Posted by ShelliR on April 11, 2001, at 16:30:08
In reply to Re: opiates , posted by dougb on April 11, 2001, at 14:49:10
Doug, I am not meaning to judge you, and at some points during the last year when my therapist and pdoc gave me hard times about the hydocodone, I also thought: well, the worst that can happpen is I become dependent, or addicted. And then I will get unaddicted. But I'm not going to spend the rest of my life depressed, on the possibility of addiction. Therefore, I continued the hydocodone. So I do understand.The thing about the six pack of beer every night example, is that in your example after two years you are not drinking 50 six packs of beer.
I agree some antidepressants do seem to be addictive (nardil, which I take isn't, since I can get off easily with no side effects.) But generally ADs have a ceiling over which an increase is not going to increase the sense of feeling good so there is a limit to the addiction possible. (BTW, I call it addiction if there is a negative physical response in discontinuing the drug/med--I don't always associate addiction with inappropriate or negative behavior).
> I think real addiction (and i've seen it) is where you are hocking the furniture, don't have food in the fridge for the kids or are indulging in front of the kids, missing work or getting high during the day, etc, etc.
>The problem with dependence or addiction or whatever you want to call it is when you get up to a large dose and you can't get it from doctors, then at what point do you begin to sell the furniture to buy it on the street, or become involved with deception to keep your level up. I am more skeptical than you are about the consequences.
It seems like this is the way you have decided to go, and although it might not necessarily be my choice, you seem to feel confident of the choice you have made. So I hope it works for you We all make decisions about our lives and live with the consequences.
Shelli
poster:ShelliR
thread:57821
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20010411/msgs/59455.html