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- $Unique_ID{BRK00350}
- $Pretitle{}
- $Title{Use of Someone Else's Codeine Prescription}
- $Subject{codeine pain medications Community social prescription prescriptions
- medicine medicines medication narcotic narcotics addictive addicted addict
- addiction behavior lifestyle behaviors lifestyles}
- $Volume{Q-23, R-23}
- $Log{}
-
- Copyright (c) 1991-92,1993 Tribune Media Services, Inc.
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- Use of Someone Else's Codeine Prescription
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- QUESTION: I am a 40 year old woman who for the past three months had been
- taking a prescription (someone else's): codeine tablets for a back problem.
- The problem has since gone, but I have come to enjoy the effects of the drug.
- Am I in any way doing harm to myself? I take about 4-6 tablets every day.
- Thank you for your reply.
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- ANSWER: Frankly speaking, you are breaking every rule in the book, and may be
- in serious trouble. The first no-no is to take another person's prescription
- medicine. No such medication is safe without the examination and testing that
- leads to the diagnosis that precedes any consideration of possible medication.
- Second, you are taking a powerful medicine without a physician to counsel and
- guide you. Third, and most important in your case, you are taking a potent
- narcotic, an addictive substance, merely for the enjoyable effects, rather
- than to suppress pain. All signs point to the possibility that you may
- already be hooked. I wonder to myself how you are obtaining the drug for this
- length of time? At any rate, the time has come to quit, which may be more
- difficult than you imagined, but either alone or with help and guidance, you
- must stop before further damage is done.
-
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-
- The material contained here is "FOR INFORMATION ONLY" and should not replace
- the counsel and advice of your personal physician. Promptly consulting your
- doctor is the best path to a quick and successful resolution of any medical
- problem.
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