Pain Killer Addictions

The physical process that leads to pain killer addictions is as follows:

1. The brain responds to the presence of the pain killer by increasing the number of available receptors for the drug, so that the nerve cells in the brains stops functioning normally.

2. The body has natural pain killers called endorphins. Once pain killer medication is taken, the body reacts by ceasing the production of endorphins to receive the opiates instead.

3. Degeneration of nerve cells in the brain leads to physical dependency on an outside supply of opiates, so hat reduction or stoppage of the intake of this drug may cause painful physical changes, more commonly known as withdrawal syndrome.

When the patient approaches this point, he may continue to take the pain killer in order to avoid the changes associated to withdrawal symptoms, instead of taking it to treat the pain he originally felt. Little does he know that continually taking pain killer medication causes major changes in his brain chemistry that is not under his control. It is considered a disease, and it is a physical and chemical one, one that requires medical treatment delivered by an expert in a humane and safe environment.

It is very important to note that taking pain killer medication can in fact, only increase one's sensitivity to pain, a condition called hyperalgesia. Many patients discover that once they are off their opiate medications, their pain is actually much less than they initially thought, or that there is completely no pain anymore. This happens because long term chronic use of pain killers caused their decrease in ability to tolerate pain, as well as an increased sensitivity to any form of discomfort. After long term use, even if the injury has long gone, the intensity of pain and discomfort is increased significantly, so that patients tend to believe that they still need to continue taking the medication at much higher doses.

Also, it can be hard to distinguish between general body aches from pains caused by withdrawal symptoms. The patient might take the pill and notice that it is effective, and that it works. But in reality, the pain killer medication is actually no longer needed for the initial problem, but because he body already has become dependent on them. It is important to get off pain killer addiction immediately in order to avoid getting more physiologically dependent and so that patients can return to their normal lives again.

For more information on pain killer addictions, their effects and how to handle this addiction problem, you can visit http://www.mypainkilleraddictions.com.