Better Times After 50 - Side By Side

Dr Steve Mason

PSYCHOLOGIST &
CELEBRITY COLUMNIST FOR NOT BORN YESTERDAY!
AND PSYCHOLOGY TODAY

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SIBYL FARSON
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Side-by-Side - October 2009 ^{Click to Return to Current Month Discussion} Question: My doctors have been prescribing so many new medications, how do I know I won’t get addicted? I guess I’ll have to take a guess that I’m not one of those addictive personalities and if I am wrong, go to rehab.
DR. MASON Response from Dr. Mason One need hardly “guess” about their personality. Just stop and think, do you have trouble controlling your desires even when they’re sure to result in untoward consequences? Do you, for example, overeat or over-drink, overspend or never seem to get enough of a good thing? Do you have trouble maintaining balance in your life? Do you frequently make poor choices as in driving too fast or dating/marrying the wrong person? Do you have a history of failing to achieve long term goals: earning a degree; saving for a big ticket item; losing significant weight, etc.? The mature individual has supposedly gained a certain amount of insight and has learned to appreciate their strengths and weaknesses. If you truly feel that your character is in question – a matter of taking a “guess” – then you’d be wised to avoid any sort of excess that might lead to an addiction. And, if I were you, I wouldn’t put any undue faith in the power of a rehab program to set you straight. They work best for people who are not in the habit of getting into trouble in the first place. Contact Dr. Mason by email at DrSBMason@aol.com.		KRISTIN Response from Kristin Taking a new medication is akin to walking atop a picket fence. If it agrees with your body, you could be home free and feeling better soon. However, if the opposite occurs and you are felled by negative side effects, it might make you sicker. Yet, I am curious why you are concerned about addiction. A more common phenomenon – particularly among seniors – would be medication interaction. Taking so many different medications they “fight each other” instead of the problem. Normally doctors or pharmacists warn us about long term use and have made adjustments for interaction, if they have all the facts. I would recommend one err on the side of caution. Perhaps you are projecting alarm because of the media or someone else’s history. Remember, we are all biologically unique. It’s also important to know the conditions your doctors are trying to rectify. Mood altering and sleep management medication can sometimes lead to dependence, even in patients who have never previously exhibited addictive traits. And believe it or not, one of the most common addictions is the abuse of over-the-counter nose sprays. Ultimately, getting a second opinion or talking with your pharmacist may be the best solution for putting your mind at ease. Contact Kristin by email at bettertimesafter50@hotmail.com.