Help - Mother addicted to painkillers

LegacyUser

Hi Op and all


Going through similar with my own mother, due to an illness she has, she takes painkillers, at first prescribed them but then she has just started getting ones she can buy over counter..

at start, we knew she buying them (solphadeine) in chemists but as theyre so addictive, chemists always warn her about taking them and almost ask what are you taking them for..

now because my sister has mentioned many times about them being addictive, she is hiding the fact she takes them, i.e. dissovable ones in water. its completly clear to me.. but she thinks i dont see and i never say anything to her.
she also goes to different chemists when she buys them (we in country area) so they dont notice and also gets another family to buy them for her.
she does need some kind of pain relief but i'm 90% positive she's addicted and cant say it to her.

she's not depressed or anything like previous op but cant say anything to her..
I know there's side effects of coming off them i.e. like headaches , in which case she'll think she needs them again.

Taltos

OP - hope you don't mind but I have split your post from the other thread to give you your own one.

Taltos

orchidsrpretty

Hey op, I know a woman who is addicted to neurofen. I think some peopleunder estimate the damage prescription tablets can do. This lady has crashed her car many times etc, once the guards even found her stash in the car but didn't even ask her was on anything...
She also travels around the country to get her tabs.

Op, you need to have a serious sit down with your mum and show her some facts about addiction, along with everything else she could be giving her self an accidental over dose

blatantrereg

Apparently this is extremely common among respectable people who are a zillion miles away from the stereotype of drug users [from what I've heard from a pharmacy OTC assistant anyway.]

Sorry I dont have much else to say. I know that's not any practical help or anything. Just thought it might make you feel better in a way to mention it.

LegacyUser

I would contact your doctor to get some advice on just how damaging solpadene, specifically the paracetamol in it, can be. Large doses can wreck your liver and smaller doses over time can do the same. It the most common cause of acute liver failure in the UK.

As to how you go about convincing your mother to stop I'm not so sure, but knowing how dangerous overuse can be might help you convince her.

Best of luck

LegacyUser

Thing is she knows how dangerous they are, my sister is a psych nurse and has said it to her on many occasions, and that's why she's hiding it. again today, subtly put into glass of water, not thinking i'd seen. i'm thinkin of saying to chemist because i dont know if doctor would do anything, patient privacy etc.

Ickle Magoo

How do you know what a doctor would do/say unless you try? If I was really worried about my mother and her health then her/my doctor would absolutely be my first port of call.

Think you should call in and see what the doctor has to say OP...think it would be much more useful than a general chat with a pharmacist.

All the best.

LegacyUser

samestoryMe wrote: »

Thing is she knows how dangerous they are, my sister is a psych nurse and has said it to her on many occasions, and that's why she's hiding it. again today, subtly put into glass of water, not thinking i'd seen. i'm thinkin of saying to chemist because i dont know if doctor would do anything, patient privacy etc.

Is there something your sister can do considering she is a psych nurse? Does she not have any connections in the hospital or ask someone who works in the addictions unit what to do and how to proceed?