Addiction to pain meds

[TeleVision]

a little history, i got assaulted in mexico by about 4 guys and got the **** kicked out of me. never went to the doctor, was a tough teenager. now years later i get in a horrible car accident im lucky to survive and my back has never been the same since.
  so my doctor's think since im so young (22) that i shouldnt have strong pain killers. i finally got my doc to give me Norco 10/325 (Hydrocodone/apap) and Soma 350mg. this worked ok for a while but now i finish my months supply in 2 weeks so i went to him and asked to be put on something stronger like percocet but he basically laughed and said i was on something plenty strong.
  well so i took things into my own hands and now i am on a variety of very strong pain meds unregulated by a doctor. i take OxyContin 80mg, MS Contin 100mg, dilaudid 8 mg, and also get things sent imported to me like pentazocine, codiene phosphate, and morphine. i know i am very addicted now and things have gotten out of control. i mix and match pills for combination reations; i really dont know what to do. i dont shoot up, this all comes from wanting to control my pain but unlimited access to drugs is an easy way for things to go out of control. i really am just venting, i dont want to go on methadone, i just wish my doc would have helped me before i got to this situation. well theres my story.

[lisabet]

Hi sinner - welcome to the forum.  I suggest when you post to post on one of the top threads so everyone will see your post.  Down here on the bottom, many people don't look at.  I'm sorry I have no knowledge about solpadol, but I'm betting there's someone on the forum that can help.  Just post up at the top. Theres lots of good people here.  Hope you can find the information and help you desire.  Best wishes, Lisabet

[sinner]

Hello,

I wonder if anyone could help me. I am addicted to solpadol. I have a trapped nerve in my back and have tried various things to get better. Physio, osteopath, ultrasound and accupunture. I used to take pain killers occasionally to help out with tough days. A family menber is on solpadol and gave me some to see how I did with them. It helped a great deal and before I knew it I was taking them every day, even when I didn't have pain. As I am not actually perscribed the drug, I have been taking it from my family member who now finds themself short at the end of the month. I feel so guilty about this, but I just can't help it. I think they are aware of my increasing dependancy of solpadol as they have started hiding it from me.
I am also on anti depressants and when I can get hold on any solpadol, I slip further in to my depression. I need solpadol to get me through the day. I can't go to my doctor as I have never been pesribed the drug and do not want to get my family menber in trouble for giving it to me. I feel trapped.
Please help

Sinner

[sinner]

Hello,

I wonder if anyone could help me. I am addicted to solpadol. I have a trapped nerve in my back and have tried various things to get better. Physio, osteopath, ultrasound and accupunture. I used to take pain killers occasionally to help out with tough days. A family menber is on solpadol and gave me some to see how I did with them. It helped a great deal and before I knew it I was taking them every day, even when I didn't have pain. As I am not actually perscribed the drug, I have been taking it from my family member who now finds themself short at the end of the month. I feel so guilty about this, but I just can't help it. I think they are aware of my increasing dependancy of solpadol as they have started hiding it from me.
I am also on anti depressants and when I can get hold on any solpadol, I slip further in to my depression. I need solpadol to get me through the day. I can't go to my doctor as I have never been pesribed the drug and do not want to get my family menber in trouble for giving it to me. I feel trapped.
Please help

Sinner

[taeme]

Here's the truth of it. Most are looking here for advice on how and where to get what we want.  How to convince Dr's etc... we have what we say we have.  And then how to get the meds we want without them catching on.  Do you feel that male or female Dr.s seem to be more skeptical?  I don't know how everyone got started often I think it has to do with under medicating in the first place.  I sometimes wish darvocet had never been invented, for me I would rather take an 800mg Ibuprofen for all its worth. I am so frustrated finding a physician that doesn't try to placate me with a fancy named prescription for robitussin.  I'm quite educated in the medical field and things like this really erk me.  If I seem too educated I seem like a drug seeker, if I'm too weak I get tylenol and plenty of fluids.  I tired of spending my money with repeated visits.  If they know you just came in and then ask you to come back the next day after you've just called to say the medicine isn't working, do they not believe you? Especially if they have already done tests and cultures the first time?  Should we not be able to ask for what works? What if we happen to know a lot about medicine should we play dumb for fear of being labelled an addict, a drug seeker?  I often wonder if Darvocet is given when they don't believe you but are afraid to blatantly deny you pain meds? Maybe darvocet does something for some of you, I don't know.  Is it okay for me to let the Dr. know that even though I am hurting I can't afford(out of pocket, no insurance) to come in and try all the intermediary medication because he/she feel I may be a drug seeker.   The intermediary medications are what I call the fluff medications, you would have been better off grabbing yourself a bottle of niquil cold and fluid medicine.  I don't know if its my age(female 25),my problems(migraines, backpain, kidney stones----of course these are all over a long period of time)I guess these fall into the "watch for addicts" diagnoses.  I never had this much trouble when I was younger.  Maybe I don't know what a normal patient is supposed to do.  All I know is that when I was younger I hadn't tried as many medications, I know what doesn't work, and in general if they are in the same class they won't work either. Why should I have to pay for a medicine I know probably won't work just cause they need to see that I am not just seeking narcotics.  Now I'm just getting mad so I'll stop rambling and ask you opinion.  I know I said a lot but try and answer anything you can, I really am very frustrated.  Thanks.

