Many people think that drugs that are marketed as being non-addictive are safe to take. This isn’t always the case. Non-addictive drugs may not contain addictive ingredients, but that doesn’t mean that you won’t get addicted to them. The following guide walks you through a few of the risks that come with taking any medication.
You Can Overdose from a Non-Addictive Drug
Many people think that non-addictive drugs are safe to take, but don’t realize that they have to be taken properly. Every medication that is sold in a store has specific dosage guidelines listed on the packaging. It’s crucial to always follow the guidelines closely to ensure safe ingestion.
If you take the medications incorrectly, it could lead to an overdose. Your body can only digest and absorb so much of any medication at one time. If you take too many of any drug, it can lead to you overdosing, which could lead to death. Many people make the mistake of assuming that they will vomit before they overdose, but this isn’t the case. There are many people who die each year due to overdoses of drugs that are marketed as being non-addictive. You should always follow the directions on the medications if you want to be sure you are taking them safely at all times.
You Can Become Physically Addicted to the Drug
Just because a drug is marketed as being non-addictive, it doesn’t mean you can’t become addicted to it. There are many people who have aches and pains and become addicted to pain relievers because they take them so often. The people are so afraid of feeling pain that they take the medications before they even feel any discomfort.
If you find yourself constantly taking pain relievers in anticipation of pain, you may be addicted to them. Try to extend the amount of time you go without taking the pain relievers to assess if you really need them or not. You may be surprised to see how long you can actually go without taking them.
You Can Become Mentally Addicted to the Drug
There are some medications that people become mentally addicted to because they assume that their body has become accustomed to taking the drugs and are fearful of what will happen if they don’t take them. This is a mental addiction.
Many people become mentally addicted to supplements that are marketed to relieve stress and anxiety without the risk of addiction. Just because the drugs don’t contain chemicals you are addicted to, it doesn’t mean that you aren’t mentally addicted to them.
It’s also common for people to have a mental addiction if the need for the drug has been engrained in them. This is common when it comes to an addiction to allergy medications. Some people have been taking allergy medications for years because their parents told them that they suffer from allergies. In actually, many people grow out of allergies as they get older and are taking medications that they don’t actually need to be taking.
You Can Become Emotionally Addicted to the Drug
Some people become emotionally addicted to a drug because of the way that it makes them feel. They like the calm that it gives them or the fact that it makes it easier for them to sleep. There are many medications that are available over the counter that are designed for one use and the side-effects yield a completely different feeling. For instance, some people take certain allergy medicines to help them sleep rather than because they have problems with allergies.
You Can Injure Yourself by Taking Non-Addictive Drugs
Non-addictive drugs can be dangerous to take for an extended period of time. Some over the counter drugs can actually cause damage to your liver if they are taken excessively. If you find that you are taking medications on a daily basis, you need to talk to your doctor about it. Tests may need to be run to see if you have caused damage to your liver, kidneys or even your brain. Your liver can heal itself if you stop taking the drugs sooner rather than later. If there are any major issues that need to be addressed, the doctor can start treating them before they become worse and become untreatable.
You May Need Help to Stop Using Non-Addictive Drugs
If you feel that you are taking the medications more than you should or want to stop taking them and can’t on your own, you can get professional help to stop. Many people think that drug abuse rehabilitation is only available for people who are addicted to hard drugs, this isn’t true though.
A drug treatment facility will be able to help you determine what your addiction is, help you get clean from the drugs you are addicted to and help you have better control of your urges to use the drugs. Being able to take grasp of your drug use will make it easier to live a more productive life and avoid the chances of you relapsing in the future. It will take time and effort, but the dedication will be well worth it in the end.
Attempting to quit using any drug on your own that you are addicted to can be dangerous. There is always a chance that you may relapse and end up taking more of the drugs than your body can handle. In a professional environment you’ll have peace of mind that everything is monitored properly and that you are as safe as you can possibly be at all times. It provides you with the opportunity to be able to focus on your recovery fully for the best outcome possible.