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MedHelp Member's Question

addicted to oxycontin and lortabs for five years! Please help!

by Ann, Oct 06, 2000 12:00AM
Hi, i'm a very happily married woman, 37 with one son 7yrs. and a wonderful husband. I have everything to live for!  About 5 years ago, i started getting severe migranes and had an accident which injured my back and neck. I tried anti-imflammatory's and other med's for my pain to no avail.  My dr. put me on 2 80mg of oxycontin per day, and 1 10/500 of lortab every 4-6hrs. as needed for breakthrough pain.  In the five that have gone by, I've stayed on only taking 2 of the oxy's per day, but have escalated up to 10-15 lortabs per day!  About 2 weeks ago, i decided this was crazy, i'm killing myself! So I cut back on lortabs and now i'm taking about 8 per day.  My question is #1 i have no insurance, so who would help me? #2 How bad is this affecting my body ( liver, etc.)?  I don't take them to get a buzz because it does'nt even do that anymore, I take them when i get up in the morn, just like i'm taking a viteman, then have my coffee and go about a normal day consisting of keeping an immaculate home, make gourmet dinners for my husband and son, and basically I don't feel like a drug addict. I feel normal. I don't even want to think about stop taking them cold turkey, I know I could'nt do that.  I'm scared about the long term affects, but by the same token, am I really abusing them? I'm so confused!!! Please help me!! thank you, Sincerly, Ann
Member Comments (65)

by Sandi to "JB", Oct 06, 2000 12:00AM
Hi,

I unfortunatly was in the same situation with a true real medical problem..I was also taking both of the same drugs but I escalated to 10 lortab/lorcet per dose...Yes they are extremly addicting..After a couple months your body is very immune to them & getting off can be terror..However I finally admitted this week I was an ADDICT...I was caught with a bogus script..(the  script had already been filled & was caught 1 or so later)..I am now going to attend my 1st NA meeting on Sunday, I had to retain a atty but NA is there for YOU...Let me know what state you are in & I can give you a web addr to inquire about meetings...They are your best bet...I also keep a very clean home & am always cooking (stay at home mom)..I know how you feel & trust me you just took your 1st step in seeking advice/help...I fortunatly will not go to jail or face an arrest...These drugs play havic with our minds & we always think of the next dose, & were it will come from...I quit cold turkey & it has not been that bad-clean 4 days today...Hope we can become friendly to help each other through this hard time...

Sandi

by Shiny, Oct 06, 2000 12:00AM
Yes Anne your are abusing them.  I think alot of people do.  It's just hard to be on them that long and not increase your dose.  I get 100 lortab 10m and 60 20m oxycontin every six weeks and I always run out early.  Don't think you can ask the doctor for an increase, he just might cut you off.  I figure I'd rather keep the ones I have then running the risk of becoming cut off, and I have only been getting these for a year.  A good thing to do if you can is take your husband with you.  It really has worked in the past for me.  My husband dosn't know I run out early, but he knows I need them for the horrible pain.  So every now and then (especially when I thought the doctor was going to cut me off because I've been on them so long) I bring my husband with me and for some reason he listens to my husband (is this a man thing) and continues to give me my meds.  Usually though it's  good idea if you let him make the suggestion to increase your dose, just be careful.

by The Dude, Oct 06, 2000 12:00AM
Hello, I think every one who has responded is correct.  You can be abusing them, but don't stop cold turkey, ween yourself away.  Anything in excess is bad for you.  PLease go to a meeting.  I myself have run out of Percocets as of Wednesday and seem to be doing OK, but I feel the addiction kicking in. I was ready to leave my job a little while ago, and go to the hospitel and get some.  i would get fired though so I have to deal with it.  It's really hard to stop.  I know, I hope you get help.  Take Care

