addiction

by tom to rick, Jan 27, 2001 12:00AM

first of all, congratulations if you've been vicodin-free for 4 weeks already! Boy, you're home free from a physical aspect. I'd recommend participating in at least one form of aerobic exercise, such as jogging, biking, lap swimming, cross-country ski-machining if you have one, step-mastering, any exercise that puts a large percentage of your muscle mass (your arms, legs, etc) in continuous motion with sustained high-rate of breathing for at least 20 uninterrupted minutes at least 3 days a week. This and good nutrition and vitamins will put your body right in no time. Aerobic exercise is also a good mood elevator and relaxer.

However, if you were psychologically addicted to vicodin, that is, you used it even when you didn't have pain just to sustain a high, and you're still craving the drug now, then you should contact an AA or any 12-step group and go to some meetings. This will rehabilitate the way you think about using vicodin and help you stay clean and focus your thoughts on constructive things.

But, hell, four weeks clean! For a lot of us on this forum that is a distant goal not yet attainable.

Anyway, that's my advice. Ask some more people. But think about what I've said. Good luck to you.

by Vicodin Gurrl to Dan, Jan 27, 2001 12:00AM

Hello, I am new to this forum, and found it through searching under "Addiction". I do not currently have one, and that is what I am writing about. I have had migraine headaches for as long as I can remember, and now have had for the past six months severe, debilitating chronic daily headaches as a result of a terribly "botched" lumbar puncture (actually numerous lumbar punctures repeated within one day!) and have sought help from a chronic pain specialist. She has prescribed Oxycontin 40mg to take either 2x daily or up to every 8 hours if necessary. She has also given me something called OxyIR which he told me is like Percocet without the Tylenol in it to take up 1-2 every 6 hours as needed for "breakthrough pain" . I have been taking Vicodin for this pain, a lot every day in order to function. I just started the other 2 medications listed above and they are making me very tired and extremely itchy, but not "high" really or anything like that. The reason she took me off the Vicodin was because in the dose I was taking I was consuming too much Tylenol and this can cause liver damage (anywhere from 8-14 per day!). Anyway, sorry for the long-windedness of this letter, but I am just wondering how likely is it that I will become completely dependant on these pills, and if so, how long can I take them before this will happen? The doctor said that I may have to take these pills every day for the rest of my life or something considering my pain/injury history (I didnt include it all here for obvious reasons). I just feel like I am so tired and sluggish, and I cant drive while on them until I build up a tolerance, so I dont know how long that will be either. Any info would be greatly appreciated. By the way, in reading some of the back posts, everyone says Oxycontin is SOOO GREAT and at the same time it should be avoided. Is this only for addiction reasons or is there somethins else bad about this? I havent felt anything unusually great yet, except, of course, for the lack of pain! Take care everyone and thank you for any information you can give.

by tom to Dannie, Jan 28, 2001 12:00AM

Dannie, it sounds like you have a medical injury or condition that your doctor expects to be with you for life. I'm sorry to hear that.

Whether it's vicodin or oxycontin or morphine, it is a perfectly natural and unfortunately inevitable process for your body to develop a tolerance and a physical dependence to the drug.

Physical dependence on opiates (like your drugs) developing as the result of legitimate, chronic, debilitating pain is nothing to be ashamed. Our society has done a very good job brainwashing us into believing that this sort of dependence is immoral and a failure in character. Nothing could be further from the truth.

As long as you're using the OxyContin in a responsible manner as prescribed by your doctor to relieve your all-too-real pain, developing a tolerance and dependence on the medication simply means that, like other kinds of medications, you will have to take them on a regular schedule in order to function normally and avoid withdrawal symptoms.

From what you've said, your use of these drugs is purely in response to a chronic pain condition which you have no control over. There is no shame in this. This kind of dependence is natural and unavoidable and does not diminish you as a decent, normal person. Don't let anyone tell you that you are doing something immoral or reprehensive. You're just a person dealing with the hand god dealt him.

Psychological addiction, that is, using these drugs for their euphoric effect when there is no legitimate pain issue is the kind of addiction society finds unacceptable and demands that you seek treatment for.

