What is physical dependence on opioids?
Your body gets used to opioids, which may lead to tolerance and physical dependence. These are not the same as addiction.
- Tolerance means that, over time, you may need to take more of the drug to get the same amount of pain relief. The danger is that tolerance greatly increases your risk of overdose, breathing emergencies, and death.
- Physical dependence means your body has become used to having opioids. And you could have withdrawal symptoms when you stop taking them. Symptoms include nausea, sweating, chills, diarrhea, and shaking. But you can avoid these symptoms if you slowly stop taking the medicine as your doctor tells you to.
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