I think the unique aspect of House is that he's not addicted for pleasure, he's addicted for function. He's in pain all day, every day. If anyone was missing half their leg muscle they'd find it hard to function without pain relief as well. Wilson and Cuddy, while well intentioned, weren't looking at the root of the problem. He's not trying to get high, he's trying to work and live his daily life. Pain can stop you living a good life. Pain can make it hard to function. While he probably does need to find other sources of pain management just for his health alone, Wilson and Cuddy definitely went about it the wrong way and not thinking about the constant agony he must be in.
Thank you so much for commenting! I agree with what you say regarding pain, it can definitely stop you from living a fulfilling life. We can see that when House is off the meds, he struggles to walk more; and we can see that he does not really have any negative side effects from taking Vicodin. That is why I would not call him an addict, whether for function or pleasure. When someone has an addiction, by definition their life is very negatively impacted. Hope this makes sense.
People think that anyone who takes opioids is an addict. However many use them medically for function. You can’t deny there is such a thing as chronic pain. Used responsibly they are a life saver for many people.
I have had at least 3 pain specialists tell me opioids are the only thing for my pains because I have tried everything else. In my case it’s Percocet and MS Contin
As someone who finished all 8 seasons, I'd say that House's Vicodin usage is "consistent" from what you see in season 1. Another thought is that by the shows end (spoilers), he fakes his death, which means he doesn't have the supply of drugs he'd normally obtain through the usual means, and given that hydrocodone (or in this case opioids) have an Addiction Factor of about 5-6 on the Comparative Rating Scale, it'd be interesting to see how he deals with going cold turkey for a few weeks.
Thank you for the insight, I couldn't remember this! It would be amazing if they did a post-vicodin new series. At least I'm really enjoying re-watching the show in more details.
@@BingeAnatomy spoiler comment. Yes he faked his death in the last season because his relationship with cuddy was like an anchor and it was ruined. So house faked his death in a burning house just so he could live with Wilson who was dying of cancer.
I have to wonder if you have ever been in opiate withdrawal - after 25 years of being treated in a pain clinic I had a rather brutal eleven day withdrawal from methadone and hydrocodone. which was far worse than the chronic pain I had been suffering for four decades.
You did a great job explaining the difference between addiction and dependence. I agree, House is not an addict. He has chronic pain, a physical dependency on the medication, and a tolerance to the dosage meaning he needs higher amounts of the medication. And yes, morphine would be a better alternative - immediate and extended release - so he could use Tylenol or an NSAID separately at a safe dose. He is functioning, he thinks clearly, he is not an addict. And the statistics that I’ve seen are that only 1-3% of the population becomes addicted. With the current attitude towards narcotics and fear of addiction, there are many people with chronic pain who legitimately need medication who aren’t getting adequate treatment because of the fear of addiction and doctors’ fear of prosecution by overly zealous law enforcement who have no clue about what addiction is and how to manage pain. This brings us to the sad state of chronic pain management and palliative care (not hospice, although in the US people use those terms interchangeably when they should not. However, hospice patients are being denied adequate pain management out of a ridiculous fear of addiction - for people who are dying! But that’s another subject.) At any rate, people with chronic pain deserve to have their pain treated. As you said, addiction in chronic pain is pretty much non-existent. They aren’t high, they aren’t loopy, they aren’t even sleepy. They have a physical dependence. And that’s okay. The problem is, when you treat acute pain with a narcotic like hydrocodone or oxycodone, it should be a short course of medication - and how do you know whether that patient is in the 1-3% who will become addicted, or the 97-99% who won’t? Is there a test that could show who might carry the “addiction gene”? If there is, should someone be tested before being given a narcotic? Would it be ethical to withhold a narcotic if you have the “addiction gene”? Or would you be given pain management under very controlled circumstances? But even then, would that small course of treatment set you on a path of looking for that high again for the rest of your life? I have a friend who is in recovery and I have no concept of what it’s like to be addicted, and have taken narcotics after surgeries without any problems, so I asked him what is it that is so appealing? He said the first time - first time! - he took a narcotic it was like “a piece of my life that I didn’t even know was missing was suddenly put in place.” I don’t know what that means, to feel like that. And I am an avowed chocoholic, and have the diabetes to prove it! But even sugar/chocolate/sweets cravings don’t fill a hole in my psyche like that. Well…I certainly have written a lot here, so with apologies, I will stop. But your video was terrific! Thank you!
