Addiction - NEED HELP !!

[radioboy74]

I have become addicted to Pain Medication from Lortab to Vicodin to Percocet.  I WANT OFF !  I have no more pain medication, it's all gone.  How do I become the person I want to be - PAIN MEDICATION DRUGE FREE.  I am dead serious, I need help and don't know what way to turn.  If you've been through this give me your insite.

Thank you & God Bless

[skipper]

raidoboy:
hang on kid, it's just the jones that makes you so jumpy. this way
you feel is the price of a "goodtime!" your first 3 days will be
awful' but it levels off after that. snoop around all the past
posting for Thomas's detox  recepe. also pill poppa has got a good
zink, magnesium,manganese mix that can make a world of difference
in what is going to happen to you! 3 things to remember:
1) your not alone
2)your are walking a path worn smooth by the feet of a multitude
of junkys who've come before you.
3) there will be many people on this forum who will come forth with
knowledge & faith to help you!
I promise these things will come, and soon!
keep an angel on your shoulder
kip

[Milo]

Hey radioboy, I know you're facing a tough battle, but *it can be done!* There are plenty of success stories here, which I'm sure you've read. I don't have "the answer" but want you to know I'm here to support and encourage you however I can. If you're out of meds, I suggest starting Thomas' detox recipe (printed further down somewhere) and if you have a sympathetic doctor, maybe asking for help in tapering down/relieving withdrawal symptoms. At the very least you don't have to go through it alone, so let us help you any way we can. -- Sincerely, Milo

[cindi]

I'm with Milo and skipper...the detox recipe...you can get through this....hang on a minute at a time.....keep coming here and in a few days this will all be over  then the hard part begins...staying clean.......love to all   cin

[Thomas]

It sounds like this is your first attempt at quitting. Is that right?

Yes, my recipe makes it easier to get through the first few days and helps you restore a lot of substances in your brain that have been depleted by the pain pills. That will put you on your feet. All the ingrediants are over the counter except for the valium-family drug which as we all know is usually a ***** to just walk in and get unless you've got a solid relationship with an MD.

If you want it and can't find it, I'll post it or e-mail it directly to you. But if it is your first time, I wonder if it wouldn't be better if you got medically detoxed - preferably in an in-house setting where they can evaluate you, test your blood, liver etc. -- long-time use of these substances can take a toll.

Do you have access to this kind of medical help? If it's you're first time seriously detoxing and you're doing it cold turkey, it's going to be rough. The only savng grace about opiate withdrawal is that, even though you might wish you were dead, you won't die from the experience.

I suggest professional help if available, but I will post my recipe if you want to go that way.

I've been a drug addict for 30 years, so, obviously, I don't have too many words of wisdom for you about living a sober life. But others on this board do. I could "mouth" all the recovery concepts and jargon in the book, but I would be a fraud.

Let me know about the recipe if you want it and can't find it. If you want to e-mail me, you can at

***@****

Thomas

[Milo]

Hey Thomas, it's been a while since we've talked, but I was happy to see you recently mention me as one of the folks on the forum who had had helped you out. How are you doing these days? I'm really glad to hear you're not living in fear/danger of those seizures anymore. Saw that recent obnoxious post by Danielwhatshisname and wanted to echo my words of complete support & respect for you like all the others did. Anyway, let me know how things are going, here or at ***@****
Your forum friend, Milo

[J.B. to Brian and Vicky]

I agree with Thomas' advice about medically supervised detox if it's your first time.  That's how I did it.

I'm in the middle of detoxing myself at home right now and it's day 5.  But I've been through this many times during the last thirty years.  Nowadays, I can get myself prepared ahead of time and pretty much know what to expect as far as withdrawals.  Lucky me,eh?  My biggest problem started about Monday with a whole lot of anxiety and feeling chilly(tingling).  Luckily I have Xanax for that.  Insomnia is another problem but I don't fret over it anymore.  I just get out of bed and work crossword puzzles and have a beer(just one)until my mind is at ease.

