Aa
Addidtion Medicine question for MMt-Md
First off thanks for getting us(me)talking yesterday.I needed to.
My question is about addiction medicine.The post by tex3 I think about the brain and addiction was very interesting.I talked to
the doctor that has been my pain doc and one of my friends and
after the emotions I went thru yesterday I made that decision to seek the help I really need.I can stay opiate free,I have that much will now,But the question is this Do you believe that
addiction is liken to a stroke victim,that the brain will
find another way to make that chemical change and path It needs to function,Normally or socially which ever is correct.Am I being clear about this.I don't have the extra money it would take for me to see an Addiction Doctor unless I have more
than just what I received from the shrink I saw last week.
Opinions are very welcomed and the doctor's office is going to call me today,they always have cancellations and I'm on standby.
Thanks Doc,
bmac(Bill)
My question is about addiction medicine.The post by tex3 I think about the brain and addiction was very interesting.I talked to
the doctor that has been my pain doc and one of my friends and
after the emotions I went thru yesterday I made that decision to seek the help I really need.I can stay opiate free,I have that much will now,But the question is this Do you believe that
addiction is liken to a stroke victim,that the brain will
find another way to make that chemical change and path It needs to function,Normally or socially which ever is correct.Am I being clear about this.I don't have the extra money it would take for me to see an Addiction Doctor unless I have more
than just what I received from the shrink I saw last week.
Opinions are very welcomed and the doctor's office is going to call me today,they always have cancellations and I'm on standby.
Thanks Doc,
bmac(Bill)
What is the Thomas receipe. I now have enough energy (5 weeks clean from vics) and walk and will start yoga. I eat more and take vitamins. I try and eat good food too. What is this important receipe? Thanx.
You are right about the 30 to 60 days on the muscle aches.
I am on day 24 and experiencing that.The other seems to take longer.The now famous Thomas recipe has given my energy and
the vitimins have given my system something it hasn't had in years.Good health.I talked with a Addiction Specialist
and she said health is a really big part of recovery.If
you don't exercise and do something good for your body
the odds are against you to remain drug free.That really got to me because it forced me to start exercising.Opiates make us
very lazy.We stop getting the physical workout we need and it helps deplete the nutriants our bodies have to have everyday.
I like you have been doing this for a long time,28 years,
Im 44 and been gettin'high since I was 16.Try and do something
to improve your health,then the fatigue and runs and all the abuse stuff will go away.
Thanks for you post,24 days and staying clean!
bmac(Bill)
I am on day 24 and experiencing that.The other seems to take longer.The now famous Thomas recipe has given my energy and
the vitimins have given my system something it hasn't had in years.Good health.I talked with a Addiction Specialist
and she said health is a really big part of recovery.If
you don't exercise and do something good for your body
the odds are against you to remain drug free.That really got to me because it forced me to start exercising.Opiates make us
very lazy.We stop getting the physical workout we need and it helps deplete the nutriants our bodies have to have everyday.
I like you have been doing this for a long time,28 years,
Im 44 and been gettin'high since I was 16.Try and do something
to improve your health,then the fatigue and runs and all the abuse stuff will go away.
Thanks for you post,24 days and staying clean!
bmac(Bill)
thanx for the quick reply about when withdrawal symptoms disappear. I'm 54 yrs old and perhaps (for me) bouncing back takes longer than someone 20-30 yrs younger. Is there anyone who knows when the drained/fatigue feeling leaves--this renders me more depressed than anything. I have NO URGES at all to pick up again--the "jones" is way too miserable to go thru this again--yes I know, the mind forgets very easily when all is back to alleged normal. I've always been an addict and always attracted to narcotics. They normalize me like nothing else. Plus they rid my bod of pain and disorders. Oh well, there is nothing like not having to crash and wreck havoc on my organs by abusing pills. I am 28 days clean from 15 mos straight of 8-10 Vicos per day. I got an answer on 30-60 days for muscle aches, pain and headaches with sinus stuff to disapper--how about an answer about how long for fatigue and perhaps loose stool. Thanx.
