I'll let this be an open forum-- Go ahead and ask ANYTHING!

[GOD]

I don't really have a question, other than:

When someone is in SEVERE chronic pain, but they do not have a "Life-threatening" disease (such as Cancer, AIDS, Etc..)What is the "limit" that most pain clinics would go to in order to make the patient as comfortable as possible?

In other words, what would be considered the Final step?

Methadone, High doses of Hydrocodone, Oxycodone?
Fentanyl patch?

ANyhow, that's all I have for now.... So have a great day, people!
Jess

[OxyDout]

I asked a question in the thread below, but I was just curious how long the half life of methadone is......... I did a 4 day detox. never taking more then 5mg at a time, and never taking more then 7.5 mg in a day..........

[skipper]

the final step:
geeze what are you up to jess? it's all up to the doc willing to
use his DEA #. non-lethal pain is still pain. i myself know of
pain so black and limitless i've literally had a shotgun in my
mouth. you know, pain so bad your afraid it won't kill you....
and oh-boy don't ya just gotta love the ass-hole MD who tells you
he is afraid you might get addicted, blah, blah....let's hope the
"dark age of pain control" is over!!

the only trouble i've had wih a pain doc is them not wanting to
believe in narcotic tolerence. i guess i'm lucky, i've got a real
good pain doc now...it only took me 6 years to find him!

keep an angel on your shoulder
kip

[alexandra_r]

I am having a really tough time.  I am still on my taper, and down to 2, but can't seem to get down to 1 and 1/2.  Plus, the pain in my back is wearing me down.  My back is hurting more than it has for months and I know that the pain is exacerbated by w/d's.  At this point, at 2 vikes per day--it keeps me from jumping out of my skin, but no pain relief.  Motrin doesn't help.  I have a hot tub and that does help, very temporarily.  I don't know how much better the pain will be when I quit the vikes--I only have 4 left, although I have 2 more refills on my script for 100.  I have a lot of will power (my script could have been filled nearly 3 weeks ago), but I feel like I'm at the end of my rope.  I know I should finish the w/d to get an idea of how severe my pain is without any meds, but today I just went to bed and cried because it hurt so bad.  The main reason that I wanted off the vikes (because they were not such a big part when I was taking them, like heroin/crack or most other drugs I have done)--I was able to function fine on them and didn't think about "scoring" all the time.  They were just an accessory in my life and not the main event.  In other words--as Lou Reed said about heroin "It's my life and it's my wife. . . "  Well, that just wasn't the case here.  I don't think my back is as bad as some on the forum because my pain was controlled with a combination of vicodin (5 per day works great on a moderate to bad day) and I would take 4 on good days and about 5 600 mg. motrin.  The problem I was having is that I _did_ have good days, where I didn't think I really needed the vikes that much (for pain relief) and then I would feel that same nasty w/d feeling that was from another lifetime ago--I didn't/don't want that.  I'm praying for strength to not fill another script and don't know if I can . . . I know I should call the pharmacy and cancel the script but I don't want to do that until I am positive that I cannot live without some kind of pain medication.  I have read all about ultram here and that sounds just as bad as any other opiate (or worse).  

I know I should take a little cheese with my whine, but I needed to unload.  Thanks for listening

[hippy]

i was wondering what was the best things, as far as food and supplaments for helping to increase the health of our
liver and kidneys. as everyone know's we have not treated them well over the years
any suggestions would be appreceited

ps sorry for the bad spelling.

peace!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! hope everyone is doing well

[OxyDout]

go to a nutrition store, supplement store, etc.... they should have what they call Milk Thistle (sp) but its supposed to be 1 of the few supplements that can restore your liver........ a lot of weight lifters take it because of the steroid abuse.

[skipper]

hey people:
8;45 am and already skunk hot! i'm going to mimic my dog, "meaty-
boy" and hang out near an air-conditioner vent...

just wanted to let 'ya all know, i will be gone away from a comput-
er for a couple days. i actually look forward to this, except for
the falling out of touch with you guys. it's only for the weekend
i hope.

alexandra_R:
sorry to hear yesterday was a rough one. you did the right thing to
post to the rest of us. there isn't much we can do for you...except
just be here and listen. there is a way through all of this...so
stick with us and perhaps we will find it!

keep an angel on your shoulder
kip

[alexandra_r]

Thanks so much . . . your comments and posts help me a lot. In fact, I have found it really helpful to read all the comments from the past as well as the present.  It is comforting and helpful to know that you are not alone.   Have a good break from the computer--it's good to get away.

