Addiction to Ephedrine? Please Help!

I have to call it what it is because I have told myself too many times "this is the last box". I'm addicted to ephedrine. I wouldn't say I'm physically addicted because I don't feel any withdrawal symptoms. And I say that with all honesty. I CERTAINLY am psychologically addicted. And I know my triggers too: I find myself doing it when I haven't exercised and feel I've eaten unhealthy or when I need alot of energy, or when I want that "high". And this is coming from someone who has a panic disorder. Diagnosed when I was 14. I'm 29 now. I should know better. I received treatment for my panic attacks and learned how to control them...but will still take a stimulant that encourages them and that can cause me to have a heart attack! I just want to know that there is somebody, ANYBODY, out there with this addiction to ephedrine and that is taking it one day at a time with success. I'm ready to be sober, have been. I just keep getting that "last box". Someone please help...

[GA Guy]

I used ephedrine for some time as well. I will say that it's a fairly easy detox mentally. You'll feel tired for a couple of days...I think I actually slept for 2 days straight. The problem is the mental addiction. Do you have access to an addiction counselor. The ephedrine is just a drug used to deal with your self image issues. Until you get to the core of that problem, you will not be able to forget the drugs.

[cirene]

I had to look this one up - I knew it was illegal but never knew they actually lifted the ban.  Are you ordering them through the mail?

[TroubledDude]

I took ephedrine every day for about two years straight. I took it for the energy it gave me as I was a Bodybuilder in my younger days. Getting off it wasn't that hard, it was staying off it. For one it's readily available in 8mg tabs (still legal in Canada) and it's pretty cheap. When I finally did go of it there was a period of about two months where I had no energy and was tired a lot. It is doable though, just like kicking any addiction, you just gotta muster up the courage and do it.

[Prospero73]

My grandfather, who was born in the 1880's, took it on prescription for sinus trouble for at least 20 years that I know of.  He took it in liquid form, irrigating his nasal passages with a bulb syringe and spitting it out (he never swallowed it).  He called it his "treatment" and took it several times a day.  He claimed that he never felt quite right until he'd had it, and that it gave him energy.  Eventually, another doctor told him that it was a dangerous drug and suggested that he was addicted to it.  He quit without a struggle and never took it again.

It never seemed to have any adverse effect on him physically or mentally.  He did have a stroke about ten years later, when he was in his early 70's, that slowed him down a great deal, but he lived another ten years.

[cirene]

I've taken it quite a few times in my early 20's when you could buy it at gas station cash registers.  But every single time, I'd get extremely irritable.  Like, bite-your-head-off irritable.  My bf att took it every morning like a cup of coffee in order to get going.  But it just never agreed with me.  I wonder if my bipolar disorder had anything to do with it.  Like, my wiring doesn't allow it to work or what not.  Gee, if more people had bipolar, then they couldn't take it either huh?

:-p

I hope you're able to get a grip soon, van. Good luck.

[vanfr80]

Ga Guy-
I think you hit the nail on the head. I can go days, sometimes weeks without it, but then the "core" of the issue rears it's ugly head (obviously body issues) and I'm back at the gas station filling out the log book. When I was 23, I worked out regularly and was in the best shape of my life. At the time (2003), they actually sold the drinks that had 25mgs of ephedrine in them and I had a great work out. Knocking on 30 now, I think that the self image issue does start to come into play because I find myself taking it when there's a day of just crap eating (and I've gotten out of the habit of working out!) but what's more disturbing now is getting it for the "giddy high", or to get alot of errands/cleaning done. They sell it in Florida as long as you fill out a log book. Here's the best/worst part. I work in an ER (not a clinical position) and understand tachycardia and what I am doing to my heart. And I agree with ALL the post on here...mentally not too difficult to kick at first, it's staying off and not going back for that last box. I'm prepared to be tired and have today and tomorrow off. More than anything, I think I need all you guys!! Finally a community I can turn to and be like "hey....I'm addicted to ephedrine and I need to talk to people that understand". I am SO happy to have this forum!!!

[cirene]

Yeah it's pretty cool.  I'm with you on that.  :)

[tbjl]

I have been taking vicodin and sometimes I will take sudafed.  These all started with either pain or sinusitis, then I noticed that they help me keep up with the kids.  I don't want to miss anything that my four kids need, and it's probably true for most moms, but I feel that I share 90 percent of their needs compared to my husband.  Over the years it has been proven that my husband as good as he is, is not going to give 110 percent like I do.  I probably expect too much.  You only get to raise them once though.  With being a 12 hour night nurse part time, and four schoolage kids, and expecting only the best of them and myself, this is where I have ended up, addicted to vicodin.