Warning Signs of Prescription Drug Addiction

Many people wonder about the warning signs of prescription drug addiction. There are telltale signs to look for if you have concerns that a loved one is addicted to prescription drugs. Below is a list of some of the warning signs to look for. If your loved one matches this profile, then talk with a professional about how to help your loved one recover from her prescription drug addiction.

Medications Disappearing

• In the beginning, prescription drug addiction can become apparent by medications disappearing from the cabinet. Medications that do not belong to the addict are at risk as well as over-the-counter drugs.

Multiple Doctor Appointments

• As the accessible supply decreases, the prescription drug addict requires multiple doctors to continue receiving new prescriptions. A warning sign might be an increase in doctor appointments over a short period of time.

Disrupted Sleep Patterns

• Disrupted sleep patterns is a big warning sign of prescription drug addiction because the medicines typically involve some type of sleep agent. The prescription medications cause extreme sleep cycles, such as sleeping too much or not enough.

Increased Alcohol Consumption

• Depending upon the prescription drug of choice, alcohol consumption can be a warning sign. The addict might drink more alcohol to maintain normal sleep cycles as well as to bring himself "down" from a "high."

Irritability

• Normal situations cause abnormal amounts of irritability responses within the addict. Irritability can also be attributed to the need to find her next fix.