7 Warning Signs Prescription Medication Use May Be Becoming a Problem
Updated: Sep 4
I didn't wake up one morning and suddenly realize I had become dependent on prescription medication.
It happened gradually.
My problems began with legitimate pain. I had been prescribed medication, and for a time I viewed it simply as part of managing that pain.
But over time, things changed.
My tolerance increased. My use increased. Prescription medication began occupying more of my attention and more of my life.
Looking back, I can see warning signs that I either didn't recognize or didn't want to recognize at the time.
Eventually, my situation contributed to a near-fatal medical crisis. I spent approximately three and a half weeks in a coma and faced a long recovery afterward.
I can't tell another person whether they have a medication dependence or substance use disorder. That's something that should be evaluated by a qualified healthcare professional.
But I can share seven warning signs I wish I had taken more seriously in my own life.
1. You're Taking More Medication Than Prescribed
This was one of the clearest warning signs for me.
Medication that once seemed sufficient no longer felt like enough.
Over time, my use escalated.
It's easy to rationalize that change when you're dealing with real pain. You may tell yourself you need a little more just to function or get through the day.
But taking medication differently from how it was prescribed deserves attention.
If you find yourself regularly taking more than directed, don't simply keep increasing the amount on your own.
Talk with the healthcare professional managing your medication.
There may be issues involving tolerance, dependence, pain management, interactions, or other medical factors that need professional evaluation.
2. You're Becoming Preoccupied With Your Medication
At some point, medication can begin occupying far too much mental space.
How many pills are left?
When can I take the next dose?
When is the next refill?
Will I have enough?
What happens if I run out?
When those questions begin organizing your day, it's worth paying attention.
Looking back, I can see how prescription medication gradually moved from being something I took for pain to something that had far too much control over my thinking.
That's a change I wish I had recognized sooner.
3. You're Hiding or Minimizing How Much You're Taking
Secrecy can be another warning sign.
Maybe you don't tell your family how much medication you're taking.
Maybe you minimize it when someone asks.
Maybe you become defensive when people close to you express concern.
When I was struggling, I didn't always see myself the way the people around me did.
That's important.
Sometimes the people who know us best recognize changes before we're willing or able to see them ourselves.
It doesn't mean every concern is automatically correct.
But if several people who care about you are noticing changes in your behavior or medication use, their concerns may be worth hearing.
4. Your Behavior or Daily Life Is Changing
A medication problem doesn't necessarily stay confined to the medicine cabinet.
It can begin affecting other areas of life.
For me, there were changes in how I lived and interacted with people.
Ask yourself whether something has changed in areas such as:
relationships
work
responsibilities
mood
social activity
judgment
daily routines
One isolated change doesn't prove that medication is the cause.
But when several parts of your life begin changing at the same time that medication use is escalating, that's worth discussing with a healthcare professional.
5. You're Having Trouble Thinking Clearly or Functioning Normally
Another thing I wish I had paid more attention to was how well I was actually functioning.
Prescription medications can affect people differently, and the effects can also change depending on dosage, other medications, alcohol or substances, medical conditions, and individual factors.
If you're experiencing significant confusion, unusual drowsiness, impaired judgment, memory problems, or other concerning changes while taking medication, don't just assume it's normal.
Talk with your doctor, pharmacist, or another qualified healthcare professional.
And if someone is difficult to wake, having trouble breathing, severely confused, or experiencing another medical emergency, seek emergency help immediately.
Some warning signs should never wait for the next appointment.
6. You're Seeking Medication Rather Than Medical Care
There's an important difference between wanting appropriate treatment and becoming focused primarily on obtaining a particular medication.
Looking backward, I can understand that distinction much better than I did while I was struggling.
If your attention has shifted from:
“How do I treat this condition?”
to:
“How do I make sure I get this medication?”
that deserves an honest look.
Maybe you're reluctant to discuss alternatives.
Maybe you're seeking additional prescriptions because you're running out early.
