Every Time Is The Last Time

Question

I am a 24 year old male, and while some doctors see that as a red flag in most cases, I am well spoken, dress professionally, am married with children, and have a legitmate problem. I have had 4 root canals within the last 4 months. Meanwhile I've become addicted to Vicodin Es. and Percocet. I don't know what to do. I've even addressed my primary care physician of the trouble im having getting off them. She gave me more to get me down to fewer and fewer each day. However, I just keep taking 6-8 a day. I don't know what to do anymore. This is the worst problem I've ever had. I have no history of addiction, dependancy, or alcoholism. Rehab in my opinion is not an option. While my job would have no keep me, I know in the back of their minds it would prevent me from moving up the ladder as fast as I would like. Besides, they would only see me as a liar, for I have told them I barely took pain medications. Does anyone have a success story of taking 4 than 2 than 1 and getting off with few problems. My doctor gave Atenolol for the stress and high blood pressure. Thank you for your time.

StrugglinginFL · Answer

You might want to tell your doctor that you are having problems tapering off, there's no shame in saying it. Your doctor probably won't just say ok well I'm cutting you off then. There are certain things you can be given to help coming off of them.

I was taking about 10-14 percocets a day. Tapering down can be done, it's just having the will and strength to make yourself do it is the hardest part. I tapered myself all the way down to 3 a day before i completely stopped.

They gave me something to help me sleep and some catapres (sorry if spelling is off) patches which help with the w/d symptoms a little.


Whatever you end up doing, good luck with it.

bowhunter71064 · Answer

dude just tell your doc i dont want any more and it sounds like you dont get off street and you havent been on them for very long.if you want to ween go ahead if you go c/t thats how i did it youll suffer for a couple of days but youll make it make sure to tell your doc you dont want anymore thats what i did. been 5 days pill free and patch free the bowhunter

LIZZIE LOU · Answer

you stated that you were married. does your wife know of your addiction?  if so and you'd rather try to taper instead of going c/t, then give your pills to your wife to dispense to you...there are alot of suggestions on this site to help with withdrawals.  by the sound of your post, you haven't been taking them very long so better to get control of the situation NOW before they get even more control of you.

CATUF · Answer

I had success in tapering from what at the time was about a 12/day of 10/500 hydros.  It did it by taking a whole pill only the first thing in the am and using 1/2 a tab for each scheduled dose for the rest of the day.  Then I decreased by 1/2 a tab each day, with a slight increase in the time between the 1/2 tab doses so that I took the first and the last at the same time.  The only way I got through this was by giving the entire supply to my brother, who could be trusted to NEVER give me extra and to not take them himself.

The problem was that after all that work getting clean, I relapsed as I had so many time before.  I lasted longer that time, but once I started again it didn't really matter - I was off to the races again.

The reason you can't seem to stop is that your brain chemistry has been FUBAR'd.  Unless you get that straightened out its very difficult to stop and miserable to stay stopped.  I would recommend the following books that will help in that regard:

1. End Your Addiction Now, by Charles Gant;
2. Staying Clean & Sober, by Merlene & David Miller; and
3. The Mood Cure, by Julia Ross

You might also look into the issue of PAWS (Post Acute Withdrawal Syndrome) at:
http://www.tlctx.com/ar_pages/paw_part1.htm

Every Time Is The Last Time

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