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Addiction: Substance Abuse Community

This community is a place to share information and support with others who are trying to stop using drugs, prescription drugs, alcohol, tobacco or other addictive substances. Discuss with others, the symptoms of addiction, addiction recovery, ways to quit like tapering and cold turkey, and withdrawal symptoms. If you are interested in general "chat", please visit our Addiction Social Community.
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Questions about coming off opiates.

by whatitistoburn, Apr 29, 2003 12:00AM
Tags: Addiction
Hi all,



I've just posted once, but have been lurking for a year and a half. You're all so kind and generous, I feel like I know some of you. This site has helped me more than you could ever know.



I was on a hefty does of Morhpine (900 mg per day) for chronic pain. I weaned myself down pretty fast, and then for 5 days, I used 5 mg. of Mehtadone, then CT. At present I am taking a couple (2)Ultram per day. I hardly went through any WD at all, except for one week of depression. I feel great now. My question is, can I take the Ultram for a week or two, or will it cause me some problems. I've heard many horror stories about Ultram, and don't want to go there. I have no cravings whatsoever, and I'm so greatful for that. Thanks for any comments or advice.



Burn
Member Comments (51)

by AmberHunter, Apr 29, 2003 12:00AM
ultram, wolf in sheeps clothing!



i think you are very lucky to be doing so well after taking such a hefty dose of morphine everyday! that is awesome... don't blow it by staying on ultram for too long... two weeks and i was pretty ill for three days... that is my experience with ultram in a nutshell!



amber

by Trying2Stop, Apr 29, 2003 12:00AM
I have been reading this board for about an hour now and felt I could post here. I am so desperately trying to get off vic/perc's. It's been a little under a year since I started. I started due to a back injury from a car accident. Anyway, to make a long story short I so desperately want to get off these things...I have tried cold turkey but it is just so hard to do, so I am going to try cutting back. I can't continue to live like this...I just can't. I really would love to have a board I can post at and feel I am amongst friends. I have 2 children, and one is only 2 years old, so it is very hard to quit...I have to be on top of my game all the time. . I really want and need help. I take about 4-6 vic/percs a day, if I have that many.  Today I took perc/10 and 1/2 of a Lorcet/10 which is really good condsidering I am usually up to 3 perc/10's by now.  I definately want to wean off, can anyone recommend a good way to do it so I can start and get what I need.  I know that I will still have discomfort but I tried CT and it just DOES NOT work for me. I really need help....Please

by whatitistoburn, Apr 29, 2003 12:00AM
Thanks doc, and Amber.



I was surprised myself that I could get off that high dose of Morphine myself, and with little to no WD.



I am terrified of the Ultram, that's why I'm only using 2 per day. It doens't work nearly as well as the morphine for pain, but helps a little. I think I'll only stay on 2 pills for this week, and then stop taking them.



I appreciate your thoughts, ideas, and answering my questions.



Burn

by whatitistoburn, Apr 29, 2003 12:00AM
To: trying2
I can so relate to how much you want to get off drugs. I hated taking them even though they were warrented. I felt like I had lost my soul, and all spiritual connection. Life was gray.



I weaned myself off of a much higher dose than you. You're lucky that you're only on 6 to 8 pills per day. I think you can taper successfully at home, just do it very slowly, and don't make any big jumps. For instance stay on 5 per day until you stabellize at that dose. Once stabelized cut one more pill out. The lower the dose the slower the taper should go. Good luck to you.



