Am I addicted to Loritab 10/500

[Nowayout89]

I have been taking 1 Loritab 10/500 twice daily for 2 years for lower back pain( ruptured disc), bilateral CPS, and knee degeneration.  When I don't take them, I feel like I'm getting the flu, and really bad all over.  When I do take them, I will break them in half,  so really I'm taking 1/2 a pill 4 times a day.  Is the dose I've been taking and length of time, enough to have me dependent on this drug?  I would like to stop taking it altogether.  Would substituting regular Tylenol 500 help.  

[sandee1818]

If you are taking it for pain control your not addicted your dependent on it for pain control. If you feel like your addicted and want to get off of it all together your doing good tapering and your on a low dose so your doing good. We have a substance abuse community and they will help you further with detoxing if that is what you want to do. Taking tylenol for pain without the lortab will be fine but do not take it with the lortab because that is too much tylenol. You have been taking the medication long enough to be dependent as I said but if it is for pain control I think your doing really good you have not upped your dose and you only take what you need. Why are you taking it?
I hope you accomplish getting off of them if that is your wish if your worried about being addicted  you should discuss it with your Dr but as I said your doing great if they are for pain control that is a long time on a low dose. We are all here for you either way so let us know if we can help.

[Mollyrae]

Hi Noway. Your body has ajdusted itself to getting the daily medication and needs to be retrained, like training a dog to do a new trick. You will have to taper off your meds. Sandee is right, the abuse community is a good place for that and like she said, go talk with your Physician, he/she will help you with the flu like symptoms. Your body will want to rebel against not having the meds and you will be uncomfortable but hang in there, there are medications to help you with that. (Abuse Community knows more about certian Meds to help you) Take care, Mollyrae

[Nowayout89]

I have been taking the loritab for my lower back pain.  I have a ruptured disc and several bulging.  Its not bad enough for surgery (yet), and the loritab does control the pain.  However, I didn't know that I could become dependent on this small a dose.  I've never taken more than 2/day.  I am now taking 1 per day cut in half.  

Also, I am currently unemployed and have applied for employment at several other places that require drug test.  I don't want this to get in the way of that. I will monitor the abuse community.  I've never considered myself a "drug addict". Only taken what he prescribed.  The DR's should inform their patients of this.

Thanks for the reply's  

[sandee1818]

Hi,
I hate to think your not taking your medication for the reason your afraid of the idea of being dependent. You are doing an incredible job at keeping your dose so low with the kind of pain you have.  You are taking this medication for a reason and are not a drug addict, your body is dependent on the pain control more than the drug itself..
Any future employers should not have a problem with your taking a prescribed medication that you need, tell them your on a very low dose and only take it when needed. You are doing an incredible job of managing your medication the way you have with the kind of pain you have, a lot of people refuse to take medications due to the way they are viewed and they assume that being dependent is being addictive and that is wrong. You have a medical problem that needs treatment and it is that simple and I hope you will do some research before deciding to give up your pain control for those reasons.
Good luck with the job search and know we are here for you if you need us:)

[fibromama]

The opiate receptors become dependant pretty quickly when it comes to opiate's.  The flu like symptoms are the typical withdrawal symptoms,your doctor can give you something short term to make you more comfortable if that what you want.  Good luck and take care

[sadie1246]

What can I say two tablets a day is nothing and if you are really taking only two for your pain you are doing great.  If at two tabs it controls it and no adverse reactions don't stop.  Yes, you are addicted but so what,  it helps.  

I take one every six hours of lorcet and I have MS I also take many other meds along with steroids.   Yes, I would say I am addicted anyone who takes it over a two or three months of continous use are.  If it helps and the doctor prescribes it,  take it.  Too many are not taking meds that are useful because of people that are not in the position of having pain or just stupid to be in pain and  are proud of the fact that they live in pain when meds are availabe.  

Yes, some use them for the way they make them feel, I suppose,  but to me, I would rather walk and stand without pain than sit in a wheelchair and cry, why me.

[sandee1818]

Physical dependence, tolerance and addiction are discrete and different phenomena that are often confused. Since their clinical implications and management differ markedly, it is important that uniform definitions, based on current scientific and clinical understanding, be established in order to promote better care of patients with pain and other conditions where the use of dependence-producing drugs is appropriate, and to encourage appropriate regulatory policies and enforcement strategies.

ADDICTION

Addiction is a primary, chronic, neurobiologicneurobiological disease, with genetic, psychosocial, and environmental factors influencing its development and manifestations. It is characterized by behaviors that include one or more of the following: impaired control over drug use, compulsive use, continued use despite harm, and craving.

PHYSICAL DEPENDENCE

Physical dependence is a state of adaptation that often includes tolerance and is manifested by a drug class specific withdrawal syndrome that can be produced by abrupt cessation, rapid dose reduction, decreasing blood level of the drug, and/or administration of an antagonist.

In the case of sedative drugs, spontaneous withdrawal may occur with continued use. Tolerance Tolerance is a state of adaptation in which exposure to a drug induces changes that result in a diminution of one or more of the drug's effects over time.

Most specialists in pain medicine and addiction medicine agree that patients treated with prolonged opioid therapy usually do develop physical dependence and sometimes develop tolerance, but do not usually develop addictive disorders. However, the actual risk is not known and probably varies with genetic