You must be very proactive in volunteering information to doctors in order to be prescribed safe medications for the chemically dependent. 
It is almost like they sometimes do not pay attention. Even when I have made my wishes known in hospital or doctor situations, I have been prescribed addictive medications. Here is a list of ‘safe’ medications for people who have an Addiction. Please do not be scared, shy, or embarassed in making your wishes not to be prescribed addictive mood altering drugs quite clear to medical personnel. Taking these drugs may lead to prescription pill addiction.
These are addictive medications. Here are unacceptable medications for the chemically dependent:
Antihistamines
| Benadryl Vistarail Phenergan |
| Alcohol Alcohol cough-medicine Ambien Ativan Dalmane Halcyon Klonipin Librax |
Lunesta Librium Resoril Rohypnol Sonata Tranxene Valium Xanax |
Muscle Relaxers
| Flexeril Soma |
Barbiturates
| Fiorinal/Fioricet Bellegeral Phenobarbital Nembutal Seconal Tuinal Donnatal |
Over The Counter
| Tylenol PM Excedrin PM Nyquil Contac |
Narcotics – Opiates
| Codeine Darvocet Demerol Fiorinal w/codeine Heroin Lorcet Lortab Mepergan Methadone Morphine Opium |
Oxycodone Oxycontin Percocet Percodan Roxicet Talwin Tylenol w/ codeine Tylox Ultram Vicodin |
Stimulants
| Cocaine Crystal Meth Ephedrine Ritalin Adderal Cylert Dexedrine Provigil Diet Pills Nicotine Caffeine |
Hallucinogens
| LSD PCP Ecstasy Mushrooms Marijuana/Pot |
Disclaimer Last Updated: February 1, 2007- DISCLAIMER: This information is not presented by a medical practitioner and is for educational and informational purposes only. The content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read.
Unsafe Medications for the Chemically Dependent
{ 16 comments… read them below or add one }
I feel stupid, because I’m addicted to Excedrin. I’m a mother of four. Sometimes if I run out I actually leave work to go get them. I know there bad for me and I also don’t know if this is a physical or mental addiction. I have been taking Excedrin for 6 years now and I don’t know if this is something I should get help for and even if I did I’m sure they will not take me seriously. Is there any steps I can take? Also, is this a common addiction(OTC drugs).
Ashley,
When you say “I know there bad for me”…but you continue to use them, doesn’t that sound a bit off? One of the criteria for addiction is continued use despite negative consequences or knowing the substance is harming you. I am not assessing you, but a talk with your doctor might be in order.
Bill
Nice review. I’ll be recommending my readers from http://www.eraseyourbackpain.com read this information. Thanks.
Malton
My husband and I have different views about cocaine. He says it is not addictive, I say it is physically addictive. Can you give me the correct answer? Thank you.
It is addictive.
I am on Celexa. I used to be on Paxil. In my opinion these are physically addictive. In fact, I’ve gotten off Celexa once… Paxil was even worse. I really don’t want to think about getting off of it again, to be honest. I worry that I’ll never be able to get off antidepressants. Even weaning off, as the doctor instructed, I was still hit with a number of extreme withdrawal symptoms. I’m not sure what to do about it; I’m scared that I NEED to be on them.
In regards to Excedrin addiction. In my experience it is very real, and I suspect many more people are addicted to it as pure stimulant than we are aware. I have been thooughly addicted to Excedrin for 28 years. I have consciously quit many, many times (“cold turkey” has been most successful) and have even accidentally quit because of unrelated hospitalizations 3 different times (for a triple bypass, appendicitis, and tonsilectomy), but always end up back on. For the last 2 years I have averaged 12 caplets/day. They no longer do much in the way of stimulation, but I find I MUST have them or I can’t function do to headache and extreme lethargy. I believe my addiction is part caffeine addiction, part psychological, and part physical random response. I have told all of my doctors of my problem, including my psychologist, and I have asked them if there is some sort of rehab for “Excedrin abusers” and they all give me a bemused, “Well, no . . . but you should quit.” They don’t seem to understand that something like this might be a serious addiction. Granted, it won’t kill me overnight, but I have no doubt it is killing me.