But as long as you use your meds in the way they're prescribed and are always honest with your doctor as to the level and frequency of the pain, you haven't a blessed thing to feel ashamed of.

I hope this has helped. Take care.

by rain, Jan 28, 2001 12:00AM

Maybe you should ask your doctor about taking some antidepressants for a short period of time. I started to take zoloft because I had severe depression from withdrawal and it really started to work after about a week. It also made me feel more alert and in control of my mind. I found that I could not think straight. I asked my doctor and she said I should only have to take this for about 3 months. Although I am still taking some pills, I have not had anything put good reactions to the zoloft.

Tara

by Frankinscense, Jan 28, 2001 12:00AM

IMO>>> Dannie Stay away from taking oxycontin it's to darn addiciting. If I had to take it for chronic pain i would not take over 10-20mgm's. Thats 2-3 percodans/cets in a time released formula. So many doctors prescribe this medicine w/out knowing the consequences. After 10-14 days of this medicine YOU WILL be addicted. Save yourself some future pain by taking and trying other meds. I would not take 40mgm oxycontins. Try 10-20 before taking 40mg oxycontin. 40mgm's is the equilivant to EIGHT percodans/cets in a time released formula. That is a dose for terminal pain!(IMO) Do not continue with that dose of oxycontin. Being tired and itchiness are side effects of too high a dose. If you must have oxycodone, stick to the oxyIR's q 4-6 hours as prescribed. Flush the 40 mgm oxy's down the toilet. Notice on the package insert reads> Warning: oxycodone may be habit forming! WARNING:oxycodone IS HABIT FORMING !

Best of Luck Dannie,

"doc" Dan...

by tom to Dan, Jan 28, 2001 12:00AM

Dan my good friend, I hope this message finds you feeling better than you reported a few days ago.

I hope you viewed my post to Dannie in the spirit it was intended. There are people in grave physical predicaments where strong, admittedly addicting narcotics are their only salvation. I have watched a family member of mine (not my recently deceased nephew) suffer horribly for years because she had been taught that all narcotics were evil and immoral and only the outcasts of society used them.

I witnessed this suffering as a teenager and there was no "ennobling" aspect to her suffering. Her refusal to accept the pain killers urged upon her by her own physician caused her to live a grotesque, demoralizing life no one should have to experience. Finally, when she had a few years left to live, she was convinced to accept the morphine pills her doctor had been offering her since the day she was diagnosed (I as a boy was too young to be aware of what this disease or condition was). The relief she received from this wonderful medication (yes, I said wonderful) transformed her life from one of reclusion and depression to an active life during which she got to know her own grandchildren and participate in family life.

Dan, your passion, experience and education legitimizes your point of view in my eyes, but there is a point where, in my opinion, quality off life for the terminally ill should take a back seat to concerns about addiction. I'm sure you'd agree that, from an ethical perspective, there is a significant difference between chronic pain patients who develop tolerance and physical dependence and people who are using these opiates just to "bliss out."

I know you are a compassionate man who would not witness human suffering without being affected by it. I hope you understood why I said what I did to Dannie. Without more information, I can only assume that his/her condition is permanent and intractable. Sure, OxyContin probably rivals heroin in addictive power. But addiction is not a black or white, right or wrong issue. While we strive to help people avoid the pitfalls of addiction, we must not neglect those of us who simply have two choices given to us: suffer horribly until you die, or take an addictive medication and at least live your remaining years meaningfully and in dignity.

Without more information, I concluded that this was Dannie's choice and I didn't want her/him to elect to suffer needlessly simply to avoid addiction. Addiction in itself is not evil or immoral. It is an unavoidable consequence of using the only truly effective sources of relief available to us. Would you not agree that, assuming Dannie's condition is permanent and his/her daily pain is of an excruciating kind, that it would be immoral to discourage his/her use of the one thing that can allow her some measure of peace and serenity?

In our zeal to fight addiction, we must not forget the positive effect properly used opiates have on the quality of life for those who suffer. My 10-year old nephew died of neuroblastoma

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