[billyk]

I have taken Lortab for 6 years 100 mg a day. I have been sober now for 11 days from lortab and 3 days from Methadone Detox. I am still so weak and anxious, I feel like jumping outta my skin, but just when I get up I feel so tired and weak I can do nothing about it. When will this subside in to no w/drawls at all?? I may give up if its much longer............ naaayyy. lol

[Hinkster]

I was just wondering at my pain clinic they switched us over
from roxicodone 30mg to morphine pills 30mg. The pharmacy kept
running out of the roxicodone so this will be a permanent switch.
Is there any difference in the two pills? I still take 20mg of
methadone. The morphine is 4-5 30mg pills 4 times a day. Thats
up to 150mgs of morphine a day. Also is that a little high?
Thanks for any info.
Tom

[Hinkster]

I meant to say I will be taking up to 600mgs of morphine a day
not 150mgs as I said. 150mgs was for 6hrs. Also is morphine 30mg
pills the same as ms contin?

[Waking up]

I know you really want to stop using pain-killers, but sometiimes you also have to listen to your body, if you have a problem with pain, don't kill yourself with trying to taper with your body screaming in pain. I'm not saying you can't do it because you know you can do anything you put your mind to, but maybe just take care of youself for a couple of days, when your back is feeling a little better, start the process again. I'm just one opinion out of a long list of people who cares.

[alexandra_r]

Waking up:  Thanks for your nice words.  I want to see if I can make it through 2 weeks w/no meds and see where I am w/the pain.  I have a lot of support--I have the greatest guy in the world who is helping me by doing _all_ the cooking, cleaning, etc.  The heebie jeebies are better. Tomorrow, I will take my last vike (hopefully).  If I can make it (and I might not) through 2 weeks, I think once the w/d despair lifts a little, I might be able to take an honest assessment.  I agree, that no one (not addicts or anyone else) should have to live with unbearable pain.  But I have to know how much the w/drawal is increasing my back pain.  If I decide that I can't live with the amount of back pain I am in, then I will talk to my doc about the whole situation.  

Thanks waking up and to everyone else--I feel better right now, but then I just took a vike (and unfortunately/fortunately the world always looks better when the pain med kicks in)

[Waking up]

I respect your desicion you know you are very strong, I'll be here for any decisions you make, please post on how you are doing in a couple of days.

[OxyDout]

Its hard to say, tell me about your 3 day methadone detox.  and what kind of meth it was? how you took it? how often? all that stuff............

[mrmichael67]

Morphine 30mg is equivalent to 20mg of oxycodone.  The morphine you are taking is probably (IR) immediate release.  What does it say on the bottle?  Actually, if you take them on a regular schedule, it is just like taking the ms contin.  In studies, they have found that the blood level remains pretty much the same when morphine is used either way.  I would have to imagine that you are not taking methadone now?  How is your pain?  As far as the bottle goes, when I get name brand ms contin (I prefer generic...faster release) it says ms contin of course.  The generic says morphine sulfate ER (mg).  My breakthrough says either MSIR 30mg or morphine sulfate IR 30mg.  Do any of them look like what you have?

[jonesing247]

Hey Alex, my name is Mark. I have been reading a couple of your posts and sympathize with what you are saying. I hope you can bear the WDs and continue with your taper, however, whilst in your position, I was unable to do so. It was only this time that i have been able to stick to my detox. How long it will last, who knows, cause to tell you the truth all I want to do is more OC's. Hopefully on a beach in St. Tropez :). I dont know where you are in your life, but im only 23 and if I continue on the path that i was on, i will be closing every door that is presently open for me. I'm not one to give advice - but i wrote this because of your line about the other stuff being an accessory to your life. To all of my friends who have told me that I have had a problem (when I did lots of coke) - I said that it was an accessory to the party. False justification for sure, but true in many ways. The one thing ive learned about the painkillers though, is that they really ARE the party. Think about it before you fill your script. Please take care and good luck. Mark. (Im pretty incoherent today - sorry - the detox is really making me tired. Two more weeks, hopefully, and all will be well. In theory.)

[Hinkster]

My bottle says morphine IR 30mg. Take 4 or 5 tablets 4 times a
day.

