Preparing questions in advance can help patients to have more meaningful discussions with their physicians regarding their conditions. Patients may wish to ask their doctor the following questions about tolerance, dependence and addiction:

1. How do tolerance, dependence and addiction differ?
   
   
2. Do my medications put me at risk of tolerance, dependence or addiction?
   
   
3. Should lower dosages or alternate treatments be tried to reduce my risk?
   
   
4. Is drug tolerance necessarily undesirable, or can it be a positive thing for me?
   
   
5. Are tolerance and dependence early signs of addiction?
   
   
6. What symptoms might I show if I’m going through withdrawal?
   
   
7. How can I avoid withdrawal?
   
   
8. If I become addicted, what treatments can help me?
   
   
9. Is addiction not a concern if I am severely ill and in great pain?
   
   
10. What is pseudoaddiction? Am I likely to experience it?
    
    
11. If have a history of substance abuse, are drugs such as opioids still a treatment option for me?