I've been using Vics and Perks for almost a year and in ever greater numbers.  After 5 days without them, I feel better than I have in a long time.  The problem is that I feel like something is missing and the craving sets in. That's when you have to fight one minute at a time until you can get focused on something other than killing the urge.

Like Skid said, millions have preceded you and made it.  J.B.



















Like Skip said, millions have preceded you and made it.  J.B.

[Paisley]

Im not sure I put this question under the right heading but Im new to this whole forum thing.  I work at a ua lab and have some questions that an empolyer is asking me. Im doing some reasearch on oxycontin and found this site. Any help will be appreciated.  This certian employer is in the construction business and one of his employees came up positive for a drug called oxycontin and the employee said he had a perscription for this drug. I am wondering what this drug does to your body, and if it is safe to operate machanery and or drive while on this drug. Again, any help will be greatly appreciated. Thank you all and God Bless
Paisley

[Francoise]

I couldn't agree more that you should get on Thomas' recipe asap. Additionally, get your doctor to get you some Klonopin, but get it prescribed by its generic name. Much cheaper. One-half a milligram changed me from a nail-biting, trembling, anxiety-ridden sack of fear to a calm, collected, fairly normal guy.

I had some situational traffic going recently and went to a psychiatrist I'd never seen before in my life. And he's the guy who prescribed the Klonopin. Now that my landing gear has just cleared the trees, I'm down to a quarter of a milligram of Klonopin and will drop off completely soon.

But the advice you've been given by the others: get professional help; do this as an inpatient; do the Thomas recipe thing - the rest: do it. It's excellent advice given by people who've been there. And in some cases, by people who are still there.

Strike while the iron is hot.

Francois

[big A]

Hey, oxycontin is a very strong pain releiver, in most people it gives you a get up and go mood,in others like my wife,it puts them to sleep..If this guy is using the oxy's,before long he will start missing work due to not having enough, (especially if he is using it in any other way than prescribed, ie: snorting, injecting, etc:)I personally was Snorting 6 80mgs tabs a day, by the end of it i was doing that just to be, and feel normal. back to your question: I'm sure that it affected my job performance, but i never had a major accident or problem while on them. It basically made me feel as though i could work all day, and all night, I hope this has helped you some. I look at this board every single day. I feel for everyone here like they are my brother and sister, GOD BLESS

[cindi]

Big A hit it right on the money....some people are knocked out by it and others can function really well on it.....it is a great pain reliever if taken properly....as with alot of different medication a person should refrain from operating machinery or driving a car until they find out what effects the med is going to have on them...I can fly on oxys while they put my friend to sleep for 2 days....she can't even stand up alone.....same with vicodin ....i did notice though that alot of addicts will say that these meds that ususally knock others out have the opposite affect in them...i wonder what that's all about...have a great one....love to all    cin

[J.B. to Brian and Vicky]

When I was in the hospital recently, I was dosed with morphine for the first two days.  It was all the nurses could do to keep me in bed and off of my feet!  I actually got into the shower room at 2am and fell while bathing.  It's like speed to me.

I was put on another pain med called Demerol and slept for two days.  I'm at a loss, too.  Vicodin relieves my pain but sedates me.  Percoset is more intense but is more like Vicodin in effect.

I believe that all these opiods that are synthetic compounds are not good for the body.  Look at methadone which is totally synthetic and so hard to detox from....takes months.  There is nothing in the human body that can relate to some of these chemicals.  It's just a theory of mine so take it for what it's worth.  J.B.

[cindi]

see how everyone is different...Morphine did absolutely nothing for me while my drug of choice was demerol which did in fact make me speed...same with the vics and percs...and since i had been such a speed freak at one time....amphetamines were just a great as the opiates...i loved the demerol for that reason...however, it was very very hard to get off,,and my tolerance was so high I was shooting sometimes 600 to 800 mgs at a time...mixing it with about 100 of nembutal not by that time i was practically in a coma for 12 hours   I giess it has to do with our body chemistry..thanks for your opinion....which is always appreciated.....love to all    cin

[Thomas]

what's all this I hear? They're ALL good! Anyone out there with narcotics they don't like, I'll give you a P.O. BOX ... LOL. JB, if you can get the demerol injection without the goddamn vistaril (some obnoxious antihistimine so you won't barf),you'll get a very cool demerol high. Ah demerol, the king of beers! But just a fond memory. Good thing I could only get it for a little while ...

