[st0psign]

Anyone ever ask about this being prescribed to them? when my SI is really bad and wont go away I self harm, which releases endorphins in your brain, these are small poly peptides that at similar to morphine or other opiates, and the opiates do the same thing. so why don't they prescribe opiates for MI? they'll prescribe them for chronic pain, where the patient IS going to get addicted to them, I want them as a PRN so I don't add to my unhealthy collection of scars on my body. so potential for addiction to them is small (for how often I self harm).

Anyone had any experience with this?
Thoughts?

[ComfortablyNumb5]

Very bad idea. I played around with opiates to cope and became dependent for four years. I'll never mess with that again. Worst withdraw of my life. Besides I doubt a pdoc in their right mind would agree to that. And since it's an off label use, insurance may not cover it.

[Ocean Swimmer]

Me too. On opioids for medical reasons and took em for 10 years.
Even though I very gradually weaned off, caused a massive psychotic break.
It did help mental illness. But like RXQueen says, it's hard to get them these days.

[wildflowerchild25]

I just think the potential for abuse is too high. But my husband died from an opiate overdose so I'm very against them. He got addicted using them for pain.

[zijax]

I got addicted to them for pain and my life became very dark and narrow. They also made me terribly constipated all the time. I remember being sick all the time with stomach aches and never felt like doing anything. They didn't help my bipolar or si.

[st0psign]

maybe i'll rethink this a little bit then given your responses.... I'll still bring it up. see what pdoc thinks.

[still_crazy]

I seem to recall reading that bupenorphine (probably misspelled) and tramadol are sometimes used in psych treatment. My wild guess would be that cash only docs could be even more creative.

[Theseus]

I'm not a doctor, and I don't even play one on tv, but I'm sure there are other meds. that can be used for s.i. Opiates (direct derivatives of morphine) and opioids (they work like opiates) really are nasty when one gets right down to it. Especially if one has an addictive personality.

My orthopedic surgeon prescribed them for pain from my lumbar fusion in Nov. 2015. Yes, that's how long I have the pain, and I don't see it abating any time soon. However, I try not to take them unless absolutely necessary. I thought I might have to this morning, but so far I haven't. I do like the way they make me feel, but I fight taking them lest I become dependent on them.

How one reacts depends on one's personality. My husband, when he drank, was a nasty drunk. He frets over getting his percocet and valium. They also knock him out and make him spaced out. So much so that I want to slap the stupid out of him (but you can't, stupid just comes back ). If I get drunk, I am a goofy and happy drunk. Which is why opiates make me somewhat euphoric, and energized. We have the same orthopedic surgeon, who will not prescribe them for my husband (goes to a pain management specialist), but he will prescribe them for me. The surgeon knows our personalities.

So, the tl;dr version is, opiates and opioids are not to be used lightly.

[Theseus]

Originally Posted by wildflowerchild25

I just think the potential for abuse is too high. But my husband died from an opiate overdose so I'm very against them. He got addicted using them for pain.

I am so sorry to hear that. The same thing happened to my niece's husband. It's easy to lose track of taking them, and take too many.

[st0psign]

Thank you all for the replies. I just saw my pdoc yesterday and brought it up. I said i didnt want them, because i do have an addictive personality, and i have abused pain killers in the past... hence why i said i dont want them.

But i did ask why they werent prescribed, she said risk of addiction, so i said well the give them to people in. Chronic pain who WILL get addicted to them. I think if i werent a recovering addict they would be a good option for. PRN... but i am a recovery addict, and i dont think i could have a bottle of them sitting there and not abuse them...

So i made the wise mind choice... im proud of myself !

[bioChE]

Glad to hear you made a rational decision about them.

[bioChE]

Originally Posted by st0psign

Thank you all for the replies. I just saw my pdoc yesterday and brought it up. I said i didnt want them, because i do have an addictive personality, and i have abused pain killers in the past... hence why i said i dont want them.

But i did ask why they werent prescribed, she said risk of addiction, so i said well the give them to people in. Chronic pain who WILL get addicted to them. I think if i werent a recovering addict they would be a good option for. PRN... but i am a recovery addict, and i dont think i could have a bottle of them sitting there and not abuse them...

So i made the wise mind choice... im proud of myself !

Any word on the psilocybin?

There is a difference between addiction and physical dependence. Not every chronic pain patient becomes "addicted" to pain medications; that is a common misunderstanding and misinformation. However, a physical dependence can occur so careful management and withdrawal are important. My husband has suffered from reflex sympathetic dystrophy since 1985, and he was on oral opioid treatment for some 20 years for his neurological pain disorder and never developed an addiction at all because he was well-monitored, took the medication only as prescribed (actually less than prescribed because he was very careful about that possibility of becoming psychologically addicted), and his pain was truly a long-term chronic, neurological malady as opposed to a short-term pain issue being over-treated with overly potent opioid meds (which is where most of the addiction problems come into play)

[st0psign]

A physical dependence = addicted. They might not be psychologically addicted, but chronic pain patients who are on opiates are addicted. End of story...

No, there is a difference that experts specify:

https://www.drugabuse.gov/publicatio...-vs-dependence

Addiction vs Physical Dependence - Important distinction

Regulatory Issues & Addiction - Definitions of Addiction, Tolerance & Physical Dependence - Pain Management

That difference crucial as physical dependence is medically manageable while addiction is psychological. To call them the same thing is to imply that people in chronic physical pain have a psychological disorder. They do not. It is a hugely important distinction in the treatment of chronic pain disorders. Addicts are not good candidates for opioid therapies. Chronic pain patients are not nearly as statistically prone to psychological dependence. The difference matters.

[st0psign]

experts work in tandem with big pharma who want to push pills to make money. they'll tell you that you wont get addicted to them so the can sell more. a physical dependence is an addiction. the person may not be a drug addict, like a crack head is, but they're still addicted to the drug.

most of us on here are addicted to our meds. antipsychotics... you cant just stop taking that stuff, you'll get withdrawal symptoms. you're physically dependent on the meds at that point... you're addicted to them. like if you want to stop taking them you cant just stop, you're addicted, and have to be weaned off of them.

government, big pharma, and doctors (most of them unknowingly) want to make money, and push pill. end of story. they'll tell you ANYTHING so they can push more pills and make US think they're safe.

You are incorrect and I can see unwilling to hear and understand but I can see I'm wasting my breath.

[st0psign]

I think I get what you're saying. not everyone who is a chronic pain patient becomes a drug addict, where they'll do things like lie to their doctor to get more medication or a higher dose because they discovered the drugs made them feel good. that's what an "addict" would do.
What I'm saying is that if you are physically dependent on a drug, taking it as prescribed or not, you are addicted to that substance, physically. the addict is addicted both physically and mentally. I understand the difference, but if you're physically dependent you ARE addicted, though you may or MAY NOT be an "addict".