[Hinkster]

I just started taking the morphine yesterday afternoon. My pain
isn't too bad today. They still want me to take the methadone
10mg morn 5mg noon and 5mg 4pm each day. She gave me the morphine
for breakthrough. Thats 600mg a day for breakthrough. Does that
make any sense to you? So far I think I like the morphine much
better that the roxicodone. The pain has pretty much stablized.
Thanks for the help Mike.
Tom

[mrmichael67]

The morphine works much better for me also.  It absolutely makes no sense to still be on the methadone.  The methadone is hindering the action of the morphine.  If you stopped the methadone, you could lower your dose of the morphine.  You know what, do an experiment....stop the methadone for a couple of days and see what happens.  Don't worry, you will not go into withdrawal.  This way you can see for yourself what works best.  I can't see for the life of me what the benefit is for you to be still on the methadone.  Just take the morphine for the couple of days.  The blockade effect will be gone in around 24 hours after you stop.  From there, take the morphine only.  And, you might feel the morphine a lot when the blockade wears off.  Lower the dose until you feel alright.  The only reason I am telling you to do this is because it will answer a big question for you....what works best.  You have the tools at your disposal, so definitely try it.  After two days, go back to your regular thing.  If things works real good for you, tell your doctor.  Maybe he or she will be willing to work with you.  Breakthrough meds are only supposed to be taken 2 or 3 times a day.  And, they aren't supposed to be the majority of the medication you are taking for the day.  If you ever need to contact me, e-mail me at ***@****.

[Hinkster]

Thanks Mike. I will try exactly what you said and I will get back
to you either here or email and let you know how I make out.
Tom

[billyk]

I took 10mg of Methadone 3 times daily for 2 days then 20mg the third day, then 10mg the last 2 days. I felt pretty good during this detox period. I had been trying to quit a 6 year 100mg a day habit all week long the Hydrocodone habit unsuccessfuly until an addiction specialist gave me the Methadone. I have now been off Hydrocodone since the 10th, (nine days) and the Methadone for 3 days and today has been a bad day. My body aches and my heart is fluttering and a bit anxious. Worse yet my wife just had oral surgery and she got a bottle of, guess what....Hydrocodone.. I will continue to fight, but is this thing gonna last forever or just a few days?

[heath]

i am getting off of opiets. And i was woundering what the symptoms of wiyhdrawls are?

[hippy]

it depends on what and how much you are withdrawling from.
runny nose to start, weakness, cold and hot sweats, severe depression,restless legs and reestless body.
joint pains, panic attacks, headache's, the run's
totol lack of energy.  the inabilty to sleep.

and a few i have forgotten to mention

[Chubby Chops]

Iv'e just found your web site and I have found all the comments and information helpful. I have intractible abdominal pain following 20+ major operations to remove radiation damaged tissue following cancer treatment in 1979. I guess they didn't know how to deal with the cancer then so they blasted away with the radiation. Cured the cancer but left a mess.
Two years ago I had a Medtronic epidural pump fitted into my ab which pumps heroin into my spine, and on top of this I need to self inject IM pethadine 100mg/2ml and medazolam 10mg/2ml. My doctor is helpful and understands which is great when I keep to his recommendation of 4 a day but this often goes over and has been as high as nine a day. People tend to forget the reason for the drugs and focus only on the addiction, this can be difficult.
I would like to hear from anyone who has a similar problem.

[the jackel]

hi i guess DIAMORPHINE must be a last & strongest & if inn such pain would be 1way of stoping the pain.  I know someone who lost a leg & to enable her to be pain free&comfortable she was getting diamorphine for sometime,but i think morphine sulphate tabs would work equaly well hope ya get well&pain free the jakel
bye 4 now folks.

[hellbent]

You might want to try weaning off with codeine. It's milder but has great results with vike/perc withdrawals.

Please don't take this the wrong way: You are on a very very small amount. If you just stopped I suspect things would get better rapidly. As far as the pain sitch, you just have to weigh that against the benefits of being drug free.

[mrmichael67]

I have to take it that you are from the UK?

[mrmichael67]

Heroin (diamorphine) is six times stronger than morphine.  Some people say it is eight times stronger.  Whatever, it is way stronger either way.  Morphine, when taken orally, has only about 40% of it left over when it passes through the liver.  If you take a 100mg pill, you have only 40mg left to work on your pain.  Morphine passes through your liver before it acts on your pain when taken orally.  Heroin shot directly to the site would have a much higher number, I would have to think.  The pump is nice because the medicine is pumped right to the affected area and less medication can be used.  I mentioned the UK because I know they are experimenting with heroin maintanence so I figured that they probably freed it up for certain medical applications.  It is schedule I in the US so I couldn't imagine it even being a possibility here.  For the US, Dilaudid would be comparable.

