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MedHelp Member's Question

Damage to other organs due to excessive opiate abuse?

by ChiTownGirl, Dec 23, 2002 12:00AM
Tags: Addiction
This question is for the Doctor.  What damage can be done to other organs, besides the liver, from long term opiate abuse?  Are there any warning signs that we are doing damage and need to stop immediately?
Member Comments (85)

by Rex1, Dec 23, 2002 12:00AM
To: Everyone who has completed week 3 of the challenge
For those who took me up on my challenge - guess what?



Week three is complete, with one more to go!



Everyone needs to be especially tough during the next week when the stress will be high, and the temptation strong.



What a "New" year it will be.



Way to go everyone!!!!



Rex

by NEW ORLEANS LADY, Dec 23, 2002 12:00AM
REX-YOU HAVE BEEN SUCH AN INSPIRATION TO ME-I HAD TO GO COLD TURKEY 7 DAYS AGO AND SO FAR SO GOOD THANKS TO THE THOMAS RECIPE AND THE POSTS ON THIS FORUM--AS FAR AS DAMAGE DUE TO THE OPIATES--I THINK MORE HARM IS DONE BY THE ACETAMINOPHEN--I WAS TO THE POINT MY ANKLES AND LEGS WERE SWELLING SO BAD I KNEW IN MY HEART THAT MY LIVER COULD NOT KEEP UP WITH MY EXCESSIVE INGESTION. NOW THANK GOD THEY ARE BACK TO NORMAL. I HOPE AND PRAY EVERYONE COMPLETES THE TAPER CHALLENGE--I HAD TO GO COLD TURKEY--I DID NOT POSESS THE DISCIPLINE TO TAPER--IT WAS ALWAYS AFTER THIS NEXT RX I WILL TAPER.  MY HOPES AND PRAYERS ARE WITH YOU ALL--TO A NEW YEAR AND A NEW LIFE--LOVE AND PEACE-N.O. LADY

by flashk, Dec 23, 2002 12:00AM
To: Rex
Hey ReX!

How is everything? I have 9 days opiate/drug/alcohol free today! Every day that passes gives me a little bit of myself and my life back. I hope everyone receives the same christmas/ New Year miracle that I was givin. Freedom from the opiate madness. I cannot thank everyone here enough for thier support and stories which are a true help.

thank you

flash

by suzieneedshelp, Dec 23, 2002 12:00AM
WEll as you may remember i relapsed but i have to do it cold turkey starting this Thursday after christmas.  So..Pray fo r me a cuz this will be it!  No more stadol left after that!

thanks and Merry Christmas to all!

Suzie

by hellbent, Dec 23, 2002 12:00AM
To: ChiTownGirl
Supposedly, opiates don't overload and poison organs like tylenol does. However, they seem to cause some real problems that may be just as bad. Chronic constipation is a killer, and can cause all kinds of disease, including colon cancer. when you are constipated, I have read that you don't metabolise most of the vitamins and nutrients that you consume. I know that I had all kinds of health issues when was on Oxycontin (granted, I was taking many times more the amount than anyone, even a terminal patient, would be prescribed). But my leg would fall asleep, and I had skin problems, including some benign growths that I had to have removed. I am normally very healthy with very few health problems. My system was overloaded by the opiates, and couldn't process much or cleanse itself. Long term, this is a real health risk and I believe that it can indirectly lead to any number of health / organ problems.



by teeitup, Dec 23, 2002 12:00AM
To: New Orleans Lady, Suzieneedshelp
N.O. Lady - way to go!



Suzie - Just enjoy Christmas, don't worry about the set back. You'll do it!



teeitup!

by NEW ORLEANS LADY, Dec 23, 2002 12:00AM
To: teeitup/Everyone
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE SUPPORT--IT IS UNBELIEVEABLE HOW MUCH IT MEANS ESPECIALLY AT THIS POINT IN MY WITHDRAWAL/BEGINNING RECOVERY. I'M STILL DEALING WITH THE MALAISE THAT SEEMS TO HIT AT THE MOST INAPPROPRIATE TIME--ALTHOUGH I DO THINK THE L-TYROSINE IS HELPING. JUST BEING ABLE TO COME TO THIS SIGHT HAS GOTTEN ME THROUGH THE LAST 7 DAYS--ALSO THERE SEEMS TO BE GREATER FORCE AT WORK HERE AND I'M NOT A PARTICULARLY RELIGIOUS PERSON--I WILL TELL YOU IT IS NOTHING SHORT OF A MIRACLE--MUCH PEACE AND ESPECIALLY HOPE AND LOVE TO EVERYONE--YOU ARE ALL A GODSEND!

