pain killer dependency

[nwlyfe]

Hi, I'm new to this and need some help from honest and non judgemental ppl. About a yr ago I became dependant on hydrocondone. I had 2 start taking this back in 2007 for chronic pain, and this has been on going but I didn't become dependant until late last year. I've tried not taking it and I wouldn't be able to sleep due to aches in my arms and legs and hot flashes. My body no longer feels normal unless I take at least 3 of the 7.5 or higher a day. Can someone please guide me into the best way to get off of this med w/the least amount of side effects from withdrawl?

[gnarly_1]

HI.....well you could take less every couple of days till your down to 1 then jump off
the only problem with this is it takes a lot of discipline and when your talking about addiction and dependency it is difficult to say the least ...thats why Lesa suggested having someone else hold the pills....I dont think you realize just how difficult this is because of the dependency but it can be done.....worst case senero you go C/T and just jump if you cant taper your habit isent that big yet but left unchecked it will grow...we have all been where your at and know just where it leads your smart to ketch it early on b/4 it gets really bad
tapering also comes with withdrawals there not as sever but there stretched out over a longer period it is uncomfortable to do...just decide witch is best for you to just jump and get it over with or to taper and get off it that way just know both have pros and cons there is no ''get out of jail free card'' once you find yourself dependent or addicted its going to take some work and discomfort to get out of this mess...keep posting and reading the posts...let us know what you want to do we will be here to help you along the way .....good luck and God bless.....Gnarly        

[nwlyfe]

I really really do appreciate all or your comments! I was diagnosed w/TMJ, I grind and clinch my teeth at night. I have to sleep w/a custom made night guard & I constantly wear them out from excessive grinding in my sleep! This can't be corrected b/c the surgery is really expensive and my insurance won't cover it. So its a constant battle w/the pain at night and when I wake up... sometimes even during the day I'm not noticing that my jaws are locked! Its a really bad case, so w/tht said, I need the med for my pain, but my tolerance level has gone up and what I don't understand is the fact tht my whole body aches (restless leg syndrome included) when I try not takin it. I'm not ready 2 expose this 2 anyone yet, b/c of judgemental ppl, but I want 2 try on my own 2 do this, I feel I can! Do u suggest I just lessin the intake amnt a day?

[livngr8ful]

I agree with what you said. I have also had 5 surgeries that didn't work out the way they were suppose to.  Mine were on my spine.  Medication is a huge issue TRUE pain patients are facing today. At some point people need to stop judging people who truly need these types of medication.  I have had people tell me that i shouldnt need to take med's, and that I am a week person because of it. It took me quite a while to figure out what I was suppose to do in this situation.  I came up with the fact, that I deserve a certain quality of life.  I will never be pain free 100%, but I can get close to it. I am a recovering alcoholic, and I have abused medications in the past.  Im not going to lie, the meds scare the crap out of me.  I lived for 3 years without medications, and those 3 years were spent on the couch in pain.  I find it ard to believe people can be so judgmental to say a person shouldnt take a pain medication if it is truly needed.  We all need to take the medications properly and by the book.  I find that learning to be responsible with it was my biggest fight.  I have it under control, my doctors and family are fully aware of my addictions and issues.  We work hand in hand to make this work, and keep a certain quality of life. I fully support anyone who needs to take a medication to live a decent life, and if you dont then you need to re-evaluate what kind of person you are. Would you deny a diabetic insulin? It's the same..  The abuse part is a decision.  We can make the decision to take it properly or not. It's not like a supernatural power exists that make us do this.  Although it seems like it sometimes. We just need to be strong, as we have a case that is different form others.  People still need to do what they need, to survive with some sort of quality of life. To all with pain, Do what you need to do responsibly, keep your head up, and you know what is right and wrong.  If you are one who judges others in a situation like this, maybe for your birthday  you need a big slice of humble pie.  I'll buy....

