Cowboy, all narcotic medications are addictive...period. But, for those who have true chronic moderate to severe pain, addiction is rare when taken exactly as prescribed...assuming the doctor knows what the hell s/he is doing. Addiction for these patients are something like 1 or 2% with some arguing 3%. Conversely this means that 97 to 99% do not become addicted...darn good odds I'd say.

Many patients and DOCTORS get confused about addiction and dependence. For the difference check here: http://www.letstalkpain.org/real_story/addictions.html#
Be sure and click on "Let's get real about treatment."

Since 9 Jan 02 (that's SEVEN YEARS 10 MONTHS!!!) I have been using the Duragesic Patch (that contains the narcotic Fentanyl) which is many times more powerful than morphine. Since 27 Apr 07 I have been using 2 patches that equal 125mcg/h and changing them every 48 hours. And I am not addicted! Dependent, yes, addicted, no. And there is a huge difference in the two. It's hard to believe there are still doctors out there that don't understand the difference. Example, I am dependent on my heart medicine and my daughter is dependent on her diabetes meds but that doesn't mean addicted. After using Fentanyl all these years my eyes are clear, hands are steady, and I have full control of all my faculties which allows me to function normally. I drive my car without incident and have driven several cross country trips. I even walk a mile or two just about every day with only the use of my trusty cane.

Even after 21 years of idiopathic painful sensory peripheral neuropathy, my untreated pain is still a 7 to 9+ on the Mankoski Pain Scale. Using the Duragesic Patches has reduced that pain down to a tolerable 2 to 4 which I have learned to virtually ignore. I still have the numbness, pins & needles, etc., but that hard core pain is controlled...thanks to the fentanyl in my Duragesic Patches.

So, if one does indeed have true chronic moderate to severe pain, from whatever cause, do not refuse to use a narcotic pain reliever for fear of becoming addicted. You may very well become dependent but it's not likely you will become addicted and if you can find a pain med that works for you the pain relief is fantastic!!!

The word "addictive" is often misused.

Addiction means you CRAVE the drug and want more. (mostly because of euphoric effects)

Methadone does not have substantial euphoric effects, BUT, it is the only opiate that has effects on the heart. Called long QT effects and should be used carefully, and an EKG should be run before you are given it.

I have several posts all over these boards about it.

Most of the time people can be maintained affordably and safely with it. Please search this board for "methadone" and you'll see the various warnings and how to do this safely. Some doctors do NOT know this so don't expect 100% understanding about methadone.

People can be addicted to anything, including food.

Most people with legitimate pain can be maintained properly.

Then I presume we pretty much agree, mrsD?

Yes, Dan. But it should be done carefully, the pain interventions.

There are tolerance issues, etc. And there is a subset of people who develop chronic headache on them. That is because opiates stimulate release of inflammatory cytokines from the glial cells supporting the neurons. This is new information.
http://www.neurologyreviews.com/09mar/C1.html
This was discussed at the conference I attended. It is still new information.

I do think opiates should be reserved for last. I've delayed them for myself so far, luckily.

I wish Big Pharma would stop wasting time and money on ME-too drugs...and get cracking on safe pain relief.
I gag every time I see a new antidepressant, bladder control drug (all of them are of dubious efficacy), or statin.

Thanks mrsD.

Hip hip hooray for Glial Cells. Just maybe this may be the answer to pain control. I must admit that the language used at that site is way above my pay grade...but I was impressed by this: "Blocking glial activation will make opioids work better, Dr. Watkins asserted. “You will have better analgesia,” she said. “You will have less tolerance. You will have less dependence. You will have less reward linked to drug seeking and drug addiction and less respiratory depression." Now that is good ole English that even I can understand.

All that research was done on rats - let's soon get to work on applying this knowledge on homo sapiens!!! Considering the unknowns, I suspect this is many years down the road. I'll soon be 78 so am not confident I will benefit -but, hey - there will be others. Get on with it!

As for me, I've used it about 3 years now. I think my longest stretch continuously on it has been about 3 months. After that amount of time, I was just able to quit, cold turkey, and had no side effects from it. My sis-in-law is on it and maintains she is addicted - so maybe I have never used it long enough.

How does the Lyrica work? The Neurontin seems to be doing some good, but I am so nauseated and dizzy that I spend most of my time lying flat.

Blood tests show no problems with blood sugar.

I will ask my internist to refer me to Shands.

Thanks, all

[QUOTE=Swmnupstrm;587900]
How does the Lyrica work? The Neurontin seems to be doing some good, but I am so nauseated and dizzy that I spend most of my time lying flat.



***Only been at it a couple of months. 300 mg. I had such a bad experience with my last drug that I watch very carefully, particularly mental side effects. It seems to work better than my previous drugs.

***I don't know about you, but when I read the pharmacy "warnings" on Lyrica, there are many bad things that can happen. We are faced with paid relief at a cost.

Cowboy