One thing to consider and investigate when you are planning to take a prescription drug is whether or not it is habit forming in nature. Prescription drugs, according to the National Institute of Health, can “alter the brain’s activity and lead to dependence and possibly addiction.” Addiction is not something that you want to endure. Two issues that may arise are physical dependence and potential drug abuse.

Withdrawal

You know how your head begins to ache when you’ve gone without your morning cup of coffee? This is because your body is used to that morning dose of caffeine and is struggling desperately to function without it. Withdrawal comes from what the Mayo Clinic calls physical dependence. You can have physical dependence without being addicted to the drug. Your body has just become so used to having the drug in your body that it is hard for it to function without it. To prevent the pain of withdrawal, the patient should be taken off of the medication slowly.

Drug Abuse

The addictive nature of some drugs creates in a person the desire to either misuse them, or take them for longer than the doctor ordered. When you have an addiction to something, you may not care if it harms you or not. Thus, you may do rash things such as take prescriptions that are not yours, forge prescriptions, or misuse current prescriptions.

Preventing Drug Addiction

According to the Mayo Clinic, a drug addict “uses a drug compulsively, despite the fact that it causes them harm.” This is the point when you want to overcome your addiction, but you can’t control the overwhelming cravings. The Mayo Clinic also notes that addictive disorders follow the branches of the family tree. Chances are that if you have family members who are addicted to a substance, you may also have the same troubles. Be aware of your family history, and be honest with your doctor.

Be aware of the addictive nature of prescription drugs and keep the lines of communication open with your doctor.