[GOD]

Thank you for your story. Do you realize what you just did by spending the time to tell your story? You have HELPED someone, and maybe MANY people to see what a hell that addiction can be.

Remember THIS, if you forget all the rest of what I'm about to say:

YOU are not a sinner.

Your BODY craves the drugs, not your mind. YOU hate them, and wish you could rid them forever. Otherwise, why all the torment?

Some people like to quote the bible by saying, "Money is the root of all evil.."

THAT is a misstatement. The BOOK says, "For the LOVE of money is the root of all evil.."

So, YOU are not a sinner.
Drugs are not evil.

Yes, the "Love" of the drugs in the beginning of your addiction was a sin in itself; however, YOU are not the one in control now. The DRUGS are..... BUT, you have taken the step to BATTLE them now, therefore you will be saved. You are on the right path. It can be a long fight, but, in the end, you WILL win if only you BELIEVE. In yourself!

You may Pray for help from GOD, but as a Christian you MUST remember that GOD gave us FREE WILL, and as the saying goes:

GOD helps those who help themselves.

KEEP helping yourself! You are on the right path!

*****Jesse*******

[hippy]

thanks for the milk thistle recomondation, i looked it up and it looks good.
some one recomended seasilver its a liquid vitamine and is getting rave reviews,

i hope your well, it's been really hot and humid this past week or two down here in philly,
how's the rollerblading going. well have a great sunday.

peace!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[TheProdigal2002]

I have been trying to start a thread from time to time and have
come here from time to time basically every year or so whenever I know that I have got to quit or die --I have to tell some one I am a junkie.

Like I have said I have monitored theese forums from time to time to read the posts and have literally cried my eyes and heart out every time.

I always see the occasional post that goes somethimn like I take 3 vics a day am I addicted ???? THE ANSWER IS YES !!! STOP NOW!!! RIGHT NOW!!!! B4 you really learn something you don't wanna know.

MY STORY:

I have never admiteed to any one up until mow that I am an addict - every one in my life is totally clueless. I have a long term addiction to hydrocodone 6-7 years now!!!! A normal day for me is - was - sometimes is - about 100 mg or Hydrocodne ( Norcos are my favorites !!!!! ) and a couple of oxys to boot say about 40 mgs!!!

When I was in my early twenties I was complteley clean !!! Didn't even smoke weed at this point in my life.
Although as a teen ager I had totally abused Speed - Acid - cocaine - alcohol -weed - I was never addicted to any of theese drugs. I can say that because I have truly learned what addiction is now.

When I got to be in my early 20's I realized that my life was going nowhere so I was able to quit everything (street drugs) altogether for a while about three years UNTIL ONE DAY my dentist prescibed some HYDROCONE for a dental surgery.

The bible say when a demon leaves a man it goes out to the desert where it finds no peace and then it returns and finds the place it left from swept up and cleaned out THEN it returns with seven more demons - seven times more eveil than themselves.

Talk about "testing the spirits"  

Needless to say - just like most of you - a couple a day -turned into a couple every day - turned into -can't go to work without them - turns into can't get out of bed without them - turns into can't breathe without them !!! LITERALLY !!! 4 - 8 - 10 -12 - just like that!!!! Realize this is over a 6-7 year period.

I don't expect to live a long life and I am not even 30 yet.
I do a good job of going on the daily routine every day and am able to put my addiction out of my mind for the most part but sometime I just can't belive what I have done to my life and how I have destroyed it. I HAVE TOOK OPIATES EVERY DAY FOR THE LAST 6 1/2 years without missing a single day!!!!I estamate I have taken about 30.000 painkellers.

This is a battle that is the absolute worst hell any one could inflict on there self. IF you have not been through this there is no way to possible to really understand what I am talking about.

PURE ******* HELL!!! Thats what its like to be an opiate addict.
You wake up every day more tired than you were before you went to sleep. but you can't sleep - because you wake up when your body crys out for opiates!!!

I have tried to think about what is the worst thing about being an addict ??? There are so many !!!

I have often been so constipated I have thrown up!!!
Using the Bathroom is something that I never realized I took for granted in the past.

I eat all food at night so I can get the max effect of the drugs on an empty stomach - and we all know eating at night is bad for you as well. Problems compounded by infinity!!!

I don't think that the damage done can even begin to be measured. Certainly not in money - time - relationships???
Hw do you put a value on your life what is age 20-30 worth in dollars???  

