Chronic pain every day taking way to many medications
I take the following ever day - carisoprodol and vicodin and feldene and cytomel and levothroid and prilosec I'm worried that it will effect me and I am always in chronic pain that is why I take all of those.
You're taking a pain drug, a muscle relaxer, and anti-inflammatory, two thyroid drugs and a stomach acid drug. I would discard worries about the thyroid drugs because they're simply providing a substance - thyroid hormone - that your body is not producing. Thus they're only helping - I assume that there's no need to worry about long-term negative effects. (I don't know why you need to take two but I'm not a doctor. )
I note in the description of Prilosec that it says that it's not intended for long-term use - so I assumed that your doctor will at some time take you off of it.
That leaves the pain drug, muscle relaxer and the anti-inflammatory which you have to worry about long term. This is not a particularly high level of drug intake as drug intake goes. Many people are on these types of drugs for long periods of time. Of course its always good to train taper off if you can.
You might also alternative methods for managing pain: relaxation/meditation type exercises can be very helpful in pain management and can lead to a reduction in drug intake. You might want to look up MBSR on the internet for courses in this type of technique. Good luck!
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Spooky
Sunday, October 25, 2009 at 03:24 AM
Hi Brian. I too am in chronic pain all the time from a failed back surgery. I take Vicodin and Morphine and a whole bunch of other pills like blood pressure pills, antidepressant, etc. And, I too have wondered and worried about what they are doing to me. I know none of this stuff is doing our bodies like our livers and kidneys any good. I really don't have an answer for you but wonted you to know you aren't alone. I don't know how long you have been on these meds, but I have been on long enough to know that I am now an addict. Just like the guy on the street. Scary to think about, but I know it's true. What are your thoughts?
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Karen Lee Richards
Thursday, October 22, 2009 at 01:30 AM
Hi Joanna, Your comment about being an addict concerns me. If you're taking the medications as prescribed and not abusing them, you're not an addict – you simply have a physical dependence on them. That just means if you want to stop taking them, you would need to taper off gradually to avoid withdrawal symptoms. Many medications other than pain relievers also cause physical dependence – like antidepressants and blood pressure medications – but we don't think of people who take those as being addicts.
I would encourage you to read Opioids: Addiction vs. Dependence to learn more about the difference between the two.
I hope I don't sound like I'm lecturing you. I just don't want you to feel you have to accept a negative label like addict just because you need to take medication for a chronic pain problem.
joanna
Thursday, October 22, 2009 at 01:43 AM
Ms. Richards: Thank you for clearing that up. It makes me feel better.
Spooky
Sunday, October 25, 2009 at 03:27 AM
I agree. It is important to maintain the distinction between dependence and addiction. Unless you are abusing the drugs prescribed for you you are not an addict.
If the Prilosec is prescribed there is no reason not to take it as long as your prescriber feels it will benefit you--including indefinitly. The OTC is labelled for use for limited time to force people (or try to) to check with a doctor if they need this type of medication more often than occasionally so something serious can be ruled out.
I agree his/her drug load is low--esp for someone consulting a chronic pain board. As long as her doctor is monitoring regularly there's no reason to worry. If it ain't broke, don't fix it.