First Steps

• Talking to your doctor
• Questions your doctor may ask you

Talking to your doctor

Opioid dependence is a serious, long-term medical condition that needs to be treated with as much care as any other disease. That's why one of the first steps toward managing opioid dependence is talking to your doctor. The more open you can be with your doctor, the better your doctor can help you.

When you discuss your opioid dependence with a doctor, here are some tips to make the conversation as useful as possible.

• When you set up the appointment, it's best to ask for extra time. This will communicate the importance of your visit, and give you more time to talk about such a complicated issue.
• Create a list of questions to ask the doctor so you don't forget anything.
• One way to begin your discussion is by telling your doctor how you've been feeling lately (perhaps jittery or tired).
• You may also want to share something about your emotional outlook (maybe upset, anxious, or worried) and how long you've felt that way.
• You can explain to your doctor that you're concerned about your use of opioids and think you may have become dependent.
• Be specific: Tell your doctor when you began misusing opioids, what you take, how much, and how often. If you got prescriptions from several doctors, let your doctor know this, so your care is coordinated and understood. If you crushed the pills to take them in another form, such as snorting or injecting, tell your doctor.
• If you've tried to stop using opioids and felt sick, tell your doctor, as you may have experienced withdrawal symptoms. This information will help your doctor when you proceed with treatment.
• If you have found yourself using illicit drugs, including heroin, let your doctor know. All the different chemicals in your body will affect what treatment your doctor suggests is best for you.
• Feel comfortable speaking frankly. Remember, what you tell your doctor is private and will not be shared with anyone else without your explicit permission. Your doctor will be sensitive to your concerns. And remember, privacy laws are in place to protect you.

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Questions your doctor may ask you

In order to understand the severity of your medical condition and recommend the best treatment for you, your doctor will have questions. The doctor will be looking for information to evaluate your opioid dependence—not to judge you. Here are some possible examples:

• Do you still have a medical reason to use prescription pain medication (i.e., a need for pain relief)?
• Do you take the medicine the way it was prescribed—the right number of pills and at the right times during the day?
• Have you ever used anyone else's prescription?
• Have you ever sought pain medicine from several doctors at the same time?
• Have you ever felt the need to cut down on your use of prescription opioid pain medication?
• Have you ever given up activities to use prescription opioid pain medications?
• Are you spending more time on activities to get prescription opioid pain medications?
• Do you feel sick if you can't get enough drugs, and only feel normal when you do get them?
• Do you use prescription opioid pain medication despite negative consequences?
• Do you use any illicit drugs (e.g. heroin)?

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