Milo, thanks for thinking of me ... and thanks for your words of wisdom in the past. I'm on and off of valium and hydro as I run in and run out ... same ole Thomas. Somethings never change. But the valium is definately less of a seizure risk to detox off of than Xanax (the lil' drug from hell). How are you these days? I'd say more about me, but it's all been said. My mind is still in the 70's and drugs are still number one. I know it's wrong. But it's what I am. What can I do?

Thomas

[J.B. to Brian and Vicky]

For some reason, I was given Talwin and Visteral(sp)IM and went into serious convulsions.  I remember being put on oxygen and being given a pill under my tongue which helped immediately. The ward RN called my wife to come ASAP. When she arrived, she was told that I was completely out of it.  I'm still wondering what all this was about.  Then again, I was in the VA hospital here where they treat you like some kind of human guinea pig.  They tend to use the "shotgun" approach to any kind of illness.  Kind of like some mechanics I've had to deal with when my car has problems....let's just replace everything and maybe we'll cure the problem type of mentality.  Well, I still made it in spite of all this!  Morphine, Demerol, Talwin, Visteral in eleven days time and all the while the MD's couldn't understand why I was in so much pain.  After all, I was just dieing from a major illness.  Makes you wonder, doesn't it? All I needed was for Dr. Steve to show up and give one of his canned pep talks!  J.B.

[cindi]

WOW   maybe you had a serious reaction to the Talwin  had you ever had Talwin before?  i would think so if you were around in the 60's and 70'''''''''''s right?  seriously  I was little in the 60's but several of my friends that were using in that time frame used talwin and this stuff called Numorphine?    anyway,,I had never even given any patients talwin and vistaril together.....i do know that not only will the vistaril help with nausea but it is said to potentiate the action of the other main narcotic ususally being demerol.. of course i preferred the demerol undiluted thank you very much.....i had been clean from this bad demerol habit for about 6 years when i had my son and was given demerol..told the hospital I was allergic to vistaril....and they were pretty stingy with the dose..hell,,,50 mgs?  puhleeze...any way I was lucky to get that i suppose.....first I was given it IM then that stupid PCA pump  the patient controlled analgesia pump,,,pissed me right off,,i'd rather have the full effect all at once.....not with this thing....i always thought of it as being a Godsend when i was working but not for me....anyway,,demerol is a faded memory  do they even use it that much anymore?  haven't worked in that profession for 6 years...many if I did,,,,I would be gone.....I just have absolutely no trust in myself when it comes to that.....i am much safer where I am right now....sans the demerol, dilauded and the DEA.....love you all    cin

[Milo]

Speaking of paradoxical reactions...A while back during a routine office visit, my Dr. asked if I needed a refill of Fioricet. Well, what was ole Milo to say? I've never had a particularly strong will...Well, it did little to nothing for me. I thought, I'm free!/dammit at the same time. Well, my latest Rx for it has knocked me for the customary loop. Weird, huh? I'm trying to be careful re  dosage of barbiturate and esp. acetaminophen, but I'll just come right out & say I'm using it to numb/try to forget avout some big time emotional pain right now. I'm trying to go the "legitimate" route as well (Psychologist, etc.) but right now I feel like the emotional equivalent of a train wreck victim.
Thank you for being here & being nonjudgmental. God knows I've had my share of that in my life. Cindi, it sounds like your DEA fears are over, and if so, I'm very happy for you. This train wreck victim is heading for the triage station even as we speak.  -- All best, Milo

[Milo]