Chad B

by Amy to Bob, Oct 06, 2000 12:00AM
Thanks for getting back so quickly, You mean to tell me that there's someone else out there who takes as much as me? Well that's a good feeling!(not good in that way, but i don't feel so alone), My husband knows i take the oxy's and he knows i take the lortabs, just does'nt know how many lortabs i take in a day! I started today to cut it down, after coming in here yesterday and reading all these stories, it really helped!  When i got up this morning i only took 3 lortabs with my one 80mg oxy and have'nt taken anymore since the first dose at 6:30am! it's now 12:09 and i'm about to go take 2 more because i'm feeling a little funny. So Sandi and JoAnn and whoever else reads this, if you guys want to reply it would help. Thanks again, and God Bless you, I'm from New Jersey, not far from Philly

by Amy to Bob, Oct 06, 2000 12:00AM
I took my oxy this a.m. like i usually do but only took 2 lortabs with it instead of 4-5. So how i'm doin? Yea right, like a half a day is really going to matter!  Anyway, I was in here reading a lot and realized that I started feeling shitty, it was at about 12:30pm or so, Soooo i went upstairs and took my other oxy and also 3 more lortabs.  Here i'm thinking i'm doing better already and i've already taken 5 tabs within half a day! Who am i kidding? I don't know how i'm ever going to be able to get to just taking the oxy's???? ANY SUGGESTIONS? THANKS AGAIN EVERYONE! TAKE CARE AND GET BACK TO ME SOON!

by Amy to Bob, Oct 06, 2000 12:00AM
Please will someone get back to me who cares? I'd really like to talk to someone about what i'm going to do and how! I need some advise, but i'd really rather chat private one on one, Please i'm a stay at Mom and i really just would like for someone, preferrably with a lot of knowledge about this ****, to get in touch with me ASAP! i can be reached at ***@****

Sandi, or Kathy, you guys sound like you are/were both like me, please help! Sincerely, Ann

by Ginger, Oct 06, 2000 12:00AM
Hi.  I am sorry to interrupt this thread but the forum wouldn't let me post a new question because it was "full" already.  I've been reading all the posts and have wanted to share this and I know yall are gunna think I'm either lying or weird but this is true. Just because I don't use 10 ES's every day doesn't mean I'm not an addict.  I believe I am. I have not been able to completely go without hydrocodone for any period longer than 4 months. I started liking Vicodin 10 years (maybe 11?) ago when a dentist gave it to me because I had 2 root canals.  He refilled my script about 4 or 5 times, giving me 20 or 30 tab at a time.  Then, he cut me off.  I knew I liked it.  It made me forget about the pain I was going through in my life and I could talk to people and laugh.  I felt no pain.  Physical or emotional.  I have always been aware of how addicting it is so when I started to notice that I built a tolerance to 1 tablet, I would cut myself off for a few days and I made myself a rule not to take more than 2 tablets in a day.  (what a control freak huh?  Is that enslavement or what?)  My habit has been for the past year to use it twice a week.  This is a habit.  I am running out though from the doctor who has been giving it to me (it was in cough syrup the last time when I had walking pneumonia---he gave me 3 refills!)  although I take the med. in the rx'd dosage, I know there are times I took it just to feel better and therefore that makes me an addict like everyone else.  When I look back at how many years I have used this stuff pretty regularly, it makes me sick.  I have not had any hydrocodone in a week now.  I think reading this list has given me support, but I have extremely achy muscles in my back for the past 2 days.  It hurts very bad and not even Advil helps the pain.  I believe this pain to be a symptom of withdrawal and so I do not want to feed it Vicodin. I sort of wallow in guilt and punish myself saying I deserve this pain for being an addict.  I am sick.  But what can I do?  I am not ready for NA meetings because I do not want to be around ANYONE right now.  Thanks for reading this.