Maybe obtaining the medication has become more important than addressing the underlying medical problem.
Those patterns don't automatically establish a diagnosis.
But they're worth taking seriously.
7. The Thought of Running Out Creates Fear or Anxiety
This is one I understand personally.
When the amount remaining in the bottle begins determining your sense of security, something may have changed.
You count pills.
You calculate how long they'll last.
You become anxious about the next refill.
The medication isn't simply something you take anymore.
It has become something you feel you must have.
Physical dependence can occur with certain medications, including when they are taken as prescribed, so this isn't something to diagnose yourself over or feel ashamed about.
But it is something to discuss openly with the healthcare professional prescribing the medication.
Recognizing a Warning Sign Is Not a Diagnosis
This distinction is important.
Reading one or more of these warning signs doesn't mean you should diagnose yourself—or somebody else.
And it does not mean you should abruptly stop taking a prescribed medication.
Certain medications can cause serious withdrawal effects or other complications if they are suddenly discontinued.
Instead, consider the warning sign a reason to start a conversation.
Ask your healthcare professional:
Why am I taking this medication?
Is my current dose still appropriate?
What are the risks of long-term use?
Could I be developing tolerance or physical dependence?
Are there other treatment options?
If the medication needs to be reduced or stopped, what is the medically appropriate way to do that?
I wish I had asked more questions earlier.
Becoming an Active Participant in Your Healthcare
One of the biggest lessons from my experience is that patients need to participate actively in their own healthcare.
That doesn't mean distrusting every doctor or pharmacist.
It means paying attention.
Ask questions.
Keep an accurate medication list.
Make sure your healthcare professionals know what else you're taking.
Understand why a medication was prescribed.
Know what significant side effects or interactions you should watch for.
And speak up when something doesn't feel right.
Today, I believe healthcare works best when the patient and qualified healthcare professionals communicate openly and share accurate information.
Accountability Matters Too
There were circumstances surrounding my journey with prescription medication that mattered.
But there were also choices I made.
That's something I've become much more willing to acknowledge.
I don't believe recovery comes from spending the rest of your life assigning blame.
For me, it required looking honestly at the entire picture—including my own decisions.
Accountability doesn't mean believing you're beyond forgiveness.
It means recognizing what you can change and taking responsibility for what happens next.
If You're Concerned About Yourself or Someone You Love
Don't wait for a catastrophic event before taking concerns seriously.
Talk with a qualified healthcare professional.
If appropriate, ask about specialists experienced in medication dependence, pain management, behavioral health, or substance use disorders.
Talk with someone you trust.
And be honest about what's happening.
If you believe someone may be experiencing an overdose or another life-threatening medical emergency, call 911 or your local emergency number immediately.
The important thing is to act before a warning sign becomes a crisis.
Why I'm Sharing These Warning Signs
I can't go backward and change what happened to me.
I can't erase the choices I made.
I can't erase the medical crisis.
And I can't get back the approximately three and a half weeks I spent in a coma.
But I can use what happened to me differently today.
That's part of why I wrote Almost Gone: A True Story of Survival, Coma, and a Second Chance.
My memoir isn't a medical textbook or treatment guide.
It's one man's story about family, pain, prescription medication dependence, choices, consequences, survival, rehabilitation, faith, and rebuilding a life I came extraordinarily close to losing.
If sharing my experience causes one person to stop and ask an important question about their own medication use—or encourages one family to have a conversation they've been avoiding—then telling the story has value.
Don't Ignore What Your Life Is Telling You
Looking back, I wish I had recognized the warning signs sooner.
But I can't rewrite that part of my story.
I can only decide what I do with the chapter I'm living now.
If something about your prescription medication use concerns you, don't ignore it and don't try to handle a potentially serious medication issue entirely on your own.
Ask questions.
Talk to a qualified healthcare professional.
Let someone you trust know what's happening.
And remember that asking for help isn't the end of your story.
Sometimes it's the decision that allows the next chapter to begin.
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