Leftover Pills Are Handy, But Deadly.
Patients who have been prescribed a painkiller can often build up a tolerance to a drug, taking a larger dose without having serious side effects. And when their prescribed need is over, many patients will have leftover painkillers in their medicine cabinet.
At a later time, patients who pop a painkiller at the dose they were originally prescribed, or those who pass a painkiller along to an injured friend or family member, may be putting themselves or their loved ones at a greater risk for overdose or complications, including allergic reactions.
There Are Ways To Stay Clean
If you’ve been prescribed a prescription opiate painkiller, it doesn’t mean that you will become addicted. These pills do have a purpose, and they can be quite effective in managing pain that would otherwise interfere with your daily activities. However, there are some steps you should take to avoid becoming hooked:
- Take the drug as indicated. Don’t increase the dose or take the pills more frequently than prescribed.
- If you have a cold, flu, or bronchitis, let your doctor know before starting or continuing an opioid painkiller, because these drugs can make breathing more difficult. Your doctor may suggest lowering your dose or stopping the painkiller altogether.
- If you have sleep apnea, let your doctor know, because you may be at a risk for deadly complications from opioid painkillers
- Don’t mix and match. Many drug overdoses occur when there is an interaction between a prescription painkiller and another substance, such as alcohol or sedatives, anxiety medications, muscle relaxants, and anticonvulsants.
If you or a loved one suspect that you are becoming or have become addicted to painkillers, you should contact your doctor and discuss your concerns immediately. Attempting to stop painkillers cold turkey may result in severe withdrawal symptoms that, while not often deadly, can be intense and last for several weeks.
Among the symptoms, addicts may experience diarrhea, abdominal cramping, vomiting, agitation, twitching and tremors, severe bone pain, and intense craving for the drug, according to information published on Spine-Health.com. Getting help for your addiction is the first step toward recovery, and it may save your life.