Is one drug really worse than another to detox from ... curious

[marycarmel]

I have my own beliefs on all this, but the more I read and research and learn, I think, apart from methadone and benzos, detoxing is lousy no matter the drug or the route.  OxyContin, oxycodone, hydrocodone, whatever, it's unpleasant, no matter the dosage or how you take it.

I have noticed though there doesn't seem to be a lot of questions on things like morphine or dilaudid or demerol.  Sure, a few here and there, but overall it seems to be the same drugs.  I just wonder why this is?  Availability?

I've been on many different narcotics and have a lot of side effects, which is why I wanted off.  Personally, I never got a "high."  (Never got one from alcohol, either, for the most part.)  I seem to just sort of not feel good or get tired from it.

Our small town is experiencing a terrible problem with kids and heroin, oxys, and now subs.  It's breaking my heart to see these kids getting caught into this.  I feel like they hardly have a chance.

I didn't face these challenges as a kid.  I'm tired of the legal system and the medical system that essentially turns their back on addictions.  This is really just a vent. I don't foresee anything changing for the better either way anytime soon.  Money talks :(

[notme42long]

I hear yah big tobacco had to do it. Why not big pharmaceutical

[marycarmel]

At one time I placed all my faith in my physicians and I wasn't sure I believed all the Big Pharma stuff.  But the more I learn, the more concerned I become.  I feel for anyone dealing with pain, addiction and/or dependence, but my real concern is this problem is growing for our kids by the day.  They're our future.  Where is this country going?

Addiction needs to be addressed differently and I don't really see everyone cooperating like they need to.

In the past several weeks, we've had a lot of different narcotics in the house for valid reasons. My son was prescribed a cough syrup with codeine.  He seriously needed it, particularly at bedtime.  He wouldn't touch it and it went out.  My daughter was prescribed a cough syrup with Vicodin.  She used it one night and out it went.  She was also prescribed oxycodone for a cracked rib from a URI, which she had 2 out of the script.  The talk with the kids was that the truth is they couldn't even give away 5 mg. oxycodone they're so useless.  What???  How is that considered nothing?

I see so many changes with the doctors I'm involved with for myself, my dad, my kids, the ER ... I was concerned they so quickly gave my kids narcotics without a real thought or much discussion.

[notme42long]

I agree so much with both of you. I started to hydro for pain in my back. Doc was reluctant Nothing else seem to work but I needed to function...Bla bla
23 days clean from hydro and oxy. The Oxy is where I want to relate to marycarmel I have actually been thinking of this for a few days reluctant to post a comment like this here. Oxy on the street is everywhere and it is big money. I know a mother raising the grandchild of 1 of her 2 daughters that I remember as beautiful girls. She hasn't seen them in months and they both I. V. oxy. I've seen lost jobs. I think we have the highest Death rate here. Is this a controlled substance or not. A lot come from the pill mills I know how that works. How does a small time street sales  end up with 2 gallon sized jugs of oxy. Are the pharmaceutical corporate bigger than saudi oil.
I'm sorry but I have been holding this in for 2 days now

[marycarmel]

I find this interesting.  I agree it's all bad and sometimes anticipating what could happen is worse than the actuality.  On the above list, it's sort of surprising (to me) to see codeine and morphine listed the same.

From everything I've read, the subs and methadone seem to be a bit of a league of their own.  Though for me, personally, Fentanyl was an issue, though not necessarily with the withdrawal symptoms.   Poppy pods are a new one for me; never even heard of that.  Opana doesn't seem to be used much here, at least to my knowledge so far.

[Addicted2long]

I've wd off every kind of pain killer there is ans for me I would say they go in this order.

1 methadone
2 IV heroin (3gram aday)
3 opana
4 fet and oxy and poppy pods
5 vikes
6 codeine and morphine

[ricart70]

I think people get too hung up on thinking that their particular drug is harder to detox off of than others.Methadone and sub are an exception due to their extremely long half life.
I have withdrawn off of plain old hydro and I have withdrawn off of opana,dilaudid,fentanyl and oxy. You would think they would be harder but too me it was all pretty much the same deal.The harder stuff was a little rougher at first but after a few days it's all just an opiate withdrawal. I would advise anyone planning on quitting not to put their particular drug on any kind of pedestal.It just makes it harder for you to quit and puts up yet another unnecessary roadblock to recovery.It also may cause one to be so fearful that they run to methadone or sub when they could have had an easier time just jumping or tapering from their doc

[marycarmel]

There is a legitimate need for these meds, and sadly, some who really need them don't get what they need.  I never had the mental part of addiction but really suffered with physical withdrawals, likely because of my own underlying issues.

I hope somehow these kids have a better road in the future as far as treating addiction.  There are drugs in every town, but what I've noticed in my own small town in the past year truly scares me.

Maybe it's regional with what's prescribed.  I'm noticing here that pain doctors are shifting the prescribing to primary cares and primary cares are backing off.

My dad is currently suffering from a thoracic vertebrae fracture that is worsening.  His neurosurgeon is advocating loads of percocets and his primary care is against it.  He's now been on narcotics (heavy initially when hospitalized) since mid-February and will be on them for at least another ten days.  I've asked about dependence and withdrawal ... one says wean him off and the other says "he won't be addicted; he needs this."

For me, I was on a low dose on and off for years before my surgery and never had physical dependence but when it hit, it hit very hard.

This forum is a huge blessing.  I also use the pain management forum as well.  For me, personally, I just want to try to manage my pain without narcotics ... I'd rather save them for the future if I needed them for something worse than I have now.

[InNeed0924]

I can tell you this: coming off of hydrocodone pales in comparison to coming off Opana.  Opana is really, really harsh.  I truly feel horrible for anyone having to endure that detox.  Hell on Earth, I'm sure.

Several years back in the area where I live, I watched many teenagers move from hydrocodone, to oxycontin, to morphine, and eventually to heroin.  Heroin was so much easier to get that all the kids migrated that way just to keep withdrawals at bay.  Once there, I suppose they enjoyed the high and couldn't go back to pills.  It's heart breaking.

Once I get squeaky clean (Trying to manage my back issues without narcotics atm), I would really like to put myself in a position to counsel these individuals, the same way I've been counseled by others (informally).  Today is day 8 out of 1,000's (fingers crossed).

[minn66]

I believe there are legitimate uses for pain meds. Unfortunately, some of us, like me, got to where we couldn't use them as intended. Maybe due to underlying issues such as depression, or the inability to cope with some of the hardships life throws at us. It is sad seeing so many young people getting on this stuff. My heart breaks every time I see a post like that. Yet, taking away pain relief from those who really need it because some of us, myself included, can't use it appropriately isn't right, either. I don't have any answers. At this point I want to stay off the meds and possibly help anyone I can.

[dominosarah]

Detoxing is not a pleasant experience at all for anyone and i dont believe it matters what anyone is taking.  We are all different.  I do believe going into it with a positive attitude helps tremendously.

I have noticed that geographical areas prescribe different meds.  Around here it is oxys and vicodin.  I work with the public and it saddens me to see the kids who are addicted to these meds.  Our medical center is taking a stand on narcotics now and there is a doctor who finally gets it, that there is more to addiction than just taking pills.  I hope more doctors come on board with him.