Take painkillers for a long time, will it be addictive?

Headache, neck pain, toothache, back pain, joint pain, leg pain, the feeling of pain is no stranger to anyone. When dealing with common pain symptoms, people have more and more effective ways to relieve pain. With the help of painkillers, patients' pain symptoms can be alleviated and their quality of life can be improved. Admittedly, painkillers can alleviate the pain of patients, but after the widespread use of painkillers, some new problems are gradually exposed, such as drug addiction.

Can all painkillers lead to drug addiction? That was not the case. According to Gu Weiping, an inspector of the former State Administration of Pharmaceutical Products, painkillers are generally divided into two categories: "One is anti-inflammatory and analgesic drugs acting on the peripheral system, which can be purchased in pharmacies with a doctor's prescription. Commonly used are aspirin, ibuprofen and paracetamol. These painkillers are not addictive. The other is acting on the central nervous system, represented by drugs such as morphine and tramadol hydrochloride (note: these two drugs are central analgesics, but tramadol is not an opioid). Although it will be addictive, it will not be addictive if it is used under the dose of professional guidance from a doctor. "

For addictive opioids, it is not advisable to take too much. What is the approximate addictive dose? Generally speaking, the dosage should not exceed 6 tablets, and some addicts even take 50 to 60 tablets a day.

Some domestic drugs should be taken with caution because they contain opioids. In life, in addition to narcotic painkillers and sleeping pills, some common drugs, if taken for a long time, will also make people physically and psychologically dependent and addictive. Such as painkillers, antitussive drugs, etc., some of which contain addictive ingredients. If you take it at will, it is easy to get addicted to drugs unconsciously. For example, the commonly used antitussive compound licorice tablets, because the ingredients contain opioids, may become addictive after long-term use, and generally need to stop taking drugs within 5 days. Repeated use of addictive drugs can lead to physical and mental dependence. Withdrawal symptoms will appear after withdrawal, such as listlessness, yawning, body aches, insomnia and so on. In severe cases, there will be seizures and even shock. Experts remind that when patients take medicine, they must take it according to the doctor's prescription or drug instructions, and do not take it repeatedly, so as not to lead to addiction.

In short, on the issue of drug addiction, it is the key to pay attention to the types of drugs and control the dosage. Follow the doctor's advice and use drugs moderately.

This article was scientifically checked by Yin Tielun, deputy chief physician of Department of Neurology, Airport Campus of Peking University Third Hospital. He is good at treating common nervous system diseases such as cerebral infarction, cerebral hemorrhage, dizziness and headache, hypertension, coronary heart disease, diabetes, hyperlipidemia, atherosclerosis, insomnia, sleep disorder, epilepsy, facial paralysis, Parkinson's disease, peripheral nerve injury and intracranial infection.