I have been clean for 28 days. I still have very loose stool, allegic rhinitis (sp)waves of great fatigue, varous mucle aches and now have a right eyeball that is bulging--god knows what that is about, but happened 2 weeks after withdrawal from 8-10 Vicodin per day for 15 mos straight. I weaned down 28 days ago and have not picked up. My question is: when will the muscle aches, sleep patterns and fatigue disappear. I try to eat as much as possible, some days I cannot. I give my symptoms to the person that wrote that lengthy rap about narcotics for certain medical issues. I suppose that the IBS I have, headaches behind my eyes, muscle aches from degenerative disc disorder and the beginnings of rhemitisim (sp) would disappear and make me normal, but this 54 yr old gal has always been an addict chasing a way to normalize mentally. What came first, the chicken or the egg--my bi-polar disorder or my addicition trying to make my bi-polar normalize. Is there a doc out there or anybody that knows these questions. Thanks
Im on day 22 have the same physical stuff.I am sure someone
can answer you as to why but I know it is not pleasant.
I was told in about 30 to 60 days the headaches and middle back
pain would go first.That is stress you have put yourself into.
As for the discs,I know that.I have had L4/5,S1 fusion and
it hurts now more than ever.I quess pain killers do work on
pain.I decided to remain opiate free and I can,but I hope
someone can go into more detail with you.Keep postin'
peace,
bmac
can answer you as to why but I know it is not pleasant.
I was told in about 30 to 60 days the headaches and middle back
pain would go first.That is stress you have put yourself into.
As for the discs,I know that.I have had L4/5,S1 fusion and
it hurts now more than ever.I quess pain killers do work on
pain.I decided to remain opiate free and I can,but I hope
someone can go into more detail with you.Keep postin'
peace,
bmac
Not if you taper slowly enough. But tapering takes great discipline. It's best if you can give the meds to someone you trust and have them dole your dose out every day. Good luck.
Your post is most probably a good comfort to the legitimate pain-sufferers who have to undergo humiliation to obtain much needed and available relief. Unfortunately, my reading of most of the posts are from folks like myself who are using opiates, not as legitimate solutions to real pain issues, but to get high (I am probably the most pain free person I know: I don't get sick, haven't had any accidents, got stitches when I was a small boy, but am the shining example of someone who has no business with pain medication). I know there are legitimate pain sufferers who are active in taking a pro-active approach to insistance upon readily available solutions to their pains. That activism is probably a tremendous course in that appropriate demographic; however, it seems that most of the posters here really want to quit because they are not using drugs legitimately. Thank you for discussing that angle of opiate use, though; I'm sure there are many people who suffer needlessly a sense of shame for making use of a beneficial means for relief of severe pain.
HI, I am posting for the first time today; however, I suspect my concerns are not new. Nevertheless, I am extremely agitated by what I call Medication Prejudice. I've suffered from severe pain throughout my adult life, or twenty years. I learned quickly that opiate based meds bring pain relief when OTC or nonnarcotics do not. Furthermore, the opiate pain medication either completely eliminated or significantly reduced symptoms of the following: Allergic Rhinitus, Generalized Anxiety, Irritable Bowel Syndrome, and severe Deppression.
When I informed my personal Physician of these additional benefits, he explained why this could not possibly be true, especially with regard to Rhinitus. He reasoned that hundreds of thousands of other people would have reported similar results. Realizing that I do not have a comparable education, I still disagree with his assertion. We are all unique human beings. Does everyone develop a brain tumor? What about a host of other rare illnesses. I believe the term rare indicates that only a small segment of our population will suffer from the illness. Why is it so difficult to accept the possibility that some people are getting similar benefits from opiates. I can assure you that I am one of them.
This ocurred about fifteen years ago. Since then I've become somewhat educated concerning this matter. The data I've found supports the likelyhood of some patients realizing the benefits I've mentioned. I'm certainly not advising anyone to seek opiates for this purpose. The best you can do, for now, is speak to your Pysician, and determine whether or not he or she is willing to look further into these possibilities.
