My boyfriend has a heart condition that is acting up so they've given him some pain meds. In highschool he was addicted to them and took them mainly for fun but since then he has avoided them (even when he cracked his ribs). I have no doubt that right now he needs them but I don't know how to tell if he start's to abuse them, or what to do if he does. I know this is his own battle, but I want to know how I can best support him
Hello. I'm not familiar with heart conditions that require narcotic pain medicine but it's possibke, I just don't know. But if he does have addiction issues, probably.....probably, he should not use this class of drugs. This is a tough call, this is your boyfriend, and so calling his doctor may be inappropriate, but as this is primarily a health issue, the answers lie in the health arena. Keep a good eye on him for sure, because let's all be honest here, we know how tempting and how easy it is to slip right into the wrong place.
While you can't do everything, I would have a plan of what you would do, should this start going the wrong way. It's the kind of thing that would have to be addressed sooner than later.
he has multiple problems with his heart but right now its the muscle over his heart or his lungs thats is causing him pain. first they gave him muscle relaxers, and now hes on some kind of steroids along with a low dose of vicodin. I think he only takes it as needed, and is not every 4 hours, but thats only an I think. What should I start to be worried about? Taking more or more often? And if I do sense somethings wrong, how can I address it in a way that will actually help him and not just piss him off. He can be quite defensive, just in general, and I don't want to upset him. I've tried to talk to him about it a little bit, but he always insists that it's such a low dose he's fine and changes the subject
Ok, I won't get into the medical so I just don't know about the need for vicodin for this....perhaps some Internet research is in order but let's put that aside. If he starts going to more than one doctor, or "loses" them and needs to refill quicker....those would be signs for sure. If he's finishing his prescription too quickly....that would be a sign.
As narcotics go, vicodin is maybe in the middle range. Actually, if someone is taking 5, 10, 15 a day, it's the Tylenol in it that damages health. But let's put that aside....
If his pupils are pinpricks, if he seems like he's sorta goofy high/drunkish but not drinking....or zoning out....these would all be signs of abuse.
Ok so if that point comes, approaching him is of course the tough navigation of it all. It's tough when it's "boyfriend/girlfriend" because there's no legal tie. If it's a marriage, now you can really say "hey, no....this is my life too and you either go to rehab or....."
In these cases, sure, one party can just say no, goodbye. ......and that my dear is where the rubber meets the road and the tough choices are made.