You, like many people, may have begun taking pain pills to
address a knee injury or aching back. Initially, there was no cause for
concern. The pain was reduced and your daily activities could commence as per
usual. Why worry? After all, the medication you take is prescribed by a
licensed physician – How bad could it be? Unfortunately, these substances carry
a high risk of dependency with long-term use. If your pain medication use seems
to have spiraled out of control, it’s important you seek help as quickly as
possible.
Instructions
1 – Discuss your concerns with the doctor. Avoid catering to
any feelings of embarrassment of guilt. With your physician’s help, organize a
plan of action. The intensity and length of your withdrawal will ultimately
depend on the amount of time you have
been taking the medication.
2 – Enroll in a drug addiction detox
program. Any attempt to stop taking the medication abruptly – without proper
care – could result in a variety of symptoms, including seizures, tremors,
anxiety, sleeplessness, depression and suicidal thoughts.
3 – Make a commitment to at least 7 – 10 days of medically
monitored detox. Once you’re admitted to the facility, an addiction counselor
will guide you through a thorough exam to inspect your vital signs and obtain a
basic idea of how long you will need to remove the drugs from your system.
4 – Communication is key. Be sure to keep a log of any symptoms
you experience, and provide them to your doctors and counselors. Typical
symptoms include mood swings, anxiety, sadness, aches and fatigue. If these
symptoms begin to escalate, you must inform your physicians immediately.
5 – Locate a local area Narcotics Anonymous (NA) treatment
program and begin attending meetings on a daily basis. Addiction recovery is a
life-long struggle, and you’ll need all the support you can get.
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