As far as addiction is concerned, while some of us are irresponible with our narcotic pain medication, it's the narcotic that carries the addiction to you; not vice versa. An opiate is addictive; it's that simple. Unfortunately, opiate pain medication is far more effective than the more costly alternatives. Don't think for a minute that the relatively inexpensive opiate pain meds, like hydrocodone, oxycodone, and even methadone (not Oxycontin)are under attack because the DEA is concerned about your health. Check the costs of the meds I listed. Then, compare your data to the cost of the nonopiate pain relievers that are being presented as effective for pain relief, yet, not addictive. Let's face it; they don't work. You may forget your pain for a few minutes as you ponder what you might have done with the $184.00 you just spent on a useless med. For about 75% less $, you could have had hydrocodone (Vicodin, Lortab, Lorcet), or oxycodone (Percacet, Percadan - stronger, therefore, little more epensive); regardless, the opiates meds will relieve your pain; isn't that the point? If you are fortunate, you will find a Physician who is willing to put you on a methadone maintenance program. Methadone has a 24 hour halflife. It put an end to the monthly migraine headaches I had suffered for more than a decade. Unlike the well known opiate pain meds, it did not produce the kind of euphoria that often leads to abuse. Understand that abuse and addiction are totally different ideas. Abuse is a verb; it's an action one takes. John abuses his golf clubs after hitting a poor shot. Yes, John can get addicted to golf, but that's another story. What about addiction? DO NOT LET ANYONE TELL YOU ADDICTION COMES AS A CONSEQUENCE OF YOUR ACTIONS. Can one become addicted to donuts? Not by the definition of addiction as I'm apply it in this argument. I think we all know that one can abuse donuts. There is not much out there that can't be abused, it that's what we choose to do. Abuse is a poor choice and almost always brings consequences. Perhaps addiction could be one of those consequences? Should that prevent those of us who seek pain relief from having access to opiates? Should those who use opitates be treated as criminals. Should a person, who uses opiate pain meds, legitimately, face prejudice in the job market? Rhetorical questions? Yes, most of them anyway. Regardless, it's happening right now, it happened yesterday, and it will continue to happen until we find a solution; a way to protect our rights and avoid discrimination. Otherwise, we will be similar to the unfortunate victims of Epilepsy in the days when they were said to be possed by demons. You can use your imagination to figure out what life was like for them, based on that one fact. I apologize for having forgotten the time period during which this ocurred.
Opiates have side effects, as do many meds. Most side effects are undesirable as they cause discomfort. The opiate, however, provides a comfortable side effect. While it is certainly true that this same comfortable side effect, known as euphoria, can lead to addiction and/or abuse, I remain perplexed by the overwhelming effort to stop Physicians from prescribing these meds. God forbid the side effect not make you miserable! It seems to me that we should be pleased with these side effects.
As for addiction, it is well known that only a minority percentage of the population has addictive tendencies. I am certainly one of those. The only problem this has caused me stems from the Medication Prejudice population. Their lectures never cease. Their actions force me to beg for medication that should be given to me without difficulty. They think they know what is best for you and me; I wonder how many would change their thinking if faced with a tendency to become addicted and severe pain that is relieved only by an opiate. Severe pain talks! All of this other nonsense is about money, and the belief that anything that gives you pleasure will also bring you pain and therefore, must be evil. I can tell you that a relationship with Jesus Christ gives me great pleasure, and sometimes it leads to suffering. Nevertheless, I wouldn't give it up for anything.
Good luck to each of you; and please do not let the witch hunters of the 21st century bring you down. It is not a crime, nor an act of improper behavior, to desire narcotics for pain relief.
When I informed my personal Physician of these additional benefits, he explained why this could not possibly be true, especially with regard to Rhinitus. He reasoned that hundreds of thousands of other people would have reported similar results. Realizing that I do not have a comparable education, I still disagree with his assertion. We are all unique human beings. Does everyone develop a brain tumor? What about a host of other rare illnesses. I believe the term rare indicates that only a small segment of our population will suffer from the illness. Why is it so difficult to accept the possibility that some people are getting similar benefits from opiates. I can assure you that I am one of them.
This ocurred about fifteen years ago. Since then I've become somewhat educated concerning this matter. The data I've found supports the likelyhood of some patients realizing the benefits I've mentioned. I'm certainly not advising anyone to seek opiates for this purpose. The best you can do, for now, is speak to your Pysician, and determine whether or not he or she is willing to look further into these possibilities.