[No2sis]

IM looking for help. my sister is taking lots of loritab. she is also epiletic. she is hearing things and seeing little men. she may take other pills I do not know of. Is she an addict???

[No2sis]

IM looking for help. my sister is taking lots of loritab. she is also epiletic. she is hearing things and seeing little men. she may take other pills I do not know of. Is she an addict???

[latinophil]

I have been addicted to codiene phosphate for 7 years, it controls my life and i can't find a way out of it.........It started when i got injured playing soccer, i was prescribed solpadol (codiene 30mg and paracetemol 500mg), for the pain, i was depressed at the time and the buzz from taking these pills for the first time took away my depression.  The doctor though kept me on these for 3 months and then changed my prescription to codiene phosphate 30mg tablets, because he wanted me to have no more paracetemol.  He kept me on codiene for a further 3 months by which time i was having 6 or 7 tablets 4 times a day and then started to support my habit by buying over the counter medicines, these were co-codemol (codiene 8mg paracetemol 500mg) and nurofen plus (codiene 12.8mg ibuprofen 200mg) i would take 4 co-codemol and 6 nurofen plus at a time, this began to make me feel sick all the time and give me pains in the stomach.
I have seen a doctor recently who now knows about my problem and gave me a reducing course of codiene, but it isn't working as again i find myself supplimenting thse with over the counter medicines.  No-one in my family knows, i feel alone in trying to stop taking these drugs and the doctor can't help me because the over the counter medicines are available freely.  
What do i do? how can i stop this before it kills me?

I am asking for help, i am scared to go cold turkey because of the way i will feel, i know this because i did try and stop and believe me it felt like ****.

Help me please.....................

[angst]

Welcome to the forum.  If you post higher, like on the top brand new thread, you will get more advice - experience strenght and hope.  If not,  I try to visit you guys down here.  Ava

[roro]

Hey Tate, I just started writing in this forum today too.  I am in the same situation as you are.  I have two kids and am addicted to vicoprophen 34 pills a day.  I am trying very hard to get off of these and in the last 24 hours i have only taken 5.  I want more than life to get clean.  I need all the help i can get .  I have been through the withdrawals as long as 3 days but could never handle the pain and always went back.  I am determined this time not only for me but my kids need me to be a better person.  If anyone has any tips on how to get through this or any words of encouragement please feel free to write

[Tate]

Hello Everyone. Cant tell you all how helpful it has been reading this thread.  I just discovered this site tonight.  I typed in "Opiate Withdrawl" in my search engine and came to this website.  I am a 27 yr old female.  I'm married and have two beautiful daughters ages 3 and 5.  Like a lot of you I have just came to terms with myself and realize that I am  pill junkie.  I've known it for some time and have just been in denial of course.  I even lost my last job over it although I never have admitted it or fessed up.  I feel especially bad because I've been lying to my husband and he has been so supportive of me.  I just dont want to keep hurting him and I guess I am afraid that he will leave me if he finds out that I still am using the hydrocodone.  I dont think that it bothered me so bad when I was getting them ligit from my doc, but now that I have obtained them through "other" means I'm REALLY scaird of where this is all going to end up.  I've gone this whole day without any because I ran out yesterday.  Used thirty in less than two days.  Today has been one of the crappiest of my life, but what's really scary is I know that there are many more days like this to come.  I also know that I have one refill left that I can pick up tomorrow morning...but then what?  I want this cycle to end soooooo badly and I know I can handle the WD on my own, I've done it several times over the past yr and have even gone as long as 4 months without.  THE DEPRESSION gets to be too much and I find that I'm "Hurting" again and need pain pills for something.  BOOM..it starts all over.  My husband says just to talk to him when I get to feeling that way, but it's just not the same.  I know he doe'snt truly understand what I'm going through because he has never had an addiction.  He's supportive and he listens, but I know he get's tired of hearing about it.  Please respond and let me know that I'm not nuts and that I CAN do this!!!
Thanks for listening
Tate

[galawyer]

Thanks.  I will try the doc and see what she says.  BTW, I am a lawyer in Georgia.

