Pseudoaddiction is a term which has been used to describe patient behaviors that may occur when pain is under-treated.  Patients with unrelieved pain may become focused on obtaining medications, clock watch, or otherwise seem to be inappropriately drug seeking.  Even such behaviors as illicit drug use and deception can occur in the patient’s efforts to obtain relief.  Pseudoaddiction can be distinguished from true addiction in that the behaviors will resolve when the pain is effectively treated.

This was the case for Sharon. The clinic decided to use migraine specific medications as opiates are contra indicated for ongoing migraine treatment.  There are seven triptans (Imitrex, Maxalt, Zomig, Amerge, Axert, Frova, and Relpax) that were developed for and FDA approved as migraine abortive (management) medications. These medications work to actually stop the Migrainous process in the brain and stop the Migraine attack and its associated symptoms. 

Sharon responded well to Maxalt, but she also was put on preventative medication.  Ergotamine medications (used as vasoconstrictors for migraine prevention and are sometimes mixed with caffeine) such as DHE and Migranal; they are also FDA approved for Migraine treatment as is Midrin (a combination of acetaminophen, dichloralphenazone, and isometheptene).  Sharon was also prescribed Migranal.  Because of these two medications, her migraines were now being effectively managed.

Sharon was also prescribed an SSRI antidepressant as I implemented a cognitive behavioral therapy plan for the depression and pain-focused psychotherapy for pain management. Today Sharon is once again experiencing a great quality of life but still has nightmares about being in the treatment program.

I want to add that it is crucial to conduct multidisciplinary assessments and keep an open mind to discover whether a patient is experiencing addiction or pseudoaddiction.  Going back to my original three questions; Sharon’s general practitioner was at risk of fueling addiction and the addiction treatment program definitely sabotaged her pain management.  Sharon was experiencing pseudoaddiction—not addiction as everyone thought.  All of her addiction symptoms disappeared when she followed an appropriate and effective medication management plan, which enabled her to manage her migraines appropriately.

Another problem many people experience that leads to either pseudoaddiction or addiction is suffering.  To learn about the difference between pain and suffering please check out my article Pain is Inevitable but Suffering is Optional when Living with Chronic Pain that you can download for free on our Ariticles page.

You can learn more about the Addiction-Free Pain Management® System at our website www.addiction-free.com. If you are working with people undergoing chronic pain management and want to learn how to develop a plan for managing their chronic pain and coexisting psychological disorders including depression, addiction and other coexisting psychological disorders effectively please consider my book Managing Pain and Coexisting Disorders: Using the Addiction-Free Pain Management® System. To purchase this book please Click Here.  Also, please check out my Addiction-Free Pain Management® Workbook. To purchase this workbook please Click Here.

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