As far as addiction is concerned, while some of us are irresponible with our narcotic pain medication, it's the narcotic that carries the addiction to you; not vice versa. An opiate is addictive; it's that simple. Unfortunately, opiate pain medication is far more effective than the more costly alternatives. Don't think for a minute that the relatively inexpensive opiate pain meds, like hydrocodone, oxycodone, and even methadone (not Oxycontin)are under attack because the DEA is concerned about your health. Check the costs of the meds I listed. Then, compare your data to the cost of the nonopiate pain relievers that are being presented as effective for pain relief, yet, not addictive. Let's face it; they don't work. You may forget your pain for a few minutes as you ponder what you might have done with the $184.00 you just spent on a useless med. For about 75% less $, you could have had hydrocodone (Vicodin, Lortab, Lorcet), or oxycodone (Percacet, Percadan - stronger, therefore, little more epensive); regardless, the opiates meds will relieve your pain; isn't that the point? If you are fortunate, you will find a Physician who is willing to put you on a methadone maintenance program. Methadone has a 24 hour halflife. It put an end to the monthly migraine headaches I had suffered for more than a decade. Unlike the well known opiate pain meds, it did not produce the kind of euphoria that often leads to abuse. Understand that abuse and addiction are totally different ideas. Abuse is a verb; it's an action one takes. John abuses his golf clubs after hitting a poor shot. Yes, John can get addicted to golf, but that's another story. What about addiction? DO NOT LET ANYONE TELL YOU ADDICTION COMES AS A CONSEQUENCE OF YOUR ACTIONS. Can one become addicted to donuts? Not by the definition of addiction as I'm apply it in this argument. I think we all know that one can abuse donuts. There is not much out there that can't be abused, it that's what we choose to do. Abuse is a poor choice and almost always brings consequences. Perhaps addiction could be one of those consequences? Should that prevent those of us who seek pain relief from having access to opiates? Should those who use opitates be treated as criminals. Should a person, who uses opiate pain meds, legitimately, face prejudice in the job market? Rhetorical questions? Yes, most of them anyway. Regardless, it's happening right now, it happened yesterday, and it will continue to happen until we find a solution; a way to protect our rights and avoid discrimination. Otherwise, we will be similar to the unfortunate victims of Epilepsy in the days when they were said to be possed by demons. You can use your imagination to figure out what life was like for them, based on that one fact. I apologize for having forgotten the time period during which this ocurred.
Opiates have side effects, as do many meds. Most side effects are undesirable as they cause discomfort. The opiate, however, provides a comfortable side effect. While it is certainly true that this same comfortable side effect, known as euphoria, can lead to addiction and/or abuse, I remain perplexed by the overwhelming effort to stop Physicians from prescribing these meds. God forbid the side effect not make you miserable! It seems to me that we should be pleased with these side effects.
As for addiction, it is well known that only a minority percentage of the population has addictive tendencies. I am certainly one of those. The only problem this has caused me stems from the Medication Prejudice population. Their lectures never cease. Their actions force me to beg for medication that should be given to me without difficulty. They think they know what is best for you and me; I wonder how many would change their thinking if faced with a tendency to become addicted and severe pain that is relieved only by an opiate. Severe pain talks! All of this other nonsense is about money, and the belief that anything that gives you pleasure will also bring you pain and therefore, must be evil. I can tell you that a relationship with Jesus Christ gives me great pleasure, and sometimes it leads to suffering. Nevertheless, I wouldn't give it up for anything.
Good luck to each of you; and please do not let the witch hunters of the 21st century bring you down. It is not a crime, nor an act of improper behavior, to desire narcotics for pain relief.
hey I missread some of your comments. I do see you have gone back and fourth from D to Lortab...I was reading to fast and miss some of your story..
Can you get anythign else to help with your withdrawls? Sounds ruff, and i feel for you!
Can you get anythign else to help with your withdrawls? Sounds ruff, and i feel for you!
Hey, first of all, to motox4fun, Dilaudid is gnarley from what I have heard. My doc tried to put me on that and knowing my addictive personality I said no way. So he put me on Fentanyl which I think is almost as bad. My advice to you is not good, but get off that and ween down to pills. I am not sure what you are taking it for, but the longer you are on it, the harder it will be. Have you tried like maybe the stongest Lorcet, or Percoset? While you are getting off Dilaudid, those will tremendously help with the withdrawls. Are you happy on the Dilaudid? Is life good for you? It is not for me..I hate being a slave to opiates!!!
