How long before you become physically dependent?

[marycarmel]

I'm asking this on two fronts.  First, my dad fractured a vertebrae in February.  Spent a week in the hospital on very high doses of narcotics.  Went to rehab where he also was on narcotics.  Came home and had been on 5 mg. oxycodone every 4 hours.  He had surgery last Friday and had more IV narcotics over the weekend.  His pain is gone, thankfully.  I'm wondering if he has a slight physical dependence.  He's having trouble sleeping and also a little queasy.

The second part is after a whole year I have finally got off all the narcotics they had me on for a number of conditions.  How we've left it is I can, if I want, take 20 mg. every 6 hours as needed.  It has taken me so long to come off everything and it was so hard for me physically.  Essentially I spent the year in mild to moderate withdrawal.  I'm not a martyr and I'm sure I'll have times where I need to take something for pain but I don't ever want to be physically addicted again.

I plan on staying off them unless the pain gets too bad but I just wonder how long it would take to get physically dependent again?  I am hoping that at most I would take something at bedtime once or twice a month, but if I do have a bad flare-up, would I become dependent if I was on medication say every 6 hours for a week?

In both our situations, neither of us have addiction; it's more physical dependence.

[marycarmel]

Thanks, guys.  I plan, if possible, to never take pain meds for more than a couple of days in a row.  I worked too hard to get off them.

As for my dad, I think his trouble sleeping and queasy stomach is from them stopping the narcotics.  I may let him go another day before giving him anything because this is Day 3 with nothing and he's likely past the worst of it.

It amazed me because we had both the neurosurgeon and the visiting nurse telling him it doesn't matter how long he's on narcotics he won't get addicted ... true.  But dependent is another thing.  I just don't want him to be uncomfortable; he's had a rough road since February.  I just don't understand how doctors and nurses can still say if you have "real" pain you won't get physically hooked.

Even though my pain has increased since I've been off the narcotics, I'd rather have the increase than keep taking them.  I'm no martyr and if I need them for a flare or for something acute, fine, but I'm just not a fan of being on something all the time.

[vicki595]

Hi Sweetie!   If you take pain meds like that, I doubt you'd become dependent again.  Your Dad is another thing...

I wouldn't be at all surprised if Dad has a physical dependence now. Not much you can really do except keep it in mind and treat symptomatically. It wouldn't hurt to give him the pain meds in a tapering fashion now. That would avoid a huge shock to his system.

We're all so different though. I took pain meds for four months, every day, when I broke my leg. Then one day I took Motrin, it worked well, and I stuck with that. No withdrawal whatsoever.  Go figure!

I'd keep an eye on Dad, which I'm certain you're doing, and give yourself a big hug!

[minn66]

If you take them regularly for any length of time you will probably be physically dependent on them. I would suggest taking them only if in a lot of pain. I am a chronic pain patient and found that while for a while my dose helped, I gradually needed more meds to get the same relief. I quit cold turkey in November and so far have stayed off of them. I personally don't want to take them. Not saying my choice is any more valid than anyone else's, just relating my story and experience.

Good luck :)