[angst]

are you a lawyer from georgia?  never mind the nickname.  sometimes you can call local hospitals for doctor referrals.  so ask if they have a doctor who specializes in addiction medication.  i know the local rehabs have names of addictiologist
for your help.  you could also go to the doctor who gave you the
drugs to ask for his help detoxing.  you will need help.  i hope i have been of some help.  Good luck and Blessings,  Angst

[galawyer]

Hi all

How would I find a detox doctor or center?  I have been taking pain medication (oxy and percocets) for 15 months now.  I first started taking them to manage pain associated with the side effect from chemotherapy and radiation.  I know I don't need them anymore and would like to stop, but I admit that I cannot do it on my own.  My oncologists just keep refilling the prescriptions for me whenever I ask.  I think they are just taking the easy way out, which is stupid.  But it is just as stupid of me to keep asking for them.  Any help would be appreciated.  thanks.

[Aimee1]

Hi JoeyR!

Sounds to me like you are in active addiction.  Anything that makes you sick while not taking is usually an addiction.  Addiction differs in many ways.  There is pseudo addiction and flamboyant addiction.  Taking 12 Darvocets a day is definately abuse of the medication and warrants the necessity to question your motive.  Are you taking these meds simply to feel better or are you taking these drugs to "feel good or even normal" -- Just a question as you, yourself know the answer.  Be honest with your answer to yourself and seek medical attention to this as addiciton does kill.  Go to your PMD and ask his advice as he is the only one who is able to suggest a plan of treatment for you.  If he is unable to do  so, please ask for a referral of another doctor.  There is help out there and is usually not too expensive.  Please do this now as it gets much worse and usually doesnt end too quickly unless intervention is accepted!  Good luck to you and in all you accomplish!  There are several great recovery sources out there that can and will help.  Be sure to research ALL of them before making that committment since one size does not fit all.  Addiction is a disease that needs medical attention first. Second comes the REASON for the addiction as while counseling, the matter often arises.  THANKS!

[JoeyR]

I should also say that I have been living with clinical depression since I was 16... now 28 and I take wellbutrin twice a day. I also have Ativan which I use to sleep, but unlike the Darvocet, I do not find a "high" in taking the Ativan. I use that for what it helps me with. (Anxiety and sleeping).

After reading some of the warnings that go along with pain killers, it scares the hell out of me to think I am in that situation but just dont realize it I guess. I never in my life thought I would become addicted to "legal" drugs like this. This really sux.

[JoeyR]

I would like some information please. I have been taking Darvocet for sometime now... about 8 months and take 12 pills a day...Usually 3 or 4 at a time. How do you know when you are addicted? I dont feel so good if I go without it for more than a day. I get nervous, sweat (god i hate that) and hurt. I am taking them for a sinus problem I have because I cannot afford the surgery to fix the problem. I really want to stop this, but am afraid to. I live in the Chicago area. My name is Joey.

[angst]

hello, my name is Ava, and i am a maintaining nurse without a
license.  after my first 5 years of Stadol NS, for intractable
vascular headaches, i knew i was addicted.  i went to a pain clinic where i had injections of botox and a local into my face, head and neck.  horrible.  i was then put on propoxyphene - darvocet or wygesic.  i finally od'd with some barbituates i had
gotten my hands on, because i was in so much physical and emotional pain.  i lived because someone came by the house and found me prostrate on the kitchen floor.  that was rehab 101.
i got out and found the needle, and why waste good drugs at work?
i found a way to recycle those wastages.  i also was introduced to dilaudid off the street.  that became my drug of choice. it is
better than pharmacutil dilaudid.  the yellow pill disolved in H2O. Now that gave me a rush like nothing i'd ever had.  i went to methadone for about 2 years and then detoxed with the help of NA. i stayed clean for 6mo. while in NA.  I took a 12hr shift job
at a poor private hospital.  i started back using after my i'd been there for about a month or two.  i had 2relapses before the
hospital caught on to me.  i surrendered my license and have opportunity to get them back. i just do not know if i want to do that right now.  My 3rd and final relapse hit me while i was waiting tables.  As soon as i could, i ran back to methadone, it saved my life, when my friends were od'ing on oxy's and various
other drugs including dilaudid.  i am not putting a time limit on this time around.  i get counselling and group therapy at the
methadone clinic.  this place does more than take my money and
wham, bam, thank you maam.  I hope for recovery one day soon. I am safe now. As for the endorphins and seritonin, i believe they
will replenish themselves. it is the crystal methamphetamine that
does irreparable damage.  thanks for posting.  yours is a humble
result, and i sure hope to be there one day.   Ava

[Aimee1]

Hi Jess,

Thanks for the reply.  I too, know all so well of the likes of ULTRAM...  I thought I was onto something while trying the detox dive at home one week and tried the ULTRAM as a substitute for MOTRIN (knowing the opiate receptor's inability to differentiate the Ultram and thinking, ah -- I can at least try it since it isnt a real "narcotic"} ...  WELL, little to my surprise, I was onto something alright!  It worked confounding for the detox for a while, until I tried to stop taking it...  GEEZE, to say the least - I was detoxing AGAIN from the ULTRAM.  I think this drug would be widely used as in MAT and would be a wonderful treatment for those of whom cannot go the abstinence route.  In all fairness however, it is still an abused drug and really should be reclassified on the schedule list.  In time, I am sure it will be.  Docs are not prescribing this drug as much anymore since they are now being "more educated" in the areas of addiction to Ultram while the marketing personnel for this drug have been re-educated in their explication to the docs.

