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MedHelp Member's Question

Mental Addiction

by mrrstracy, Nov 22, 2002 12:00AM
I would like to know how long the mental addiction lasts after the physical withdraws are gone. And what can be done to help relieve the anxiety after opiate withdraw that always follows, without drugs. I have tried Kava Kava, melatonin, St.John's Wort and other natural minerals but haven't foung anything that works well.



Thanks,  Tracy
Member Comments (29)

by groovygirl, Nov 22, 2002 12:00AM
To: Mrrstracy
Hi - thanks for your post below.  The Dr. here will probably say the mental addiction lasts varying lengths of time.  I think it can last a long time...unfortunately.  It is definitely the hardest part of the process for me.



I wanted to say something about Buprenex, because so many people are asking about it.  It has been widely used in Europe for awhile, and new studies have shown that the addiction potential is high.  It is being sold on the streets, and people pay up to $20 an amp.  It isn't the mild, little miracle drug is is cracked up to be.  I've been on it since April, and I was just as tempted to abuse it as I was with hydros, oxys and percs.  I didn't get the same "high" kind of feeling, but I definitely felt good.  The addict in me said if 1 amp feels this good, imagine what 2 will feel like...and so on.  At one point, I was up to 8 amps per day...the clinic in FL was prescribing 6 per day - which now I find out is a ridiculous amount.  



I have experienced the SAME detox symptoms from Bup as any other opiate I've tried.  I'm not trying to discourage, I'm only pointing out that it isn't harmless.  It is stronger than morphine, and is a great pain med.  It is a lifesaver for those wanting an easier detox, but just be careful not to let the addict in you tell you to take more...less is better with Bup.   Oh, also you can NOT take any other opiate while on Bup...it will make you incredibly sick.

by Bodymechanic, Nov 22, 2002 12:00AM
To: Buprenx..Maraposa
Yes, I think we are all grabbing for a miracle.  I have been thinking about this very recently and I am concerned about simply trading one problem for another problem, only much more expensive. By comparison my drug problem is not all that bad. On a very bad day I will use 8 hydros or 8-10 ultram.  I usually take less.  I am wondering if it might not be better to just try to take the least amount of drugs I can but stay on the same meds. Do you think it is worth it to switch to bupenex if I can stay on a lower dose. I can't stand the roller coster ride of short acting drugs and I don't want to get myself into an even bigger mess with oxycontin or methadone.



I hate this whole thing.  I especially hate the fact that I spend money on myself that might be better used for my wife and child.  I make sure that they lack for nothing but it still makes me feel guilty.



by groovygirl, Nov 22, 2002 12:00AM
To: BodyMechanic
Hi - the difference Bup made for me was I switched to something that does not pass through my liver...because it is taken IM.  Plus I am taking less medication.  It is very expensive though, and I have been thinking about that a lot lately.



8-10 hydros a day is a lot of acetaphetamin (sp??) for your liver to handle for any length of time isn't it?



It is good you are putting this much thought into it, and I like your attitude about not stressing so much over the addiction thing.  For those with chronic pain, meds are just a way to live a normal life.  With all that is available to us now, we shouldn't have to live in agony.

by diso, Nov 22, 2002 12:00AM
I'm on day 12 of being clean.  I guess I should actually say it has been 12 days since I used my last opiate.  I went through a 4 day detox in the hospital and have been out a week now.  I have for the first time in my life been experiencing major insomnia.  The last three nights I have woke up at 3:00 a.m. or earlier and have been unable to return to sleep.  Is this pretty typical?  If so, does anyone have some advice?  I am worried about being prescribed a sleep aid but I am really wearing down.  I feel my lack of sleep is hindering my physical and mental recovery.  Its very discouraging.  Thanks in advance for your comments.

by tjfromnj, Nov 22, 2002 12:00AM
To: 1day
I know what you mean. I am now on day 5 of the last time I took anything. I quit everything. No Drugs (of course) Somas or Zanaflex (muscle relaxants) Cigaretts (I smoked about 10 a day for 15 years), Pot, Beer, and even Caffine (it just keeps me up, and makes the legs jimmy more). Sleep is something that I just cant seem to get yet, and I have never had a problem with it. I was a zombie when I hit the sheets. The only thing I take at night is a TyPM. I was a 2 year addict from knee surgery.

by mrrstracy, Nov 22, 2002 12:00AM
To: 1day
Your sleep problems are common so don't get worried. Do you have a Dr. that knows your addiction and can prescribe something for sleep. I had a Dr.give me trazadone to help with sleep and he said it was not a narcotic. I also occassionally take 1 tylenol PM. If I take 2, it seems to have the opposite effect and keeps me up all night. I would suggest no caffeine at least 4 hours before bedtime. Watch what you eat before bed and try to exercise or at least a walk. You'll notice that after you've been active awhile that you will be less anxious and you'll feel better. It may sound crazy too, but when I feel some anxiety or too wound up to sleep, I will count back from 100 in three's. Something like 100, 97, 94, 91, 89. My doc says it works because you have to concentrate on the numbers and your brain can't wander. Guess it's a little like counting sheep, only a little more complex. Hope you get some rest.



