and more medicine to achieve the relief you desire.  

Pain medications can be very difficult to stop taking once you become addicted. You have to slowly reduce the amount of medication you take carefully to avoid uncomfortable withdrawal symptoms. Sometimes it may seem that the detoxification process is more painful than your initial reason for taking the medication. Detox can be accomplished with the proper care and supervision of a trained health professional. 

Hollywood Adderall Abuse Sets a Dangerous Example

Lindsey Root - Friday, March 05, 2010

Adderall is a prescription medication that is usually given to adolescents who suffer from ADHD symptoms. When used properly, Adderall helps a person focus and concentrate. If used in excess, however, Adderall can lead to liver problems and an increased risk of heart trouble. Unfortunately, Adderall’s ability to speed up the metabolism has made it a very popular weight loss drug. 

One of the biggest problems with using Adderall as a weight loss pill is that it can be highly addictive. When used improperly, the medicine builds up in your system and causes you to suffer from uncomfortable withdrawal symptoms when you stop taking it. The withdrawal problems create a cycle that makes it very difficult to stop using the medicine because you need to continue use so that you don’t feel sick – but the longer you continue the use, the sicker you’ll feel when you try to stop. 

A recent ABC news report shows that Hollywood actresses have begun to use Adderall for weight loss, which makes it seem even more glamorous and safe to younger users. Doctors have seen a marked rise in Adderall related health issues among famous Hollywood actresses who have become addicted to the medication when using it to try to lose weight. It is important that people understand the potential health risks involved in abusing this powerful medication. 


Prescription Drug Abuse is on the Rise

Lindsey Root - Wednesday, March 03, 2010

According to a recent report from the National Institute on Drug Abuse, nearly 20% of Americans have used prescription medicine for non-health related needs. Most of the people who tend to abuse medications are elderly, though there is evidence of a growing trend toward recreational use of prescription medicines among teenagers as well. The most commonly abused medicines are those prescribed for pain relief or emotional stability. Vicodin, Xanax, and other strong mood-altering medications can cause health problems if used improperly, and they are also highly addictive. 

When they are used under a doctor’s care, these powerful medicines are useful tools. Our doctor understands the risk of addiction, and prescribes dosages with the prospect of addiction in mind. When used without consulting a doctor, it is much more likely that addiction will occur. Once the drug has built up in your system, it can be very painful and difficult to stop taking the drug. You will experience withdrawal symptoms that can be so uncomfortable that you would rather continue using the drug instead. 

The National Institute on Drug Abuse speculates that these over the counter medications are abused because they are very easily accessible. Online pharmacies in particular make it easy for adolescents to acquire the medication because they don’t require a prescription or proper identification. 

The Long Term Consequences of Dexadrine Abuse

Lindsey Root - Monday, March 01, 2010

ADHD medications, such as Dexedrine, are generally stimulants that can give the user a feeling of extra energy or hypersensitivity. Many people abuse these medications so that they can stay up longer or feel more alert and sensitive to any situation. Dexedrine has also become pretty popular as a way to lose weight because it increases the body’s metabolism, which burns calories quickly. 

Unfortunately, there are some painful side effects that come along with Dexedrine abuse. This powerful stimulant makes your heart pump faster than it normally would, which causes your blood pressure to rise. This leads to excessive sweating, dizziness, and can cause serious heart problems. If you take a higher dosage of Dexedrine than you were prescribed, or take the medication without a prescription, it can cause an increase in feelings of paranoia and anxiety as well. 

Dexedrine is a highly addictive medication, and those who abuse it will find that it is very difficult to stop taking it on their own. The withdrawal symptoms when you stop taking a drug like Dexedrine can sometimes feel worse than the symptoms you suffered while abusing the drug in the first place. Quitting Dexedrine is a long process that should be overseen by a health professional. 

Fighting a Xanax Addiction

Lindsey Root - Friday, February 26, 2010

When you talk to people about Xanax, there seems to be a perception that there are no dangers associated with this medication. While that is true when it is taken per a doctor’s orders, Xanax abuse can lead to addiction relatively quickly. Xanax is used mainly as a tranquilizer to help people find relief from anxiety disorders. It is usually prescribed for long periods of time, which can lead directly to addiction. The irony is that once a person has recovered from their debilitating panic or anxiety through the use of Xanax, they now have to deal with the painful withdrawal symptoms as they fight their addiction to the medication. 

Some of the most common withdrawal symptoms include dizziness, nausea, insomnia, chills, violent mood swings, and headaches. Fighting a Xanax addiction is not something that should be attempted alone. There are ways that a health professional can help you wean yourself from the medication so that you experience as little discomfort as possible through the process. In extreme cases, it may be advisable to check yourself into a facility that can help you fight your addiction 24 hours a day.  A safe withdrawal process is the key to eliminating your dependence on Xanax. 

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