Thank you so much for your comment! I totally agree with the fact that it is not right to deny sufficient pain relief to palliative patients, sometimes against their wishes or their families wishes (I have heard of cases where nurses refuse to give the medication that was prescribed by doctors). I do believe that opioids are dangerous and need to be monitored, but when used carefully they are very helpful. Even more so as you mentioned for palliative patients. Genetics do play a role in addiction, but a lot of other things do as well, it will be very different form person to person. If you want to know more about causes of addiction, have a look at the video description, I linked 2 Ted Ed videos that talk about this. Thank you :)
They give him way too much crap about being addicted when he has a legit pain problem also taking the same dosages and still they constantly just give him hell. The writing obviously comes from someone who's never actually been on them or been addicted otherwise they would know what is a real addiction..of coarse there are several episodes where they prove they don't care about reality..like methadone it doesn't kill you if you miss time one dose and it's nowhere near as fatal as the show claims.
backing down is harder. it foesnt work for the pain and barely the withdrawal, and just drags it out longer. some people just do better fighting it once. and tolerance is not addiction, he just wanted wilson to stfu and quit tryin to condemn him to suffering over a media induced hysteria and a handfull of actual uncontrollable addicts.
i do eat a lot of mushrooms, LSD, and MDMA and phenytylamines(2c-b/e/i/p/t7) tryptamimes (5meo-dmt, Foxy-dipt?), and i feel i get too feel things opiater take away, so i would rather not use opiates and not be in pain... but that might be important info that might make me a little unusual opiat user.. i dunnom...
Wow, this is an interesting and really great intense look at house and his "addiction". Thumbs up and sub for this. Having a family who constantly says I am an "addict" (as I have to take many pills for many diseases), its really relieving to see someone who actually is able to take a good and unbiased look at house, but especially at opioid addiction. I (might) have some problems with tramadol abuse, yes. But for me this is not an "addiction", as all my other oills arent "addictions" either. Yes, I cant stop and dont want to take them. But its because I need them. They are pills for reducing BP, hypothyreodism, antidepressants, .... but my family still says I am "addicted". Which for me is a wrong definition. Please keep up these awesome videos, especially with house content ( I love house MD). :)
Oh yes same as me! I am a nursing student now but the first time I watched years ago, I didn't realise all the things that are wrong 😂 I try to point it out from time to time (without it becoming the focus of the video). I will definitely continue the channel, thank you so much for your support 🤗
@@BingeAnatomy woohooo med student, awesome! :) keep it up youll become a great doctor! (As long as you dont always think everybody lies and break into patients homes :P)
No otc pills for me. I quit prescription opioids myself. I was determined to cleanse my body of harmful opioids. Good luck to all of you. YOU CAN DO IT. I DID!!!
I tried to write an insightful comment about addiction and Cuddy and Wilson's lack of understanding and an appreciation of you sharing this analysis but it got auto deleted. Unfortunate overzealous moderation settings on a video about such a topic
it's a tv show😂 most people don't know that much about opioids, so on tv they make it easy as possible... so you don't learn anything about medicine.. Under strong pain over time, paracetamol is not used much, opioids... I broken my back two places and get legal heroin in Norway. I need it to function, and sometimes i get high, without it i would be in agony all the time and definitely kill myself.... So , if you have much pain, read on forums, don't trust House too much, He'w actually British that sonn of a bit h! sry about bad writing i can't ser what i write because same coulour as the background and autokorrekt as well so sry bout that....
