Is it possible I am an addict?

[rhumatoidnorcouser]

I have Rhumatoid arthritus and have been taking Norco 10/325 for many years maybe four. I never used to run out before the time to refill my meds but now after like two weeks I am out and scared of what I will do with out them! I only take 4-7 a day my perscription is for 4 aday. My husband is allways on my case bout the meds he allways says "you taking another pill!" I have alllways thought he was being dramatic untill I found this website!  I have been an addict before I was addicted to meth for many years I had to go to rehab and had  alot of problems and did alot of bad things to alot of people including my self. I have never really consdered my perscription to nocro a danger but what my question is at what point do you decide you need to stop taking the only relief from pain that you have? I have liver problems from when I used to take the medication for R/A called Enbrel it shut my liver down and now there is a short list of meds that I am able to take. Please help me honestly figure uot what to do?

[ZJILLIAN]

I think the problem is one never stops being an addict. I was an alcoholic and addict and would move from drug to drug stopping one to later pick up another. From your history I would say you are an addict. From your tendency to escalate the number of pills you are taking....an addict. I think in posting the comment on this site you probably already knew the answer to your question.

What to do about pain management I will leave to someone else to comment on. But the disease of addiction never goes away; you don't get better; you stay clean. Many people on this site have chronic pain and they can give you information on what has worked for them.

Please keep posting on this forum and reading other posts. I found that the most helpful thing.

[mtswife]

Hi there! I'm new toposting on this forum also. It has helped me a great deal and it has certainly been an eyeopener to how taking prescribed medication doesn't always mean you take it as prescribed. I am on vicodin 7.5 mg, 4 X a day for a knee and back injury. Well, I was on 4 a day. In the last 6 months I've went from taking prescribed dose to taking double, sometimes triple or more. Yes, that's approx. 75 to 95 mg a day. Not many people ever intend to take too many or be addicted. All you ever want is for the pain to stop. If you are taking more than your prescribed dose, it's probably not good. I can't tell you if you're an addict. Today I started weaning. I am an addict. I love these little white pills, but they don't love me. They control me, I'm staring at the clock right now wishing it was time for my next dose(my husband is helping me wean by hiding them and yes, I've searched for them all day). Stay on this forum for a bit, reading everyone else's posts have helped me more than I can say. Good luck to you. I'm sorry I'm not a whole lot of help. But, if you need to talk, I'm here often and will be posting regularly.