Long Term Effects of Oxycontin Abuse

[GeriP]

I have recently discovered that my 23 year old son is addicted to this drug.  He is in the mental health unit of a prison awaiting trial for crimes commited while under the influence of this drug.
He is being treated for hallucinations, anxiety and panic attacks, and general depression.  I do not know the names of the drugs he is being given but he is slowly returning to normal.
The doctors do not know if these symptoms will be re-occurring, and what the long term effects are going to be.
i am trying to find out what I can do, and can be expected in the future.  What are the chances of beating this????

[butterbean]

I want to try and find the new forum.  I couldn't find the link .  Could you post it again here.  For some reason, before I tried about 4 times and couldn't get on it.  Do you know how I can get on it.  When I put in the link before it came up that it wasn't in there.  I have AOL.  Does that have something to do with it?  Thanks.  I am doing OK.  Only took some meds when I got home today for the pain as I was on my feet all day.  I think I can do this.  Please keep encouraging me.  How are you guys doing?  Maybe I should try acupuncture for my back?  What do you think WW.  It is my very low back and buttocks.  I fell first at age 14 and had massive lump on my right buttocks.  I had to have many blood clots removed in a period of a week!  Told me i could have died from that.  The final straw was when I fell skating !!!  It was downhill after that.  I was on my feet for two hours today and everytime I sneezed I almost fell with my back grabbing and hurting!  This is horrible.  I am going to join a gym again soon, so I hope that helps.  Thanks to all of you for your support.  Hope Telby, Gingerlee, Abusa, Skipper and everyone are doing OK.
Love Butterbean

[butterbean]

Read my post up above Ginger.  I am doing fine, but, I did start taking my meds again.  I wish I knew another way to deal with my pain. I have taken Motrin, and just about everything else there is over the years, but, nothing worked but the narcotic.  I need to learn to take as perscribed.  You sound so positive, and I am so glad that you will be walking soon. I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving. I did, but, made my back worse!  Thanks for asking for me.  Keep up the strength Gingerlee!!!
Love Butterbean

[Witchywoman]

Hi Ginger...that is great news from your doctor, about hearing you will be walking on your own in a little while. Hang in there..I know it must feel like forever!

Good advice about the ginko biloba...however, I've been taking ginko biloba every day, in fairly high quantities, for the past two years.  I find it helps with a lot of things, but it doesn't seem to help the ear ringing.  My acupuncturist gave me a chinese herbal formula that does seem to be lowering the ringing a bit, which was the first bit of hope I've had in a while.  She also put the needles in points deep inside my ears..LOL..it felt so wierd, but it really did help.

I hope your Thanksgiving was a good one!

love,
WW

[Wizard]

Goodmorning to you! How nice to see a major win on the board. Walking on your own in a couple of months is wonderful news. I hope you keep us posted on the progress as we too often only hear about the sad stuff. I hope you had a good Thanksgiving weekend and I'll keep on praying for you.
Power & Magick 2 U,
Wiz

[GingerLee]

I was getting a little concerned about everyone because it has been so quiet. I am doing ok. I feel guilty about having to take anything for my pain, but that is something I have imposed on myself. As far as narcotics go- I have been a good girl. I went to the DR. earlier this week and he said I should be walking on my own in a couple of months.
WW, I thought I would post this tidbit of information that I have about ibuprophen. It is unrelated to the ringing in the ears problem, but it might help another woman one day.  I had a total hysterectomy a few years back due to some female problems and was put on Premarin
I always preferred motrin to tylenol and I would take it if I had nothing else. I noticed that when I would take the ibuprophen the cold sweats and chills would come on faster than when I did not. I asked my Dr. and sure enough, ibuprophen hinders the hormones, making an uncomfotable situation worse.
I also have a suggestion for your tinitus.(sp?) Start taking Ginko Biloba. It increases the circulation in the brain. Check it out it may help. It comes in tea form, bulk herb or capsules. You may have to take it for a month or two before you realize the full effect, but I have heard great things about it.
Wiz- Thanks to you as usual, you are a wise wiz and I appreciate you.
Telby-butterbean, where are you? I am thinking about you.

[Witchywoman]

Hi y'all, and thanks for the kind words!

I've had my blood pressure checked, and all kinds of other things checked, and there is no explanation for the ringing in my ears except for my past history of hydrocodone abuse.  The doc said ibuprofen (which I take high doses of for pain) does not cause ringing in the ears.  So, I'm convinced it is from the years of hydro. It started when I was still using, but has gotten worse lately.  My doc is supposed to refer to me to a hearing specialist to test further, but I haven't heard from the specialist yet. I'm going to call on Monday myself...the squeaky wheel gets the oil in HMOs.  I'm still worried, but not running as much anxiety about it as I was.

My addiction cost me a lot already. I hope I haven't permanently damaged my hearing. I"ll keep you all posted.

I hope you are all feeling more comfortable by now.  How is the withdrawal going? Have you been able to fight the Dragon? It is soooo damn hard..I know.  

love,
WW