[ad404b8a372f2b9]

Opioid addiction is not like other addiction mechanisms. After prolonged use the gastrointestinal system is ravaged and when people want to stop they find themselves plagued not only with withdrawals symptoms but also by incredible abdominal pain, so they take more opioids, which worsens the pain, which requires more opioids to alleviate , which worsens the gastrointestinal damage and subsequent pain, and so on... It's a vicious circle called narcotic bowel syndrome, taking away the pain would go a long way to solving this issue.

source: Am heavy opioid user

[throwaway762762]

Just wanted to say THANK YOU for pointing this syndrome out to me. I'm almost sure I have this after years of being prescribed Tramadol for chronic abdominal pain that only ever gets worse. At first it was a life changer. Am now on the max prescribed dose, and the progression of pain seems to only accelerate each time I've upped the dose.

[iseethroughbs]

Did they at least try to figure out why you have this abdominal pain?

[ad404b8a372f2b9]

Tramadol is absolute garbage, I feel for you. I was recommended Zofran to help with the nausea and upset by people who went through the same thing but haven't tried it myself. If you manage to stop, be strong and persevere, it took me months after fully stopping for the pain to go away and to be able to eat normal foods again. My doctor had me do a few purges and I only ate small portions of rice for those months, anything else would make me sick. I was also recommended replacement shakes but haven't tried them. Best of luck.

[spfzero]

But before enough prolonged use to cause that, aren't you already addicted, for practical purposes?

[ad404b8a372f2b9]

I imagine it varies depending on the drug, the patient and the dosage. I was recently on heavy doses of morphine for 10 days and was left unable to eat normally for 4 months afterward, so it can happen quite quick.

But the point is, whether you're addicted or not, you cannot stop taking the drug. If you stop alcohol or smoking you might experience light to severe withdrawal symptoms depending on your level of use, even hospitalization. With opioids you will experiences months of crippling pain and inability to eat normally with the only remedy being more opioids. And you might not even know it's the opioids doing it because the doctors give that garbage out like candy and don't warn you about these side effects.

[spfzero]

Sorry you had to go through that. I was not aware that could happen so quickly, thanks.