Are You Relying Too Much On Painkillers? Here's How To Tell

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Painkillers are something that everyone can fall back on from time to time. They’re handy when you have a stress-induced headache or when you’ve been injured in some way. 

However, the problem comes when you rely on them too much. Painkillers are okay occasionally and for short periods, but if you’re constantly needing them for something, that’s when trouble starts, and the risks of having to go to rehab increase significantly. 

The purpose of this post is to help you figure out whether you’re relying too much on painkillers. We look at some of the signs that you might be overdoing it and what you can do to protect yourself from harm. 

You’re Taking More Than You’ve Been Prescribed

Sometimes, your doctor will prescribe you painkillers, especially if you’ve had a surgery or you have some sort of temporary condition that causes a lot of pain. Painkillers take the edge off and make your life more pleasant while you recover. 

However, if you’re popping more pills than prescribed, that’s when you can get into trouble. Taking more than you need overloads the body and can cause damage, especially to things like the gut lining and the brain’s receptors. Unfortunately, some painkillers can lead to addictions, especially those that contain opioids, making you want to consume them more and more. 

The trick here is to track your usage, usually via an app. If you notice that you’re wanting to take more than you need, speak to your doctor about changing your prescription to something else. 

You Feel Like You Need Them To Function

Another sign that you might have an issue with your painkillers is that you feel like you need them to function. You want them to be able to get through the day. 

Again, this could be a signal of some sort of psychological or physiological dependence. If you have a strong urge, it usually means that your brain is seeking some sort of reward, and it is asking you to deliver that reward so it can continue to feel great. 

If you have this issue, look into changing your pain management solutions. Sometimes, non-drug management, like exercise, diet, and physiotherapy works more effectively. These approaches are natural, have been used for thousands of years, and are proven safe. You could also experiment with including herbs like cumin or ginger in your food. Again, these are proven safe and effective, and have a long history of usage across the globe. 

You Need More For The Same Effect

If you need more medication to get the same pain-killing effect, that could also be a sign that you’re relying on drugs to kill your pain too much. Over time, the body adapts to medications, often by processing them and breaking them down more effectively. This response is adaptive and healthy in most situations, but not when you’re relying on an external substance to maintain your quality of life. 

Usually what happens in this situation is that you escalate your dosage. You take more of a substance so that it has a greater effect on your body and, in turn, hope that that will solve the problem. However, what usually winds up happening is that you feel more dependent on it than before, and you need a higher dose to get the same effect, which could be harmful for the body. 

You’re Not Using Painkillers For Pain Issues

You might also be over-doing it if you’ve started using painkillers for something other than killing pain. A lot of people get into the habit of using painkillers for things like psychological relief, which is a path to dependency. 

The good news is that you can usually deal with this problem by speaking to a professional about the root causes of why you’re taking painkillers. Counselors and cognitive behavioral therapists can provide you with the psychological tools you need to overcome addiction and deal with stress. These approaches usually take just two or three months and at the end of it, you will often see measurable results. Ultimately, you want to prevent painkillers from becoming a crutch that you rely on just to feel normal. 

You Are Experiencing Withdrawal Symptoms

You might also be overdoing it on the painkiller front if you experience withdrawal symptoms whenever you come off them. Most painkillers actually have some withdrawal symptoms if you come off them after a long time. The most common symptoms are feeling sweaty and nauseous, being shaky or going through bouts of anxiety when you skip a dose. 

If you notice this happening, it usually means that your body has adapted to the drugs and doesn’t know what to do without them. The symptoms are the result of either the absence of the drug from your system, or your body’s lack of homeostasis, thinking that new compounds are coming when they’re not. 

If you have any of these issues, go to a medical professional like your doctor immediately. Get them to help you with your withdrawal symptoms by providing a calm environment and proper monitoring. 

Your Lifestyle Is Suffering

Finally, you might have an issue with painkillers if you notice your lifestyle has started to suffer because of them. You might notice things like digestive issues, drowsiness, mood changes, and other factors impacting your lifestyle. You could also see that it is taking its toll on your work or preventing you from having normal relationships with the people around you. 

Painkiller over-use is something that can affect lifestyle over time. The main problem is long-term health issues, like kidney damage. However, it may also increase the likelihood of addictive behaviors, putting you at risk in the future. 

If you can review your medication with your doctor, that’s a good place to start. They will tell you what's happening and whether you need to change course. Often, they will put you on a different drug if you have an ongoing condition, like surgery recovery, or they will recommend non-drug alternatives that have been proven to work just as well.