Thank you for your view and comment it helps ❤️❤️ Actually there is research showing you can learn from medical shows, so why wouldn't you learn from a video explaining what is correct or incorrect? Here are some studies proving my point, I'll wait for yours ;)
"Respondents with a history of watching medical TV shows were more knowledgeable than those who did not (p < 0.001). Similarly, respondents with a history of watching more hours of medical TV shows were more knowledgeable than those who watched for a lesser number of hours (p < 0.001)." / Impact of medical TV shows on the surgical knowledge of non-healthcare students of Lahore, Pakistan; Azeem, S. ; Mustafa, B. ; Ahmad, A. S. ; Rashid, S. ; Farooq, M. Paris: Cambridge University Press European psychiatry, 2023-03, Vol.66 (S1), p.S961-S962
Ramirez, L., Diaz, J., Alshami, A., Varon, D. S., Einav, S., Surani, S., & Varon, J. (2021). Cardiopulmonary resuscitation in television medical dramas: Results of the TVMD2 study. The American Journal of Emergency Medicine, 43, 238-242. doi.org/10.1016/j.ajem.2020.0...
The average knowledge score of all respondents on medical terminologies was 6.80 out of 10. For respondents who had a history of watching medical TV shows, they were more knowledgeable than those without such a history (p = 0.0008). // Many hours of watching medical TV shows is associated with greater medical knowledge; Chow, Ronald ; Viehweger, Jaclyn ; Kanmodi, Kehinde Kazeem Germany: De Gruyter International journal of adolescent medicine and health, 2018-09, Vol.33 (1), Article 20180026
What a well made video. Thank you
I think the unique aspect of House is that he's not addicted for pleasure, he's addicted for function. He's in pain all day, every day. If anyone was missing half their leg muscle they'd find it hard to function without pain relief as well. Wilson and Cuddy, while well intentioned, weren't looking at the root of the problem. He's not trying to get high, he's trying to work and live his daily life. Pain can stop you living a good life. Pain can make it hard to function. While he probably does need to find other sources of pain management just for his health alone, Wilson and Cuddy definitely went about it the wrong way and not thinking about the constant agony he must be in.
Thank you so much for commenting! I agree with what you say regarding pain, it can definitely stop you from living a fulfilling life. We can see that when House is off the meds, he struggles to walk more; and we can see that he does not really have any negative side effects from taking Vicodin. That is why I would not call him an addict, whether for function or pleasure. When someone has an addiction, by definition their life is very negatively impacted. Hope this makes sense.
There is no other form of pain management for severe pain. They're the only class of drugs
People think that anyone who takes opioids is an addict. However many use them medically for function. You can’t deny there is such a thing as chronic pain. Used responsibly they are a life saver for many people.
I have had at least 3 pain specialists tell me opioids are the only thing for my pains because I have tried everything else. In my case it’s Percocet and MS Contin
As someone who finished all 8 seasons, I'd say that House's Vicodin usage is "consistent" from what you see in season 1. Another thought is that by the shows end (spoilers), he fakes his death, which means he doesn't have the supply of drugs he'd normally obtain through the usual means, and given that hydrocodone (or in this case opioids) have an Addiction Factor of about 5-6 on the Comparative Rating Scale, it'd be interesting to see how he deals with going cold turkey for a few weeks.
Thank you for the insight, I couldn't remember this! It would be amazing if they did a post-vicodin new series. At least I'm really enjoying re-watching the show in more details.
@@BingeAnatomy spoiler comment. Yes he faked his death in the last season because his relationship with cuddy was like an anchor and it was ruined. So house faked his death in a burning house just so he could live with Wilson who was dying of cancer.
I can't quite remember, but can't wait to watch it again! Thanks for the heads up 🤗
I have to wonder if you have ever been in opiate withdrawal - after 25 years of being treated in a pain clinic I had a rather brutal eleven day withdrawal from methadone and hydrocodone. which was far worse than the chronic pain I had been suffering for four decades.
Yay I would love to see more videos like this!