by theGolden1, Dec 23, 2002 12:00AM
To: anyone re: opiates with tylenol
I don't know which of the painkillers have tylenol and which ones don't .... except the obvious like tylenol3. Also, which ones have alot of tylenol and the ones with just a little. If anyone can post a website on this or help me out. If I need to take any .... I want to use as little tylenol as possible. Thanks .. (notice I said IF ...) I am so grateful for all the testimonials here ... now if I just had the guts and a place to hide for 2 weeks. Can a person use plain tylenol or motrin during withdrawal? It has to do something ... especially in therapudic doses ... any information is appreciated.

by Thomas02, Dec 23, 2002 12:00AM
To: ChiTownGirl
Since our doc here is not an MD anyway, I can tell you what I've learned studying the latest literature -- at least the latest to be translated for laymen. The liver is principally affected by the additives in pain pills -- chiefly, tylenol. But I'm sure you knew that.



The other organ damaged by long-term opiate use is, unfortunately, the brain. Over time, the brain physically changes to adapt to the constant presence of opiates. When the opiates are withdrawn, the brain cannot function normally. This is why so many of us frequently say we are using simply to feel normal. Non-users think we're using the word normal instead of high. But the latest research tells us we are more correct that we could ever know. Researchers compare the brains of long-term opiate addicts to that of stroke victims. Without the continued use of opiates, the long-term addict must struggle as a stroke victim struggles to utilize new neural pathways to achieve a semblance of normality.



I have used opiates contantly for 30, no, 31 years. There is no way back for me. 31 years of changes in my brain cannot be undone by all the 12-step meetings in the world. My doom is sealed by my physiology. That is why, as much as I don't like the idea, I am applying for methadone maintenance. Detox for me is a waste of time. I've detoxed myself 50 times and, each time, there I sit, with a brain that can no longer function without opiates. Time does not heal all things.



I tell this story, probably too often, because for many on this forum, the way back is still open. From the point at which one begins recovery, the great dramas and opportunities of life expand in all directions to infinity. Don't throw away your chance to play a role in the world as I have.



Thomas

by movingon, Dec 23, 2002 12:00AM
Hello,



I'm planning on going into an inpatient detox soon for a 2 year 80 mg Oxy/100 mg hydro habit. I'm told I'll be on Buprenex, clonidine and maybe librium. I've heard several references to the Thomas recipe and pieces of it but don't know exactley what it is. Can someone tell me where to find it or what it is?  Also, is this something I can do while I'm still inpatient or begin once I'm out.  I'm looking for all the help I can get.  

Thanks for any help and encouragement.





movingon

by NEW ORLEANS LADY, Dec 23, 2002 12:00AM
To: the GOLDEN1/Everyone
MOST AND I DO MEAN MOST OF THE HYDROCODONE PREPARATIONS CONTAIN SOME AMOUNT OF ACETAMINOPHEN (TYLENOL)--ALTHOUGH THE AMOUNTS CAN VARY CONSIDERABLY--MY DRUG OF CHOICE WAS CALLED ZYDONE10/400 WHICH MEANS IT CONTAIN 10MGS OF HYDROCODONE AND 400 MGS OF TYLENOL--THIS IS CONSIDERED A SMALL DOSE--BECAUSE FOR EXAMPLE VICODEN E.S. CONTAINS 750 MG. OF TYLENOL PER PILL--VICODEN,LORTAB,LORCET,PERCOCET,TYLOX THESE ALL HAVE SOME AMOUNT OF TYLENOL--THERE ARE MEDS THAT DO NOT CONTAIN TYLENOL--OXYCONTIN-DEMERAL--PERCODAN (CONTAINS ASPIRIN)--I HOPE THIS INFO WILL BE OF SOME HELP--FOR ME THEY ARE ALL DEADLY--WHEN I THINK BACK AT HOW MUCH I CONSUMED IT IS A MIRACLE I STILL HAVE A LIVER. LOVE PEACE AND TO A NEW YEAR NEW LIFE-- N.O. LADY

by Jennibean, Dec 23, 2002 12:00AM
There are many different strengths of tylenol and other additives in some pain meds. Just to name a few Vicodin 5/500 means it has 5mg hydrocodone and 500mg tylenol. There are also different names, lortab, vicodin, norco etc all hydrocodone with different brand names. Vicodin Es has 5/750 , lortab comes in 5/500 and 5/750, norco is the best at 10/325. Percocet comes in 5/325, 7.5/325 and 10/325. There is Oxy ir which is percocet with no tylenol. Oxycontin ahs no tylenol and I am on oxyfast which is liquid percocet with no tylenol. I think these are the most common pain meds used. Tylenol