I agree with Kimmydawn. I finally found a pain specialist who practices with the goal to "improve my quality of life". I had been on so many narchotics to kill my migraine pain. That was after I had tried all the known migraine meds like imitrex & had a neck fusion because I was told it would help...the neck was actually messed up 30 yrs before by a fall over a horses ears. No Dr could find a solution to the pain, or only half way got there. I ended up in the ER every 3 days for a demoral shot (200 mg). Of course, they thought I was "drug seeking" when I was only "pain relief seeking".

I have had a pain specialist for over a year now who practices the "quality of life" concept since I have had every procedure known to mankind. He put me on 2 100ug Duragesic Fentynal patches. I was amazed that I actually felt no pain for once in the last 9 years. Quit going to the ER..guess I wasn't demoral seeking afterall...

His definition of addiction is that you use a medication for the feel you get from it (and that feel is a hign, not releif of pain). That usually means that you go through your meds before they are to be prescribed. Tolerance it when your body needs more & more of a med. If you are stable without needing an increase, then your body has not built up a tolerance. I have been on this level of patch for over a year & feel the same pain releif as I did when I started. I have never felt a "high" from it, only a releif from pain. I am on an extremely high level of narchotics, & they do blood tests for liver & kidney function. This med also effects the breathing, so they constantly check my breathing especially after being in the hospital for severe bronchitis. I really didn't want that to be a permanent part of my life, but given the choice of living with chronic migraine pain or being able to live & enjoy life...I think I will take the later.

The best thing about the patches is that I only have to change them every 72 hrs & don't have to take pills at a certain time.

I hope you come to terms with your medication because once you do, then your quality of life can really be yours.

Good luck,
Debbie