Burn

by pammy0690, Apr 29, 2003 12:00AM
I can't reccomend a good taper schedule but there are many on this board that can so I am going to leave that for the poeple who are good at it.  In my personal experience I have had the same level of usage as you and I would cut doses in half, stay at that level for a week, then cut again.   Remember the lower the slower is the rule of thumb.  If you are patient you can do it.  Once you get down to the one or two a day it gets harder.  I have been at the two a day mark for some time now and need to make the next step.  Good luck be strong and determined and most importantly take your time.  My doctor once said to me "Why are you in such a hurry with you taper schedule?"  I said "I am sick and tired of being sick and tired"  he said "well if you go to fast you will be really sick and tired."  We have been working together for a soloution.  Maybe you could talk to your doc?  Anyway I want to wish you the very best!  Pamela

by RobynBanks, Apr 29, 2003 12:00AM
To: Trying2Stop
Sounds like your doing pretty good with tapering. With children, CT is not possible (unledd you have a relative/good friend) take your child overnight on day 2. Regardless that would be tough. I suggest you keep tapering- go down 1/2 a percocet/day. The slower, the better....depemding on your financial situation and ability to get enough pills to taper slowly. Is your partner supportive?...If so, you could get him to hold the pills and dole them out every morning. I found that if I had them around, it was to tempting and I would mess up my taoering schedule. Your habit doesn't sound too bad but of course if you continue- your tolerance will rise and before you know it, your habit will have doubled. Tolerance to Percocets in particular (at least in my case) seems to rise very fast. Now would be the right time to start tapering agressively. By agressively, I mean with a strong will and determination.

Come to this board and keep posting your progress (or regression). Much support is available if you want it.

Take care , Robyn.

by Trying2Stop, Apr 29, 2003 12:00AM
Thank you all so much.  Yes, my husband is very supportive.  The thing with him is, and this is going to sound impossible, but it is true.  We both were doing herion, not for long, but long enough to really MESS ME UP.  I had HORRIFYING withdrawls, he, had NONE!!!  Nothing at all.  Same with percs...the most that happens to him is he feels drained, but b/c I always take care of the kids, he is able to take naps and feel better.  I still to this day cannont figure out how the hell he didn't have any withdraws from the herion.  He lives by the saying "mind over matter"...which leads me to believe it's true.  I will be honest, I think I will have to have him ration them out b/c I am very weak.  If I don't keep myself busy...I will take them.  I only have 1/2 a pill left for tomorrow, but I can get more, I just have to figure out a taper schedule.  I live in Pa. and the doc's here will cut you off after a certain amount of time...that is what happened to me.  So I just get them from friends.  I will beat it this time.  I am very strong willed.  I remember before when I would run out...I would get so sad and depressed that i didn't have a pill to take and scared about "what am I going to do without a pill to get me out of bed".  My w/d is purely physical this time.  I want off so bad that I am not sad about not having a pill, just in a lot of pain.  I think I will be able to taper off, and hopefully a month from now I will be free of these damn pills!!!!



I don't have anyone that can take the kids b/c only a few people know about my struggle.  I am just too ashamed to talk to anyone, and one of my closest friends is a substance abuse councelor, but I am just too ashamed to talk to her.  That is why I came looking on the web...to be able to talk to people who truely understand....and won't judge.



Thank you all so much!!



Anyone want to email me ***@****.  You can IM me too, sometimes I need a quick reply.

by pammy0690, Apr 29, 2003 12:00AM
To: Trying to quit
I live in PA too!  Pamela

by Trying2Stop, Apr 29, 2003 12:00AM
To: Pammy
Where in Pa. do you live, if you don't mind me asking.  Then you know how the dr.s are here, I really think right now the only thing they care about it their rising costs of malpractice insurance, and the fear of being sued.

by hippy, Apr 29, 2003 12:00AM
To: pa
horsham pa.



hippy, peace!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

by Trying2Stop, Apr 29, 2003 12:00AM
To: hippee and Pammy
Philadelphia here...

by hippy, Apr 29, 2003 12:00AM
i grew up in phila.

by hippy, Apr 29, 2003 12:00AM
To: trying to stop
try  the thomas's receipe here at the fourm . it works wonder for withdrawls,

l-tyrosine 500mg 8 cap a day week 1 , 4 a day weeks after.

b-6 100 mg 2 a day

a strong multi.

