Why are some opioid pain medication less habit forming than others?
Short acting (and faster onset) Opioids like Vicodin, Percodan, or codeine may feel good emotionally, and some patients are probably taking them for more than just pain, and instead for dealing with stress, anxiety, or depression. In contrast, the longer acting opioids discussed previously (like methadone or long acting morphine) comparatively don’t have the ‘rock and roll’ emotional release-effects. If the short acting opioids help your pain, watch out, as you may be prone to addiction, and using the medication for the wrong reason. If so, stress medication, or antidepressants plus counseling may be safer and more effective for you.
