| When a person who has developed an addiction to | | | | depression. Therapy can be very helpful for this |
| pain medication decides to take charge of their lives | | | | withdrawal symptom. Group therapy that involves |
| and give up the pills, they often face a long road filled | | | | the individual's family can provide necessary and |
| with the symptoms of withdrawal. The process of | | | | crucial support. |
| being taken off the pills differs from one person to | | | | There are some pain medications that remain in the |
| another but there are common side-effects that | | | | body for longer periods of time once the individual |
| almost everyone experiences. Understanding what | | | | has stopped taking them. This naturally results in |
| they are before the process begins, can help anyone | | | | them facing a longer period where withdrawal |
| to deal with them better. | | | | symptoms may be present. In cases like this, doctors |
| The most prevalent symptom of withdrawal from | | | | may prescribe medication that helps to lessen those |
| pain pill medication is an unrelenting sense of | | | | symptoms. For an addict hesitant to take medication |
| discomfort. The reason the individual took the pain | | | | this can raise some questions. However, on the |
| pills to begin with was associated with pain. As the | | | | advice of a trusted physician, who is experienced in |
| dependency grew, they likely had to consume more | | | | the detoxification process, the medication can make |
| pills each day to dull the pain. Once the pills are taken | | | | the process much easier. |
| away, that lingering pain is often still there, and can | | | | Fighting against a pain pill addiction is a life-long |
| be more intense than ever. For this reason many | | | | struggle. One valid concern that many individuals who |
| physicians and therapists who are guiding someone | | | | have beaten this type of addiction face is the fear |
| through recovery will prescribe a non-narcotic pain | | | | that if they are ever facing surgery again or are |
| reliever to help alleviate the pain. Although these less | | | | severely injured that they will automatically become |
| powerful medications often don't provide adequate | | | | addicted to their pain relievers again. This is why it's |
| relief initially, eventually they are likely to help. | | | | essential that if this does occur that they are honest |
| Another symptom of withdrawal is deep depression. | | | | with the attending medical personnel about their |
| This is very common among addicts of all kinds. | | | | history with pain pill addiction. There are many |
| When the individual realizes that they are giving up | | | | non-narcotic prescription pain killers available that can |
| the medication crutch that they've been leaning on | | | | provide relief without the risk of addiction occurring. |
| for months, or in many cases, years, they sink into | | | | |