Thank you so much! Aiming to have one out this weekend 😀
You did a great job explaining the difference between addiction and dependence. I agree, House is not an addict. He has chronic pain, a physical dependency on the medication, and a tolerance to the dosage meaning he needs higher amounts of the medication. And yes, morphine would be a better alternative - immediate and extended release - so he could use Tylenol or an NSAID separately at a safe dose. He is functioning, he thinks clearly, he is not an addict. And the statistics that I’ve seen are that only 1-3% of the population becomes addicted. With the current attitude towards narcotics and fear of addiction, there are many people with chronic pain who legitimately need medication who aren’t getting adequate treatment because of the fear of addiction and doctors’ fear of prosecution by overly zealous law enforcement who have no clue about what addiction is and how to manage pain. This brings us to the sad state of chronic pain management and palliative care (not hospice, although in the US people use those terms interchangeably when they should not. However, hospice patients are being denied adequate pain management out of a ridiculous fear of addiction - for people who are dying! But that’s another subject.) At any rate, people with chronic pain deserve to have their pain treated. As you said, addiction in chronic pain is pretty much non-existent. They aren’t high, they aren’t loopy, they aren’t even sleepy. They have a physical dependence. And that’s okay. The problem is, when you treat acute pain with a narcotic like hydrocodone or oxycodone, it should be a short course of medication - and how do you know whether that patient is in the 1-3% who will become addicted, or the 97-99% who won’t? Is there a test that could show who might carry the “addiction gene”? If there is, should someone be tested before being given a narcotic? Would it be ethical to withhold a narcotic if you have the “addiction gene”? Or would you be given pain management under very controlled circumstances? But even then, would that small course of treatment set you on a path of looking for that high again for the rest of your life? I have a friend who is in recovery and I have no concept of what it’s like to be addicted, and have taken narcotics after surgeries without any problems, so I asked him what is it that is so appealing? He said the first time - first time! - he took a narcotic it was like “a piece of my life that I didn’t even know was missing was suddenly put in place.” I don’t know what that means, to feel like that. And I am an avowed chocoholic, and have the diabetes to prove it! But even sugar/chocolate/sweets cravings don’t fill a hole in my psyche like that. Well…I certainly have written a lot here, so with apologies, I will stop. But your video was terrific! Thank you!
Thank you so much for your comment! I totally agree with the fact that it is not right to deny sufficient pain relief to palliative patients, sometimes against their wishes or their families wishes (I have heard of cases where nurses refuse to give the medication that was prescribed by doctors). I do believe that opioids are dangerous and need to be monitored, but when used carefully they are very helpful. Even more so as you mentioned for palliative patients. Genetics do play a role in addiction, but a lot of other things do as well, it will be very different form person to person. If you want to know more about causes of addiction, have a look at the video description, I linked 2 Ted Ed videos that talk about this. Thank you :)
They give him way too much crap about being addicted when he has a legit pain problem also taking the same dosages and still they constantly just give him hell. The writing obviously comes from someone who's never actually been on them or been addicted otherwise they would know what is a real addiction..of coarse there are several episodes where they prove they don't care about reality..like methadone it doesn't kill you if you miss time one dose and it's nowhere near as fatal as the show claims.
DSM idiocy.
To be alive is to be addicted.
Addiction ranges from beneficial through benign to malignant.
Great stuff! Makes a lot of sense
I’m impressed with your video 👍👍
I just became a new subscriber 👍
Thank you so much 🤩
You’re welcome ☺️
Continue to make more of these videos, please 🙏.
Thank you
backing down is harder. it foesnt work for the pain and barely the withdrawal, and just drags it out longer. some people just do better fighting it once. and tolerance is not addiction, he just wanted wilson to stfu and quit tryin to condemn him to suffering over a media induced hysteria and a handfull of actual uncontrollable addicts.
i do eat a lot of mushrooms, LSD, and MDMA and phenytylamines(2c-b/e/i/p/t7) tryptamimes (5meo-dmt, Foxy-dipt?), and i feel i get too feel things opiater take away, so i would rather not use opiates and not be in pain... but that might be important info that might make me a little unusual opiat user.. i dunnom...
I loved hydrocodone the europhia feeling and helping people think opioid pills are a bad rap its the best
Tired is not how I'd perceive it .
