[header] How to recognize the signs of pain killer addiction [title] Pay attention to how many painkillers you are taking. [step] Once a tolerance is built, you take more to receive the same high that you once felt. You will also notice that you get less relief from any pain when you take your medication. 
If you notice yourself avoiding things you used to do in order to get or take pain medicine, this can be a serious sign of addiction. [substeps] A good rule of thumb is that you might have a problem if you are exceeding your doctor's dosing recommendations.