Msblacey
Emmie, You are doing the right thing. None of us would be here talking if our addictions were pleasant. I can get the pills whenever do to my bad back, but life has lost it's luster being doped up all day. So when you get that craving while weeneing down to that last half a pill, remember there is a reason you are trying to get off of it. Ask your doctor for some Anti-anxiety pills, such as Valium or Ativan to cut the edge. Just don't get addicted to those. Those withdralws can last up to 5 months..
Msblacey
Emmie, You are doing the right thing. None of us would be here talking if our addictions were pleasant. I can get the pills whenever do to my bad back, but life has lost it's luster being doped up all day. So when you get that craving while weeneing down to that last half a pill, remember there is a reason you are trying to get off of it. Ask your doctor for some Anti-anxiety pills, such as Valium or Ativan to cut the edge. Just don't get addicted to those. Those withdralws can last up to 5 months..
Dilaudid,hadn't heard that in a while.I went to the ER withdrawing from methadone.Headache and all.Phenobarb and clonidine helped me thru w/d's.K4's was something we used in the 70's,haven't heard about since,thank God.Keep on asking here and you will get great advice and a crutch.Believe me.I am Bill,
peace,
bmac
peace,
bmac
I was a user of IV dilaudid for about 2 months and also a user of Lortab for most of the past year and a half. I stopped the IV dilaudid about 4 weeks ago and began a taper with Lortab shortly there after. I was down to 40mg lortab a day and went cold turkey about 5 days ago. The worst of the physical withdrawls were about over as of yesterday afternoon, but I developed a migrain headache that would not stop. N/V the whole bit. I ended up in the local ER where they gave me Demerol 50mg and phenergan 25mg IV which did NOTHING for the headache. They then gave me 2mg of Dilaudid IV and when that didn't stop the H/A, I was given another 2mg of Dilaudid IV. After that, I was finally out of pain. I guess my tollerance is REALLY high from my abuse of opiates. To this point today I don't feel like the physical W/D symptoms are starting again and it has been almost 24 hours since I was given the Dilaudid. Do you think I am in for another W/D session in the near future or am I safe?
Please respond if you have a chance
Thank you,
James
If you don't mind, I would like to ask you a question too.
How much tylenol does a person have to take over a period of time to development liver problems? I take tylenol pm every night and have for the past 12 years. Do you see a problem with that. What I am taking is 650mg of tylenol and the sleep aid in this is called Diphenhydramine (which is benadryl I think) Thank you in advance.
~Kell
How much tylenol does a person have to take over a period of time to development liver problems? I take tylenol pm every night and have for the past 12 years. Do you see a problem with that. What I am taking is 650mg of tylenol and the sleep aid in this is called Diphenhydramine (which is benadryl I think) Thank you in advance.
~Kell
Just let me add, that i still have the bottle of 100 that i renewed(after weaning down to 1/2), just in case and it has several refils and i am in a mental fight with myself about not renewing them. This is a hard day. I have always gotten mine by Rx and didn't increase the dose over time. In discussing with my doctor my concern that i was addicted, he told me i didn't take enough to be addicited but yet, i felt withdrawal, which means to me i was? Thanks for the time
Hi, i am new here but not new the problem. I have been taking 6 ES vicodan since 1994. I took it to feel normal. After coming here a couple of weeks ago, it gave the courage to try to stop, something i thought about all the time but couldn't stand the w/d. I am down to 1/2 tablet per day but just can't seem to give that last little bit up. I feel it physically but wonder if the half life is long enough for that to be true or is psychological, not wanting to give up the last little bit and the w/d i am feeling is my own sneaky way of hanging on. I am so confused. Knowing i am not the only one who has this problem makes me feel better. I have hid this from everyone for so long...thanks for letting me share.
emmie
emmie
Have an Answer?
You are reading content posted in the Addiction: Substance Abuse Community
Is treating glaucoma with marijuana all hype, or can hemp actually help?
If you think marijuana has no ill effects on your health, this article from Missouri Medicine may make you think again.
Julia Aharonov, DO, reveals the quickest way to beat drug withdrawal.
Tricks to help you quit for good.
A list of national and international resources and hotlines to help connect you to needed health and medical services.
Herpes sores blister, then burst, scab and heal.
