Am I addicted to Percocet? How would I know

[jenniferk86]

I have chiari malformation 11mm, and have had the cine and all spinal mri's but wont know the results until next monday. this all causes me severe pain, I've been taking percocet for 5 months, have not increased my dose or the amount I take,i take 7.5 three times a day or as needed for severe pain.it doesn't relieve the pain completely but makes it manageable. I do not usually feel a high effect, and I function very well on it,i couldn't function without it, its been that way before I started taking it.  I don't like the feeling if I take too much, so I def.do not take it just for fun, only for pain relief.

My question is does this mean I'm addicted to it? If I go more than 4 hours I can hardly move because I'm in so much pain, but it was this way before I stated taking them also...is this perc. withdrawal or just my chronic pain and am I addicted?  I am not sure any of you can really answer, but as pain patients, I figures some of you might have some insight?

[lu7997]

IMO as long as u have pain narcotics focus on that and are not used to give u the feel good feeling that actually causes the addiction    It I hard to be addicte to something u need.    If u do not abuse it. And are not searching for the high.  I would not worry.    It's if u would have a day where u are pain free (yeah I know that is a dream with this) but u still tak one that I would quetion it.   I have been on vicodin or a year now. And I swear my doctor thinks I like them more than I should.  I trie to explain that the only thing I liked is being in mild pain instead of debilitating pain but he still cut me back.   Too much fear of abuse with narcotics that the ones that need them question themselves.  

[Sweetheartsluv]

I agree with everyone 100% I take 10mg oxycodone 2-3 x's a day. I take it because my pain is unbearable if I don't take it. I try to go as long as possible between doses and only take it as needed because I'm already taking a strong dose. Our Chiari pain is very hard to manage even with the oxycodone it dose not get rid of my pain completely but, it does help. I honestly do not think I could function with out it because my pain would be too unbearable.

I do not think you are addicted. I think you are aware and are scared of the possibilities as we all are. Unfortunately we have to take control our pain to be able to function. I am scheduled for my surgery on 5/3. I am hoping that after my surgery the need for pain management will lessen or disappear.

I wish you the best of luck and I hope all of our answers have given you some comfort.

Krista :)    

[ajunebug]

I do think the pain is because you haven't taken your percocet - but it's not caused by withdrawal if it's the typical chiari pain you've always had. Percocet withdrawal has physical symptoms, I'm sure - but I don't think head/neck pain is one of them. You won't get rebound pain from stopping percocet, that I know of. The common Percocet withdrawal symptoms are GI problems, anxiety, nausea, insomnia, body aches, fevers, and sweats.

[jenniferk86]

I'm exactly like you june bug... I wait and see and that causes me trouble sometimes cause it takes so long to take effect... I also know I would benefit from upping my dose but I refuse to,i too stagger them and sometimes take a half but other times need two of them... I have never run out before my script is up cause I an very careful not to take too many cause I'm afraid of the pain I will face if I were to run out and not be able to get more.   I just hope I don't have to take them for the rest of my life. But I'm prepared to do that. I do not have an addictive personality,u don't really care for too much of anything. I'm noe suite worried I just wanna be sure that my pain is from my medical condition and not because I haven't taken my percocet

[ajunebug]

I take vicodin daily. I take anywhere from 2-3 pills (10-15mg) a day, on an as-needed basis. Like you, I don't really enjoy any high, nor do I feel it anymore. I used to, when I started them. But I'm acclimated to it now. I will say that they are not as effective as they used to be - however, I refuse to up my dose. It's a slippery slope. I don't think I'm addicted to them...but I do NEED them for pain. If I run out, I'm in a world of hurt by evening. In my opinion though, that's because of my chiari, not because of an addiction to the meds. I don't take them at regular intervals around the clock...partly because I don't want to get hooked to a steady stream. I try to stagger them the best I can and put myself off for a few hours when I can.

I can function on them 100% fine, I don't notice any impairment at all. No stoned or fuzzy feeling. My only side effect is itchiness if I take more than 5 mg at a time. That's pretty common, though.

I can't say for sure if you are addicted or not, but I would think if you are taking them for actual pain (and not for fun), you're probably ok. I might try to stagger them a bit more...for example, instead of every 4 hours take them every 4.5..then try every 5...but I realize that might be hard if you're in a lot of pain. I get it.

[dkdean]

In my opinion, you are not addicted....mainly b/c it is working for pain management and you have kept the dose constant.  


To give you a comparison--I struggle with pain meds due to a really high tolerance and I do feel a need to up the dosage to get it to even touch the pain.  And, on another side--I do not mind the 'high' feeling associated with pain meds--which worries me!!!!  I try not to take them (and thankfully do not need them on a daily basis) b/c I can see myself easily becoming addicted.

It is good you are aware!!  Do you have a friend or a spouse who you can share your concerns with and can help you in the event you start taking more, etc?  My husband knows my concern and I will have him pill count when I have narcotics on hand.  Just to have a system in place for me.

[selmaS]

I would think u would have other issues along with ur reg pain if u were addicted....I am by no means an expert on the topic so I really could not say....I also did not take meds  b4 my surgery as I did not want to cover up the symptoms as I was afraid I would not notice new ones.....

I was on strong pain meds for other surgeries, and noticed I could still feel my HA's, and felt it wold not be beneficial.

I would ask ur Dr, but if u r not taking them just to take them and feel u need them, u should be ok, but do have a talk with ur dr.

  "selma"