For any of you:  What is your opinion on "Brain damage as permanent in the opiate/narcotic abuser" -- Just would love to hear some feedback.  THANKS!  Aimee

[GOD]

Hiya, Aimee....

Here there would be MANY, MANY, millionaires if we could "Bottle" what we have learned in recovery..... Geez, wouldn't it be nice if we could just take a pill that would make us "Normal" -- Ha ha ha!!!!

I came to this forum as a recovering alcoholic (Professional, your age, Etc.) Didn't think I was an addict as well until I was prescribed this little "Harmless" non-narcotic drug called Ultram

[Aimee1]

Hi everyone!

I am new to this forum as it seems many of you are not.  I have been reading here this a.m. (EASTERN TIME) for quite a while and could not resist the temptation in posting...  I have been where many of you are today.  My story is not unique however, I have something I want to keep and that is ONLY IF I GIVE IT AWAY.  I am a recovering LORTAB addict of many years and many pills.  I am sober in recovery now for over 3 years and want to tell you that the stories I read here sounded like me BEFORE sobriety.  I see the "personality similairities" and want to say that it is NICE to be free of that rat race, chasing doctors, pharmacies, etc.  I am 34 years old, a professional, I have 2 children, a wonderful husband and geeze -- WOKE UP one day and realized.... I AM TOO, A DRUG ADDICT.  Boy, the name sounds so bad, but YES I AM and will always be a drug addict and hopefully a recovering drug addict.  This disease does not discriminate and does not pick sides of the streets.  It is a very visiouc disease and does kill.  I have seen many die of addiction, many more lose family members and have seen the horrible tragedies in which a family sometimes never overcomes when one is in the throes of addiction.  I would love to give to you what I have today... I know addiction is the worst thing in the world to wake up to daily and I know the hurt it puts on families.  But, most of all - I know that NONE of you USING ADDICTS want to use anymore especially with the drugs that are availale now.  We cannot continue to let this disease take the live of our loved ones and cannot let this happen to our CHILDREN.  IT does take a VILLAGE TO RAISE CHILDREN, however it takes a NATION to beat the WAR ON DRUGS.  I am here for anyone in need of a friend, a foe, a kick in the a$$, a listener, and most of all a confidant whom has been there and done that.  I wish for you what I HAVE and would not have it if someone didnt give up on me.  I know the hurt in your heart and wish I could bottle recovery cuz I'd be a millioniare!  Thanks for reading and hope to hear from you all!  Yours in Recovery!  Ahhhh!  How do I do a spell check???  This is not fair!  LOL!

[angst]

Most of us do not import drugs.  Maybe one or two have a doctor on line.  Not many of us use that way.  Actually this site is a place we come to when we need support staying off the drugs.  
There are addicts, chronic pain patients, and those of us maintaining.  You've come to the wrong place if you want me to tell you how to cope some dope.  If you have valid medical problems, you can go to a doctor, addictionologist, pain specialist, or your run of the mill-pick him out of the phone book doctor-, but i suggest you read some of this forum.  you  will find the pain drugs bring along with them.  Good luck to you.  I hope you never find my drug of choice.  I could have died
many, many times.  I am alive, and I believe my Higher Power kept
it that way.  Tough love is good love sometimes.  Good luck.

[nanotechusa]

Just curious, where to you import these drugs from?  What website?  I've researched this for my hair loss for Propecia (its very expensive here) and ive thought about importing it generically.  Many of these sites however, are very unreliable and scams...

Thanks
Jason

[soccy]

meagain, I don't think your husband took your patch was any kind of intentional hurt towards you, or to get at you, he was feeding his addiction.  We've all I'm sure hurt people from our addictions in some way or another, we weren't deliberately trying to do so but we had to take care of ourselves and others ended up getting hurt.  Not saying that what happened sucks any less, but at the same time I don't think what he did was something personal against you.

[tex3]

Hey Me, how are you doing girl? I don't have a website so wasn't me. You can write anytime though at ***@****. Let me know how you are today, please. Kick that husband out yet? Just kidding, hoping to bring a smile to your face...:)