The most scariest thing in the whole wolrd to me is not dieing - of some ****** up gastro disease but being without opiates.

Oh I am really proud of myself now because I have been on a taper. I have managed to get myself down to about 70 mgs a day of hyrdo with no oxycontin!!! That is certainly a big step for me.
I mean hell I kicked oxycontin on my own!!! and am able to have an ok day with just the hydrocodone - I am at the end of this road one way or another. Wherther I end up in a cemetary or a prison or the loonie bin . THE TIME HAS COME TO QUIT and am I so broken down emotionaly - spiritually, physically IT REALLY WOULD BE EASIER TO DIE THAN face what is ahead of me.

I love the Lord Jesus - I love my family - I love drugs - I hate myself!!!. I could probably write a 4000 page manual on opiate addiction but I'll end it right here - this is the first time i have spoken out about this in any matter .

I absolutley have to beat this on my own!! I have thought about going to a methadone clinic and seeing if I can get on that stuff if it can help me live a normal ( WHAT THE **** IS NORMAL is there even such a thing ???) life again.

What I miss the most is this _ i remember when I was young and I would wake up full of energy - ready to live life .

That reminds me - I just rememeber what the absolute worts thing about being an addict is - waking up , and doing it again!!!  ANother day od the same hell.

I really could just go on and on and on and I mean I gotta a lot to tell!!! but the gist of it is this .

I have been an addict for 6/1.2 years !!! I have managed to kick oxy contin altogetehr but am still taking more hydrocodone than any  doc would prescribe anyone daily!!!
I have managed to taper down. This is the absolute worst and hardset thing I have ever had to face in my life.
i belive in Jesus - I believe I am a Christian - I have learned that God's people are everywhere- I belive jesus said it is not what goes into a man that defiles him but what come out of him.
I believe if JESUS did not have a plan for me I would already be dead. I just wanna get off this stuff and bare some fruit!!!
I just wanna be strong again- I wanna help othere people too - if I can ever help myself!!! There was a time when I wondered if smoking weed was a sin!!! I guess I found out the answer to that in a very vicarious manner.

[jaimee29]

Hi everyone,
I am new to the board.  I have read for a while but this is the first time posting.  I have a question.  I went through in patient detox in May for Norco addiction.  I have severe back problems and sometimes it gets so severe I don't know what to do.  I have taken pain meds several times since detox, which I am a little upset about, but I can't live like this.  Now back to my question.  Can anyone advise me on how long it takes to get over the mental part of this?  I still think about it constantly, even when my back isn't hurting.  I have never been through this before so if anyone has any comments it would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
Jaimee

[Chubby Chops]

thank you for asking.
Yes I am in the UK. Does that make a difference?

[GOD]

I think MrMichael67 was verifying that you were from the UK because, here in the US, they would NEVER allow Herion in an Epedural pump since herion is a class I scheduled drug, ILLEGAL for any porpose-- Even horrible pain...

[OxyDout]

first of all, if you have TRUE PAIN, and I mean true pain then your comfort should come first, don't worry about taking something, seriously.......... however, don't kid yourself into thinking your in pain when your not, we have all done that before.

The mental part of detox, well, I would say if you are truely sober for a month, it gets a lot easier, but to change your mentality could take a few months before you can get through the days without thinking about it....... its tough, but your much better off without anything............

[kilo]

What a true soul you are by posting your story here. What I find in common with all of us, is the same... We are all brothers and sisters searching for that path away from these drugs. I sit here into my 97th hour of w/d (but who's counting) and feeling a hell of a lot better than my 46th hour of w/d. I went cold turkey from a 150-200mg a day hydrocodone and 2-3 40mg oxycontin habit. I tried this once, got to 3 days and relapsed. Not this time. I'm much better and stronger than some damn little white pill. It's time to make a stand. You will find that time and you will stand. By your post, you scream out for a normal life. That normal life is out there waiting for you. The path to it will require sacrafice and yes some pain. But your pain will be short, your sacrafice will be long. God has given us free will, how you use it is by your design.

   My friend I can truly say I know what you are feeling and going through. Please use this forum... if only to gripe and cry and suffer with us, but please reach out. That change that you so despartely want is waiting for you. You will decide when it's time. Today I reach out to my doctor and come clean. Why now? Because I know that he can help me stay clean and maybe suggest a better way through this w/d. I still have pain in my shoulder, but no longer in my heart. I pray for the day that all of us can live without this addiction. May God be with you.