by Ginger, Oct 06, 2000 12:00AM
Hi.  I am sorry to interrupt this thread but the forum wouldn't let me post a new question because it was "full" already.  I've been reading all the posts and have wanted to share this and I know yall are gunna think I'm either lying or weird but this is true. Just because I don't use 10 ES's every day doesn't mean I'm not an addict.  I believe I am. I have not been able to completely go without hydrocodone for any period longer than 4 months. I started liking Vicodin 10 years (maybe 11?) ago when a dentist gave it to me because I had 2 root canals.  He refilled my script about 4 or 5 times, giving me 20 or 30 tab at a time.  Then, he cut me off.  I knew I liked it.  It made me forget about the pain I was going through in my life and I could talk to people and laugh.  I felt no pain.  Physical or emotional.  I have always been aware of how addicting it is so when I started to notice that I built a tolerance to 1 tablet, I would cut myself off for a few days and I made myself a rule not to take more than 2 tablets in a day.  (what a control freak huh?  Is that enslavement or what?)  My habit has been for the past year to use it twice a week.  This is a habit.  I am running out though from the doctor who has been giving it to me (it was in cough syrup the last time when I had walking pneumonia---he gave me 3 refills!)  although I take the med. in the rx'd dosage, I know there are times I took it just to feel better and therefore that makes me an addict like everyone else.  When I look back at how many years I have used this stuff pretty regularly, it makes me sick.  I have not had any hydrocodone in a week now.  I think reading this list has given me support, but I have extremely achy muscles in my back for the past 2 days.  It hurts very bad and not even Advil helps the pain.  I believe this pain to be a symptom of withdrawal and so I do not want to feed it Vicodin. I sort of wallow in guilt and punish myself saying I deserve this pain for being an addict.  I am sick.  But what can I do?  I am not ready for NA meetings because I do not want to be around ANYONE right now.  Thanks for reading this.

by ronnieg to ann, Oct 06, 2000 12:00AM
Ann,



Do you still have pain?

If the answer is no then you are addicted to the pain meds.



If you have pain, then you need to stop taking the lortab for breakthrough medication as the tylenol is that many tablets (15) exceeds the maximum dose of 4000mg per day.



If you still have the pain, then ask your doctor to switch you to Oxycontin IR (instant release for break through pain). It is the same pure oxycodone that is in your oxycontin but it isn't a time release formula, it is instant. However, if you are taking 80mg twice a day of the oxycontin, then the oxy IR which only comes in 5mg capsules, will not be enough for breakthrough pain. You would need to take 2 to 4  every 4 to 6 hours for the med to do its job.



If you truly have pain, do not worry about taking these meds (except for the lortab due to the tylenol).



I have been taking oxycontin for three years and I only take 20 mgs three times a day. But I need it for my pain.



Another suggestion would be for your doctor to increase your oxycontin to three doses a day instead of two with no breakthrough meds.



So do you still have pain?

by Sandi to "JB", Oct 06, 2000 12:00AM
After reading Gingers plead for info & help-I cant believe you "Ronnieg" would tell her to ask for Oxy...This women is in pain as all of us addicts are when we start withdraw, there are other meds including Ultram (not a NARCOTIC) that will help, also Prescription Motrin...I myself am an addict & have been for to many years-quit the 1st time-terribly addicted-COLD TURKEY & now I have also stoppped , for reasons you can read in the postings..GINGER PLEASE LISTEN-These drugs WILL ruin your life..And if you have a family,husband,kids it will be total hell..NA I will be attending (my 1st meeting since being clean 4 days now)will help,Just remember everyone there is an addict of one drug or another...I didnt think I could do it,but I HAVE TO much to LIVE MY LIFE FOR......I myself have had way to many breaks in the same ankle 4 times in 2 YEARS-not only breaking it in 1 place but 2 each time ,plus 4 surgeries to correct the problem, including 1 surgery that was 10 hours in lenght...Please these drugs will & can be nothing but total hell...If you want to reply (post) please do..I am here very very often (10-15 x) per day..

I hope I can help...RONNIEG I did not mean to offend you but you must understand this person is looking for help & you should know the DRUGS are NOT THE ANSWER......

Sandi