1. I’m afraid to ask my pharmacist for help when my pain is worse than usual. I felt that my previous pharmacist suspected I was a junkie and I had to find a new pharmacy. And what if he was right ? Could I really have an addiction problem?

To find out if there’s a loss of control with the medication, check for the following behaviours:

• Non-compliance with the dosage regimen prescribed by the doctor by taking the medication earlier than scheduled or by increasing the dose;
• Using pain medication to relieve symptoms other than pain (for example, to relax);
• Trying to bring forward the scheduled refill date at the pharmacy or using the quantity prescribed more quickly than scheduled;
• Taking the medication compulsively despite wanting to comply with the prescribed dosage regimen.

If you have any doubts, it’s important to discuss them with your doctor or the health care team. There are other ways to treat pain than with opioids if they are a problem for you. Your doctor’s job is to help you manage the pain or a possible addiction problem.

It’s also important to develop a relationship of trust with your pharmacist so that you can tell him what you are going through and he can help you find solutions.