I love the two lists! I work with recovery mothers in early recovery that have thier babies with them in long term treatment. We find many times that thier doctors that do not understand addiction will readily prescribed many of these and tell patients they are not addictive(we know they can be or just a trigger for thier diesease)…such as Benadryl, lots and lots of vicdin prescribed…so with the list of safe medications we can better educate our family Dr. our patients go to and in turn educate our patients.
About Excedrin Addiction. I have been using Excedrin for 28 years for migrains. I have had doctors convince me that I need everything from Sinus Surgery to taking migaine meds to anti depressants for the headaches. Nothing helps but the Excedrin and lots of it. Doctors have never been alarmed about the Exedrin that I take daily. NOW>>> my blood test are came back with abnormal kidney function. I went to a neuphrologist and he says that it is from the years of steady Excedrin use, he told me to just stay off the Excedrin and everything will be OK>>> (yeah right?) I can’t!!!!! I can’t even go a day without taking one. I took another blood test and it came back with my liver out of wack. I am so upset with the manufacturers that push these meds and we unknowingly get addicted to them. How do I get off Excedrin????? I have tried to wein myself off it, but that doesn’t work. I tried taking half a pill at a time then down to 1/4 . Yesturday, I tried to go coldturkey…. Big mistake. A friend of mine suggested trying baby asprin ??? Somehow, I think that coldturkey will be the only way and just try to sleep through the whole thing. Anyone have any suggestions?
Concerning the Excedrin addiction. It is real, and you must quit. I was just released from the hospital after a four day stay for bleeding ulcers, after years of taking 8 Excedrin per day. This included 18 hours in ICU after my heart rate went crazy during an upper GI scope. I will never touch another Excedrin again, and it should be taken off the market.
Everyone agrees that it’s bad for you- but how do you quit? I’ve been taking it for 11 years. I don’t know how to quit. I used to take 6-10 per day, but am down to 3 per day-max. I just want to stop, but it seems impossible. What’s the best way?
this is so crazy to actually read other people with the same problem with Excedrin. im 21 years old and i started getting migrains when i was only 9 years old. my mom decided to give me excedrin. ive been hooked ever since iv e taken up to 8 pills everyday for the last 12 years. RELIGIOUSYY . ive done the math NOT GOOD . my boyfriend hates it he doesnt understand why i cant just quit. he doesnt know really how addicted to it i am. and how there is very little help for people like us. i wish there was a way. SOMEONE HELP
what do we do if we know someone with this problem?
.-= Treatment´s last blog ..How To Make Your Own Sinus Irrigation System =-.
Ok fellow Excedrin addicts. I went to the Dr last Tuesday complaining of daily headaches and stomach pain. I told the Dr I had been taking excedrin daily for at least 5 years. I never paid much attention to the habit and certainly never thought I was addicted. My Dr said that the excedrin was likely causing rebound headaches and ulcers. She told me to not excedrin or advil for 2 weeks to kick the addiction. She prescrived me the migraine medicine Imitrex to take if the headaches became really bad. I was fine Day 1. Day 2 I woke up with one of the worst headaches I’ve ever had. It lasted about 5 hours and included vomiting. I had not picked up my prescription yet and I wanted to take something real bad but did not. Rest of the day was a light to moderate steady headache. Day 2 woke up with a mild headache and headed to work, left at noon with the headache really getting bad. Took the Imitrex and crashed for 2 hours, woke up feeling good. Day 3 woke up with bad headache, took Imitrex and went back to bed for hours. Mild headached rest of day. Since then I have not taken anything and I am doing pretty well. I’m on Day 7. Heading to the gym and will not be taking excedrin or drinking cafeinated beverages ever again. It was a hard thing to do and cost me some sick days at work but I’m feeling much much better.
I was just released from the hospital after a four day stay for bleeding ulcers, after years of taking 8 Excedrin per day. This included 18 hours in ICU after my heart rate went crazy during an upper GI scope.
Wow, this Excedrin addiction is really scary. I can’t believe some of you were taking 8-12 pills every day!! I suffer from daily headaches and have been taking Excedrin for at least 11 years now. I’m down to only 1 or 2 per day, but never took more than about 3 per day at my worst. I know the headaches are related to caffeine, but I can’t kick the habit. The day-to-day suffering is just unbearable sometimes. I can’t work, drive, or really function at all with a pounding headache. I really hope I don’t regret this when I’m older, because the last thing I want are a bunch of health problems (kidneys, liver, etc) in addition to the daily headaches.