With more people than ever suffering from chronic pain, doctors are prescribing opioid painkillers in high amounts. Unfortunately, there are still many myths about painkillers and their addictiveness. These myths leave many people unprepared for the realities of life while using painkillers.

If you have questions concerning myths about painkillers, please reach out to Bayview Recovery today at 855.478.3650. Our painkiller addiction treatment program can provide you with the tools to manage addiction and chronic pain.

What Are Painkillers?

Painkillers are pills that doctors prescribe to help relieve any discomfort or pain. While painkillers may seem like a miracle worker when you are dealing with hard-to-handle pain, they can also be very addictive. It is important to set the record straight of the true dangers of painkillers and they can lead to an addiction if you take too many of them.

Myth #1: Painkillers Aren’t Addictive

There are those that feel that painkillers are not addictive. While there are some that can take painkillers and feel fine after, there are those that can develop an addiction. The opioid alkaloids in opium poppies have similar effects to heroin. Medications like Oxycodone, morphine, hydrocodone, codeine, and methadone can reduce the speed of your breathing and heartbeat if you take too many of them. You can have a physical and mental dependence on painkillers where you feel you cannot function without them. Painkillers change the way the brain receives pain by activating the opioid receptors in the brain. The dopamine in painkillers can make you feel temporary rewarding feelings of pleasure.

Myth #2: Painkillers Don’t Cause Withdrawal Symptoms

Another myth is that you cannot get withdrawal symptoms from opioids. Just like with any other addiction, you can face withdrawal as well in your body 12-30 hours after your last dose where you experience symptoms such as:

• Anxiety
• Agitation
• Sleep issues
• Stomach cramping
• Diarrhea
• Nausea
• Vomiting

Do not feel that if a doctor prescribed you painkillers that it means it is safe. It is, of course, safe when you take the prescribed dose but anything that is safe can be abused when you do not follow orders.

Myth #3: Painkillers Cure Chronic Pain

Painkillers also do not cure pain or your physical condition. It just modifies how the brain perceives the pain. People tend to develop a tolerance to painkillers where they take so much that their body is used to the effects of painkillers, making them take more and more to achieve an effect. You should also not believe that trading or borrowing painkillers from someone is safe or legal. In fact, you can face fines and jail time if you are in possession of pills that were not prescribed to you.

It is also not safe to take as a pill that can have normal effects for you can lead to an overdose for another as all painkillers are created differently. Painkillers should not be underestimated just because they are legal as they can be just as addicting as any other illicit drug. Drugs and alcohol can wreak havoc on a person’s life, so if you’re struggling with an addiction, Bayview Recovery is here to help.

Seek Treatment at Bayview Recovery

Located in Tacoma, Washington, Bayview Center’s mission is to offer clinically-driven programs and services to treat a number of conditions. We offer treatment for substance abuse disorders along with anxiety and depression using a range of therapeutic options, such as:

• Individual therapy
• Trauma therapy
• Medication therapy management
• Group therapy sessions
• Dual diagnosis therapy

We tailor each of these treatment options to the individual’s needs for a successful recovery. For more information, please call us at 855.478.3650 as we are open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.