Kilo

[GOD]

Thanks for the kind words, Kilo... But I think you meant to post to TheProdigal guy....

I was hoping that he would come back here and share what has been happening in his life since his post, but it looks like he was just a "One poster"... A lot of people come in here and use the forum as a sort of confessional, tell their story, and never come back! I just hope that it helped him to let a load off his chest...

God be with you!
Jess

[kilo]

Hey Jess - Your right, my bad. I guess I can blame the w/d symptoms I'm going through as an excuse!

   Not to linger on any one thing, I'm happy to report that I'm 4 hours into my 6th day of w/d. Most of the physical symptoms are gone, just lingering low energy, low mood, and increased pain preception.

Since my physician couldn't answer the question of when my mood, pain preception, and energy levels will return to normal;  I blew the dust off of my Graduate Study courses in pathophysiology and started to look into MU receptors, Dopamine receptors and blunting of natural occuring endorphins following lengthening exposure to opoids. The lingering symptoms I described above are all a result of these blunting or limited response mechanisms of the opoid receptors. I guess the brain signals to limit or blunt the release across the nerve synapsis of these receptors. The good news is that when these receptors no longer receive artifical (opoid medication) stimulation they began a return to stimulation from naturally occuring endorphins and dopamine release. This period varies with each individual. Period of exposure to opoids (length of habit) and severity of blunting (severity of habit) plays a critical role in return to normal MU, dopamine, MU2 response.

   So what the hell does all this mean? Basically a period of 14-35 days will need to pass before "normal" receptor response to take place. Finding pleasure in everyday activities, preception of pain and normal rest/work cycles will begin to appear. Of course we are wired different, but the same in the aspect of intact receptors. This period appears to be the critical time when re-addiction is highly likely with introduction of artificial opoids (opoid meds).

   Tolerance on the other hand is a completely different beast. In respect to normal hepatic and renal function, half-life excretion is due to wheather one has been exposed to short-acting or longer-acting opoids. Tolerance is a normal and expected side effect of opoid exposure. But, tolerance is not always dose dependent, but is the effect of dose.

   I have a friend who has been taking large doses of opoids (MS Contin, Oxycontin, Vicoden, and Fentanyl patches). He has never exceeded the prescribed dose, but has been able to slowly increase dose due to tolerance (of course with medical management and an expected outcome of his treatment). He can go a couple of days without his pain meds and not suffer from frank withdrawal. Why is this? The answer is simple. Pain level and threshold play a hugh role in wheather someone will suffer withdrawal type symptoms. When pain levels are increased our receptors willing take on artifical opoids and bind to those synapsis which signal pain. Since pain is present the receptors do not blunt down as quickly. Recreational use of opoids with little or no pain causes a severe blunting of the opoid and MU receptors.

   I tried a little experiment to this effect. When I was in pain I took what I considered a "normal dose" of pain medication. A 10mg dose of hydrocodone. With-in the hour my pain was better, although not completely relieved. But it was something I could function with. What was missing was the "high". I activated those synapsis to block the pain signal, but did not blunt down the receptor to any large degree.

  Where we get into trouble is the every increasing dosing of opoids for the high. Quote "chasing the tiger's tail" . This is why all of us who has abused opoids find it increasing harder to get "high", irregardless to pain levels. Tolerance increases, results in higher doses to achieve the same "high". Tolerance decreases as introduction of artificial opoids decreases, but the curve is not a straight line.



  ___________________
T                    ____
o                        ____
l                            ____
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r                                     ____
a                                         ____  
n                                             ____
c                                                  Baseline
e                  Time                           ___________    


As you can see tolerance does not change after opoids are stopped for quite a period of time. The effect of dosing (pain relief -vs- getting high) determines the steepness of the curve. Research has shown that tolerance will return to normal in approximately 8-10 months following complete abstistence of opoids. But your receptors do remember the past. So re-introduction of opoids causes an even steeper curve upward when drug use re-resumes. That is why so many past addicts re-addict so quickly. Should you be unfortunate and find yourself in pain in the future, remember to dose for pain and NOT affect (high). Past abusers of opoids can be safely treated with opoids for pain if they dose for pain and limited their exposure to the medication. Bottom line - Take only when needed and for the shortest period of time.

   I sure hope I haven't bored the living **** out of you, but with the last 6 days at home with nothing to do, I had to find this stuff out. Best of luck to you and may happiness from with-in be your next drug.

David