Addicted? How to wean off?

[s949]

My drug of choice right now is opiates. I have anxiety so severe it has manifest itself physically with intense abdominal pain, worst pain I have ever gone through in my life and I have had many injuries through downhill mountain bike racing. After searching for any alternative than opiates for 5 years, I finally gave in. It has increased my quality of life at first. I got a job and actually could perform. I didn't have to plan my life around my stomach pain. Now, with my background with severe anxiety and depression, I have developed a psychological addiction to the drug. I feel like I need it to work, go out, feel less depressed/anxious. The way it helps with depression/anxiety is why I love the drug and think about it. I don't get a "high" off the drug anymore and am truly fine with that, it's the way it makes me feel psychologically that I addicted to. I'm scared how I am going to live without it because when it is in my system life is good, like it was before I started getting depressed and anxious.

First question: Am I a substance abuser or a chemical dependent patent?
Second: People who get off it and stay off it, would have the same problems with increase anxiety as I will
Third: I take 120 mg of oxycodone a day, how long will it take me to wean down?
Fourth: When weaning down how should I wean down mg wise

[s949]

My stomach pain is due to my extreme anxiety, so extreme that several hospitalizations have had to happen. Pain so bad I remember saying, "just kill me please." So I do need the opiates for pain because I genuinly do and my doctor knows that because he himself experienced a similar type of situation. He is all for getting me off these but I cannot see myself happy, upbeat, friendly, motivated with out the oxy. And currently a scary thing has happened. My tolerance has gone up like it has been since I started, but I don't want my doctor to think I am there just for pain medications because due to my age preconcieved notions scare me. Like I would take a lie detector test or a drug test everyday just to prove that I am not abusing them, most of the time. Sometimes I get off work and just wanna relax and relieve my anxiety in which case I take more than I am supposed to and feel really guilty right after I swallow them. Because of this need to have a substance of any kind to relieve my stress and anxiety addiction related or the simple fact that I haven't cured or found an effective way to deal with the anxiety? I really only need pain medication in the morning but have to use it the rest of the day to avoid W/D symptoms. I was thinking, because of my mental stability, weaning down very slowly like taking 3.5 a month and 3 the next month and so on. Does this sound like a good plan? I am more than willing to get my doctor on board but I don't wanna have too little because occasionally I wanna get high, like every minute of the day but it doesn't make me upset or disappointed if I can't get high one day. So I am chemically dependent and possibly physical depended but am I an addict or just like every other person, needs an outlet for their stress

[mommyoffive0529]

How is the anxiety?  How many years did you use?  i took my lortab for about 7 years but i never took more than two a day....i also chewed nicotine gum at the same time for like four years....i quit that as well hence maybe the anxiety

[Crys833]

Hi, welcome! I'm day 17 clean today from opiates. let me tell you! Anxiety is the worst part of wd's. i've never experienced such horrible anxiety as I did withdrawing from morphine. I just in the past 3 days have felt somewhat normal again, but the past 2.5 weeks was hell. I seriously thought this anxiety was who i really was and how i was going to feel off of opiates. Nope, i'm starting to feel the same way as i did while taking pills again, cause i didn't get high off them for the longest time, just felt "normal". Well that normal feeling does come back off of the pills too! it just takes some time and it will happen. As for weaning, you have to be VERY proactive and most addicts aren't successful in weaning unless you have a Dr.'s help? I tapered from 200mg morphine down to 50 in a one week period, i was having withdrawals, but kept myself "functional" then i bit the bullet and just went cold turkey from 50 mg, my wd's were bad for about 3 days then everyday got better from there. The longer you wean yourself the more you just prolong the wd's though, so be careful with that. Keep posting on this forum it's awesome and very supportive:)

[petroglyph54]

First welcome, you are among friends that know what your going thru. It's possible that the stomach pain you are describing is something altogether differant than opiate related. Opiates are terribly constipating anyway. You could have and intestinal blockage that needs medical attention. My colon burst and had to have a colostomy bag for awhile. My wife had a blockage and needed surgery to clear it, my cousin died from polips all of which could have been avoided by a simple colonoscopy, which is painless, and takes less than an hour. It could well save your life. If you or anybody is using narcotics you know something about constipation, it can kill you. The oxy is well, another thing. If you really want to quit this crap, would you mind getting your doctor involved? Are you getting these legally and therefore taking them as prescribed? The last question is only so others get a better idea of your addiction. Quitting cold turkey can be difficult but for some it's the only way as tapering doesn't work for many. For me, I couldn't jump from that high, and have to get lower. The results you want are attainable, and there are methods that ease the wd's. Please don't ignore the abdominal pain, it can kill, and that ain't pain free. You seem to know what you want and that is big part of getting free. I don't know of many who have had a long term opiate usage that recommend it. I to really liked the freedom it gave me, as do lots of us. But I guess there really isn't no free lunch, and for me at least the bill is now do and its a whopper. Stick around, read, learn, post. suceed!

[IBKleen]

Hi & Welcome,

It is a violation of our guidelines to provide you with a taper schedule---that you will need to get from your doctor. In addition, Be wary of tapering except under your doctor's care. I think it would be helpful to speak with him/her regarding your anxiety. I am certain he can suggest alternative treatment methods that do not involve the use of opiates. I am sure you know that is not what they are intended for but there are medications that you can take and still live a full life.

Once you get on a proper taper schedule, we can support you and give you some suggestions on things to help ease the withdrawal process.

Stick around, there is a lot of good support here.