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Ha! As far as I'm aware, every drug promoted as "doesn't build dependence" turns out to build dependence. Even cocaine and diazepam used to be pitched as not de

Ha! As far as I'm aware, every drug promoted as "doesn't build dependence" turns out to build dependence. Even cocaine and diazepam used to be pitched as not dependence-forming.

danielbln 3y ago
True, though at least I can say from myself that after prolonged use not using it for a few weeks has no adverse effects (unlike classical decongestant sprays).
- rincebrain 3y ago
  Something to keep in mind is that how fast dependence builds can vary very largely between people. I have a few times taken opioids for weeks on end because I had very invasive surgery with quite extraordinary amounts of pain during recovery, and have never felt the desire to take more after the pain stopped being above a very high threshold. I've known others who have taken opioids for a couple days for something that healed much more rapidly, being very afraid to take them, and had to be sure they disposed of any left because they definitely felt the urge to take more beyond relieving immediate pain.
  - danielbln 3y ago
    Ok, but this is not an opioid, and it has no known rebound effect. The compound had been on the market and in use in consumer products for more than 20 years.
    - denton-scratch 3y ago
      > it has no known rebound effect That sounds like "famous last words". The fact that they don't know of the effects is probably because they carefully avoided looking for them. I've tried cocaine; didn't like it. I use OTC codeine/paracetamol for pain; I don't need the paracetamol, but you can't buy straight codeine OTC in the UK, so I'm forced to buy a proprietary compound. I'm never tempted to take it if I don't need it. So it probably sounds as if I'm the type who doesn't fall to addictions; but in fact I've been addicted to alcohol and nicotine for 40 years. I've tried repeatedly to quit both, and failed. There's just one psychoactive drug I've used that is definitely not addictive: LSD. If you can bear to continue tripping for more than about 3 days, it stops working, no matter how high the dose, and you won't get re-sensitized until several weeks of abstinence.
  - stordoff 3y ago
    I suspect it also varies between drugs in the same person. I've been using temazepam (as prescribed) for years, and if I don't take it for a while, it's not a huge issue - I don't crave it, and I don't have any withdrawal symptoms. Similarly with opioids - I was using them for months due to chronic pain (codeine or tramadol, again as prescribed), and when I was advised to try stopping them in case they were contributing to some other symptoms, I just stopped that day without any issue (even though the consultant said it might be "worse than quitting heroin"). On the other hand, I tried _one_ cigarette at university, and spend the next day or so with a near constant thought in the back of my head - "I should get some more cigarettes".
    - denton-scratch 3y ago
      I'm pretty sure that's not chemical dependence. The "one shot and you're a junkie" myth is a myth. I think it takes a bit of determination to get addicted to nicotine.
kridsdale1 3y ago
And heroin. And Percocet. And OxyContin.
britzkopf 3y ago
I've bad hay fever, for which an allergist prescribed corticosteroid nasal spray. When I told him I didn't want to take it until allergy season because of dependence, he told me that's not a problem and the drug will work better if I take it ALL the time. He is the medical professional I guess but I still couldn't bring myself to take that advice.
- ch4s3 3y ago
  People build weird behavioral dependencies around nasal sprays in rare circumstances, but its not a real risk. If you take enough corticosteroids long enough you can have mild withdrawals after stopping but again its not really a thing to worry about. Your doctor is right, corticosteroid nasal sprays need to be taken before the onset of symptoms to be most effective. They basally dampen the allergic response and if you already have a bunch of immune signaling molecules bouncing around its too late.

Ha! As far as I'm aware, every drug promoted as "doesn't build dependence" turns out to build dependence. Even cocaine and diazepam used to be pitched as not dependence-forming.

danielbln 3y ago

True, though at least I can say from myself that after prolonged use not using it for a few weeks has no adverse effects (unlike classical decongestant sprays).

rincebrain 3y ago
Something to keep in mind is that how fast dependence builds can vary very largely between people. I have a few times taken opioids for weeks on end because I had very invasive surgery with quite extraordinary amounts of pain during recovery, and have never felt the desire to take more after the pain stopped being above a very high threshold. I've known others who have taken opioids for a couple days for something that healed much more rapidly, being very afraid to take them, and had to be sure they disposed of any left because they definitely felt the urge to take more beyond relieving immediate pain.
- danielbln 3y ago
  Ok, but this is not an opioid, and it has no known rebound effect. The compound had been on the market and in use in consumer products for more than 20 years.
  - denton-scratch 3y ago
    > it has no known rebound effect That sounds like "famous last words". The fact that they don't know of the effects is probably because they carefully avoided looking for them. I've tried cocaine; didn't like it. I use OTC codeine/paracetamol for pain; I don't need the paracetamol, but you can't buy straight codeine OTC in the UK, so I'm forced to buy a proprietary compound. I'm never tempted to take it if I don't need it. So it probably sounds as if I'm the type who doesn't fall to addictions; but in fact I've been addicted to alcohol and nicotine for 40 years. I've tried repeatedly to quit both, and failed. There's just one psychoactive drug I've used that is definitely not addictive: LSD. If you can bear to continue tripping for more than about 3 days, it stops working, no matter how high the dose, and you won't get re-sensitized until several weeks of abstinence.
- stordoff 3y ago
  I suspect it also varies between drugs in the same person. I've been using temazepam (as prescribed) for years, and if I don't take it for a while, it's not a huge issue - I don't crave it, and I don't have any withdrawal symptoms. Similarly with opioids - I was using them for months due to chronic pain (codeine or tramadol, again as prescribed), and when I was advised to try stopping them in case they were contributing to some other symptoms, I just stopped that day without any issue (even though the consultant said it might be "worse than quitting heroin"). On the other hand, I tried _one_ cigarette at university, and spend the next day or so with a near constant thought in the back of my head - "I should get some more cigarettes".
  - denton-scratch 3y ago
    I'm pretty sure that's not chemical dependence. The "one shot and you're a junkie" myth is a myth. I think it takes a bit of determination to get addicted to nicotine.

kridsdale1 3y ago

And heroin. And Percocet. And OxyContin.

britzkopf 3y ago

I've bad hay fever, for which an allergist prescribed corticosteroid nasal spray. When I told him I didn't want to take it until allergy season because of dependence, he told me that's not a problem and the drug will work better if I take it ALL the time. He is the medical professional I guess but I still couldn't bring myself to take that advice.

ch4s3 3y ago
People build weird behavioral dependencies around nasal sprays in rare circumstances, but its not a real risk. If you take enough corticosteroids long enough you can have mild withdrawals after stopping but again its not really a thing to worry about. Your doctor is right, corticosteroid nasal sprays need to be taken before the onset of symptoms to be most effective. They basally dampen the allergic response and if you already have a bunch of immune signaling molecules bouncing around its too late.