Tracy

by Allburnedout, Nov 22, 2002 12:00AM
To: 1Day
A hot bath (jacuzzi if you have one) will help you relax. Also, you can buy Melantonin from any pharmacy, over the counter. Melantonin is the natural chemical your body produces to induce sleep. The tabs come in 1mg and 3mg. I take 9mg about one hour before bedtime. Also, benedryl is an excellent sleep aid. I also take 1 benedryl w/ the Melantonin. I couldn't sleep until I started taking the above mentioned. Try it...it works.

by diso, Nov 22, 2002 12:00AM
Thank you all for the advice.  Its good to know that this is just the normal process.  It has also served as another reason to stay clean.  I guess if detox was easy going back to the pills would be easy too.  If feel my energy creeping back ever so slowly.  I will give the melatonin a try.  I think I want to stay away from sleeping pills right now.  I too have given up everything.  I used to smoke weed every night before bed and before the pills.  For some reason when my addiction to the pills got bad, smoking weed really freaked me out.  It pointed out to me what an addict I had become. So I naturally quit smoking.  Now for some reason, I crave the weed more than the pills.  I think my brain is trying to trick me: "Go to the weed it will get you to the pills."  Can't take that risk.  I was talking to a friend today.  He is currently in detox at a hospital.  I asked him if he could believe what we had done to ourselves.  It started so innocent.  Just a weekend high.  Now I am an addict for life.  I have a tooth that I believe is abscessing.  I probably need a root canal done.  I am now afraid that even if I am in extreme pain I must turn down any pain meds.  It sucks.  But its the situation I am in and nothing I can do will change the past.  So no more whining, just gotta accept that my brain has flipped and I am an addict.



There are a lot of great individuals here with very kind hearts.  The support and encouragement I receive by reading your posts, not just to me but to others, really has been incredible.  I found this place, like many of you, by accident.  It was right at the point that I had realized I was truly addicted.  I was scared to death.  I lurked here for a couple of months.  Slowly, and because of what I read here, I gained the courage to quit.  I am now off the opiates.  I can't give enough credit to you that post here for that.  You saved my life.  I encourage everyone, even you who lurk, to post.  It feels good to express your experiences, frustrations, pains, and triumphs.  My battle is just beginning.  But its definitely a battle worth fighting.  Yes, I feel like ****.  I wouldn't trade the way I'm feeling for a "high" right now.  I just seem to be more into life, like really living now, and THAT feels good.

by groovygirl, Nov 22, 2002 12:00AM
To: 1day
Your post is the kind of message I miss and the kind that really inspires me.  It is what keeps me coming here and makes it so helpful to others that are just beginning to think about detoxing.  



The thought of going through withdrawal is enough to make anyone in their right mind afraid, but you have shown that it can be done.  You have also proved that this place provides an invaluable service...way to go!!

by Bodymechanic, Nov 22, 2002 12:00AM
To: 1Day
The fact that you are sleeping at all is a very good sign.  I am one of the unlucky ones in that after being on methadone for 3 years I never got a normal sleep pattern back again.  That was over 20 years ago.  



Honestly, I don't think you should take anything at all. I know that sounds hard. It is a well known fact that whatever you take to make you sleep will in the long run make you worse.

by Bodymechanic, Nov 22, 2002 12:00AM
To: Maraposa
Well Maraposa if there was on online pharmacy that sold buprenx, which of course, there is not. I would order some and see what  the lowest dose I can comfortably live with.

by groovygirl, Nov 22, 2002 12:00AM
To: bodymechanic
I'm not sure why you saying that...because there actually is, but I thought I sent you an email about it already?

by diso, Nov 22, 2002 12:00AM
To: mariposa2
Thank you for your kind note.  Its interesting (and frightening) for me to think about what I was doing when I first came to this site.  I was snorting over 200mg of oxys up my nose each day.  I remember at one point thinking to myself that this was it for me, I would be doing oxys the rest of my life.  I tried cold turkey without any assistance once before, lasted about 24 hours and then gave up in uncontrollable sobs.  It was at that moment I knew I was stuck.  I came here and read dozens of posts from people that had actually broken free.  It gave me so much hope.  I wasn't ready to quit at first.  But, I knew I eventually wanted and needed to. I came here everyday.  I found so many inspiring posts.  It just convinced me it could be done.  Its interesting how hard you start cheering for someone whose real name you don't even know when you see them making their run.  Its heartbreaking to hear of their pain or in many cases their eventual inability to make it.  But