Good analysis
Wow, this is an interesting and really great intense look at house and his "addiction". Thumbs up and sub for this. Having a family who constantly says I am an "addict" (as I have to take many pills for many diseases), its really relieving to see someone who actually is able to take a good and unbiased look at house, but especially at opioid addiction. I (might) have some problems with tramadol abuse, yes. But for me this is not an "addiction", as all my other oills arent "addictions" either. Yes, I cant stop and dont want to take them. But its because I need them. They are pills for reducing BP, hypothyreodism, antidepressants, .... but my family still says I am "addicted". Which for me is a wrong definition.
Please keep up these awesome videos, especially with house content ( I love house MD). :)
Thank you so much for watching and commenting
@@BingeAnatomy Thanks for your reply as well :)
Oh yes same as me! I am a nursing student now but the first time I watched years ago, I didn't realise all the things that are wrong 😂 I try to point it out from time to time (without it becoming the focus of the video). I will definitely continue the channel, thank you so much for your support 🤗
@@BingeAnatomy woohooo med student, awesome! :) keep it up youll become a great doctor! (As long as you dont always think everybody lies and break into patients homes :P)
They took the fun outta vics in 2014...the world is not the same..
No otc pills for me. I quit prescription opioids myself. I was determined to cleanse my body of harmful opioids.
Good luck to all of you. YOU CAN DO IT. I DID!!!
I used to do it kratom to get off hydrocodone/vitamin
I tried to write an insightful comment about addiction and Cuddy and Wilson's lack of understanding and an appreciation of you sharing this analysis but it got auto deleted. Unfortunate overzealous moderation settings on a video about such a topic
Oh sorry about that! I don't think I can change these settings :(
Yes! House is an addict! He’s dealing with internal pain by taking mood altering substances.
Are you a doc
No, I am a nursing student at this stage 🤗
it's a tv show😂 most people don't know that much about opioids, so on tv they make it easy as possible... so you don't learn anything about medicine.. Under strong pain over time, paracetamol is not used much, opioids... I broken my back two places and get legal heroin in Norway. I need it to function, and sometimes i get high, without it i would be in agony all the time and definitely kill myself.... So , if you have much pain, read on forums, don't trust House too much, He'w actually British that sonn of a bit h! sry about bad writing i can't ser what i write because same coulour as the background and autokorrekt as well so sry bout that....
Your definition. Well ok. Who cares - this is just entertaining fiction. He never sh-one-ts his pants. Which all addicts do often.
Thank you so much for your comment ❤️
You used a tv show thinking you're going to teach? I wouldn't take you seriously if you were a heart attack.
Thank you for your view and comment it helps ❤️❤️ Actually there is research showing you can learn from medical shows, so why wouldn't you learn from a video explaining what is correct or incorrect? Here are some studies proving my point, I'll wait for yours ;)
"Respondents with a history of watching medical TV shows were more knowledgeable than those who did not (p < 0.001). Similarly, respondents with a history of watching more hours of medical TV shows were more knowledgeable than those who watched for a lesser number of hours (p < 0.001)." / Impact of medical TV shows on the surgical knowledge of non-healthcare students of Lahore, Pakistan; Azeem, S. ; Mustafa, B. ; Ahmad, A. S. ; Rashid, S. ; Farooq, M.
Paris: Cambridge University Press
European psychiatry, 2023-03, Vol.66 (S1), p.S961-S962
Ramirez, L., Diaz, J., Alshami, A., Varon, D. S., Einav, S., Surani, S., & Varon, J. (2021). Cardiopulmonary resuscitation in television medical dramas: Results of the TVMD2 study. The American Journal of Emergency Medicine, 43, 238-242. doi.org/10.1016/j.ajem.2020.0...
The average knowledge score of all respondents on medical terminologies was 6.80 out of 10. For respondents who had a history of watching medical TV shows, they were more knowledgeable than those without such a history (p = 0.0008). // Many hours of watching medical TV shows is associated with greater medical knowledge; Chow, Ronald ; Viehweger, Jaclyn ; Kanmodi, Kehinde Kazeem
Germany: De Gruyter
International journal of adolescent medicine and health, 2018-09, Vol.33 (1), Article 20180026