vita a-c- and e

calsium magnisum

copper zinc

imodium for the runs week 1

gatoraide  and bannas for restless leg pains

and lot s of hot baths at nights for leg and body pain week



to me  the 1st 3 things

and last 3 are the most important



peace !!!!!!!!!!!!!!hippy

by pammy0690, Apr 29, 2003 12:00AM
To: Hippee trytoquit
I live outside of Erie, PA which is two hours north of Pittsburgh.  Yes the doctors in PA can be a bit tight with the pen.  I work for a medical school so I am surrounded by them all day and future ones.  I was going to say Hipee is from PA too, but I see he posted to you.  Pamela

by hippy, Apr 29, 2003 12:00AM
To: pammy and TTS
this is the quaker state, better known as the purtian state,

my mother is a, quaker her famly cme to america with william penn.the middletons.



i still have a script for bup i never got filled.

i was never a doctor shopper.

when my regular doctor said no more for you,

i went to the streets.

and i work in a labor union and where there is unions there is the mob. end of story.

at least im clean and don't have to drive 60 miles round trip to south philly to buy drugs.

its nice to be clean.

the sunshine is shinier

the freash air is freasher

and  life is good,

as long as i stay out of my own way.



peace!~hippy

by MellyR, Apr 29, 2003 12:00AM
Hi, Trying2Stop, I can really relate to you. I also am trying to stop the painkillers, have two kids, am a stayathome mom. Sounds like you don't work either (outside the home, obviously raising two kids is a heck of a lot of work)? I have been taking pills for two years and am just now trying to get help. I went to a psychiatrist who was a real jerk, have an appointment to see a new counselor next tuesday, and am considering methadone or buprenex in addition. I so know what you mean about how difficult it is to quit when you have kids. If we could just have a few days to ourselves w/o the kids, it would make such a difference. As if you don't feel bad enough when you're going through CT, you have to attend to their needs and try to maintian a positive attitude and not let on that's you're just dying inside. Sigh. Do whatever you can to try to start cutting down a little now, I was at your dosage about a year ago, now I'm up to 20+Norco a day. yuck. I just wanted to let you know there's plenty of people out there who can relate. I don't know about you, but I always get stuck in that trap of wanting to get off the pills so I can be a better mother, but then when I'm off the pills, I can barely function, so then you tell yourself you need at least a few pills to take care of the kids. The people on this board are very supportive. It can be really tough trying to navigate the healthcare system, though, and get the help you need, I guess we gotta just keep trying.

by kpate50, Apr 29, 2003 12:00AM
Hi everyone, I am new here. I cant believe I found this place. Just what I need. I hve been going ct for almost 48 hours. The only person who knows about it is my husband. I have missed 2 days at work. I work for a pharmacy and I know all I have to do is give myself refills and I would be happy again. Last week everything was fine and then my world came crashing down when my sister found out that someone (me) had used her refill on her hydro. Her dr wont give her more until she files a police report and I feel so guilty. Im scared Im going to get caught. I promised GOd that if I get out of this I would stop and I have. I feel like s---. Thanks for giving me somewhere to go to know there are others like me out there.

by MellyR, Apr 29, 2003 12:00AM
kpate50- addiction makes us do things we would never otherwise do. When I think of all the lies I've told to get my pills, it makes me sick. You're not alone at all. Are you taking anything for the CT? it seems to me that sometimes the amodium ad helps with more than just the diahrea, when I took it it seemed to help with the cold sweats/chills etc but that was probably all in my head. In a way you're lucky if this does make you quit, although I'm sure you're terribly embaressed. Sometimes I wish someone would just force me to quit, although obviously I'm not going to quit until I make myself quit, I understand that it's up to me. Although I wouldn't wish this addiction and accompanying withdrawls on anyone, isn't it helpful to know other people are in this situation, too? If you're beating yourself up about what you did to get your pills, although obviously you shouldn't have done it, if it makes you feel any better, there's people who mug old ladies to get their drug money etc etc whatever any of us have done there's people out there who have done worse, and you're not alone. Try and work on recovering from your addiction and tell yourself you'll worry about making it up to your sister later. I don't know if this is coming out right, I'm just trying to say I've done a lot of things I'm ashamed of and lied through my teeth