You'd think something like Fioricet would knoeck me on my ass or at least leave me on the drowsy side, and most of the time it does. But sometimes it has that opposite, "speedy" effect some of you were mentioning. I've done more work on a day's dosage of Fioricet than I normally would in a month! Weird, huh? Anyone have any theories as to why we should experience this? My only theory is that our downer of choice, opiate, barbiturate, benzo, whatever, temporarily frees us from the overwhelming anxiety that normally keeps us out of action. Maybe that's why someone somewhere referred to Ultram as a treatment for depression. -- random thoughts, Milo

[Thomas]

good to hear from you ... the butalbutal in fiorecet is somewhat unique among barbiturates. It's primary effect is as an anti-anxiety agent, rather than as a sleep agent. It probably effects you more now because you're not on the narcs. I would still treat it as a barbiturate and not mix it with stuff like alcohol, but I expect you know that.

Thomas

[Thomas]

Hey JB,

Read about your Talwin experience -- bad stuff for opiate users! Talwin is a partial narcotic antagonist and can induce withdrawal symptoms in people habituated to real opiates. I learned that the hard way, as well. Stay away from it. There's nothing to recommend it anyway. They probably put a morphine sublingual tab under your tongue.

Thomas

[Frank Lee]

Hey Milo,

I too am going the Psychologist and md route. I too self medicate to avoid dealing with emotions (I feel like I'm about to hear a course of HI FRANK, WE'RE ALL ****** UP TOO). It is interesting at this point all - the therapy is centered around getting me of ethanol, Valium, hydros etc. While I would like to talk a little about Mom and Dad thank you. My theory is that the drugs are a symptom not the disease, but all in good time the docs say. Anyway, along the way I injured my back, made it 49 years and developed a love of the interaction of the above substances which has unfortunately put a real kink in relating to the wife and kids, not too mention work and friends. So I'm up to my neck too, pal.

Will keep in touch,

FLEE

[Milo]

That comment about Fioricet makes sense to me...Don't worry, I don't even *think* of mixing alcohol with it due to the acetaminophen content. I never was a big opiate user -- I would have been, but they just don't "do it" for me (I guess I'm lucky.) Why does every decent antianxiety med have to be addictive? On nanother topic, you mentioned those "weird SSRI's" or something like that in another post. I'm doing OK on Celexa, but seriously wonder if Paxil was the cause (or part of the cause) for my several years in hell.

[Milo]

Yep, I'm right with you there, my friend. Case in point: Had a very "meaty" session with my therapist yesterday. I mean, really dragged out some heavy **** I thought I'd never be able to discuss. So far, so good, right? Well, later that evening events occurred that made me feel like whatever is lower than ****. I'm sure Dr. X will be able to help me put it in perspective next week, but right now I want to be numb, forget, not feel lower than ****. Right now I'll take any med I can get my hands on, provided they don't pose a risk to life & health. Is this so bad? Is it not a natural human response? Enough said, I guess. Let me know how you're doing, & please feel free to contact me any time
***@****
--sincerely, Milo

[skipper]

hello good people:
will go into more detail later....i'm wd/detoxing off 120 mg/day
oxy-c! i did some really stupid things, hurt my wife (emotioonally)

oxy-c relieves pain. But it also cranks me up in to something like
a jabbering speed freak. when this happens it's my poor wife who
has to suffer me.

i don't know about the rest of you... but right now i think the
only things that would "fix me" would be a grain and half of
GOM (mophine sulfate), or maybe black tar heroin.

I'm so disgustaded with myself! i'm really fed uo with my inablity
to make sound decision.

sick of being a junkie/sick of physical pain
kip

[Milo]

I hear ya, Kip -- I understand your concern for your wife, and I also understand your desire for something to *get rid of the pain* (Physical & emotional). A friend asked me yesteday if I'd ever tried heroin (joking.) I said, "No, but if someone offered it, I'd sure as hell take it!" I guess that makes me a bad person in some people's eyes. Oh well, **** it.
Keep that angel on your shoulder, my friend -- Milo