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Question
My brother-in-law got sick and went to the hospital. He was addicted to cigarettes and a strong pain killer. Not being able to get either, he shook - a lot. I have seen that it movies also; people going through withdrawl, shake a lot.
Have you ever read as to why people shake when that happens?
Hi David,
Addiction carries some significant physical consequences, and withdrawal is one of them. Nicotine addiction is very tough to overcome due to the very strong physical dependence the body develops over time. Same is true with pain killers, and by that I'm assuming you're talking about opioid drugs like Oxycontin or Vicodin.
The shaking just tells you how hard the body is reacting to the absence of the drug in question. Same thing happens with alcoholics when they try to abstain from drinking, or attempt to detoxify themselves. But as soon as the person drinks, the symptoms diminish. Alcohol withdrawal is very risky, and people have died from it.
Hopefully your brother-in-law told the hospital staff he is a smoker and takes pain killers, so they can treat him with those addictions in mind. They of course won't encourage him to smoke as a solution to his nicotine addiction, but might give him some medication to ease withdrawals overall.
Hope this is helpful to you!
Peter
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| Rating(1-10) | Knowledgeability = 10 | Clarity of Response = 10 | Politeness = 10 |
| Comment | Yea. He is a wreck. I am not sure what pain killer he takes. I was given pain killers after my open heart surgery. I took them the first day, felt no different. Took tylenol for the next 2 days. Felt no different. So I stopped taking any pain killer after my surgery. I did not experience any addiction, highs, etc, like my brother in law describes. So I cannot relate to what he is going through now. Thanks for the information. Very interesting. | ||
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Answers by Expert:
Peter L.
Expertise
I am available to answer any questions about substance use, abuse, and dependence. I can also offer perspective on treatment options and how to motivate someone to get help. I have over 27 years of experience as a substance abuse treatment professional, working with adolescents and adults in a variety of treatment settings. I feel I can answer just about any question in this topic area but can also access reference sources, or direct you to these for additional information gathering or education on your own.
Experience
I am a professional addictions counselor working in a very highly respected treatment center, as well as having a private practice in two states.
Education/Credentials
Masters Degree in Behavioral Science
Licensed Alcohol and Drug Abuse Counselor in three states. Also an Internationally Certified Alcohol and Drug Abuse Counselor
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