[mrshawmidwest]

hi, this is very difficult to answer because i have been taking oxycodone, opana, lortab, morphine sulphate, hydrocodone also for the past 15 years now but i am taking them due to 5 failed and / or unecessary surgeries therefore i detest being referred to as an addict because without them i would be totally unable to work or barely do anything at all but with them i can function at a normal level more or less and i do not take them to get a (high) like many people do, i take them because i (need) them.  i would compare it to walking around with a broken arm or leg and not having it fixed for fear of being labelled something else like an addict.  it is ridiculous.  now that i have that off my chest i have to tell you that getting off of them altogether is possible but depending upon how long you have used them and also depending upon how your body reacts to not having any at all it may be easy or it may be impossible to get off of them.  i have tried many times but i keep ending  up needing them again not only because of the dependency but also because of the real true pain i have to go thru if i don't use anything.  our bodies are funny things, some of us can go cold turkey and nothing happens but others only have to reduce their prescription amounts a little bit and they have all kinds of withdrawl symptoms.  i have had both happen to me for some reason which is very strange because i would expect after 15 years of using them there would be no way to go cold turkey but i have done it at times and nothing happenned at all but at other times i tried it i felt like i was going to die from the withdrawl symptoms but i didn't die i just had to start using them again and within a few days i was feeling back to normal again.  keep in mind though i am not your normal patient because of the 5 gastrointestinal surgeries i have had in the past 15 years so i cannot be compared to someone who had no failed surgeries.  i hope this helps and if it does please don't hesitate to ask more questions because i doubt there are many here that went thru 5 failed or unecessary surgeries like i have.

[10356]

To be honest with you the amount you sometimes take is over the recommended dose for a day.. the reason you get aches unless you take the 2 in the morning it that your tolerance had increased..  before long you will not stop at 2.5 but 3 this is how addiction works.. opiates allow us to build a quick tolerance.. I truly believe some of it is in our mind this is why it is so important to be positive and confident to stop these.. It is good you are reaching out now and looking for a way out for it can take you to places you never thought possible and none of them are good towards the end... It is really hard to taper unless you hand them over to someone you trust.. someone you can be honest with about where you are at with these.. also keep reading the forum.. you are not on so many can you can not ct as long as you do not have a heart problem. this is where being honest with your Dr. they can offer meds for blood pressure and such that help.. how ever you choose to go about it I hope you do because right now you are teetering.. keep reading and reaching out for support ok

[nwlyfe]

Thanks for the information... to answer ur ? 10356, I take 2 @ a time sometimes even 2.5 and I take them on some days about every 3.5 to 4 hrs! Now I have noticed that as long as I take 2 in the am I'm good until the night and take an addtl 2 more. But how I know this is a mind thing, is b/c if there ever comes a time where my med has been delayed and I took the last 2 that morning, by the time the night fall I'm so uneased and all I can think about is the fact that I won't be able 2 sleep and my body starts to ache all over, but when they're in my possession I'm at ease and I don't feel any body aches however, I'll still take them to go 2 sleep! Ugh I just wish I was warned that they were habit forming before I took them the 1st time!

[10356]

hi nwlyfe.. welcome to the forum.. are you taking 1 at a time ? the reason I ask this in addiction we have behaviors that are indicators that we crossed the line.. it does sound like you are dependent thou. you have the option of speaking with our Dr and telling him you have tried not taking them and you have side effects as in wd. he can give you a taper schedule and when you stop offer you non addictive drugs to sleep and help with the uncomfortableness.. what will you do for the pain.? when I stopped my Dr offered me tramadol/ultram and said they were non addictive.. he was wrong.. he learned they are very addicting.. I have found Motrin 800 actually worked better then the drugs and has the added benefit of reducing swelling. you can also just stop and go through about 5 days off feeling odd with day 3 and 4 being the worst the restless legs insomnia these kind of things. there is also help for going through it this way. the choice is yours but you do have choices :) Glad you came to the conclusion you do not want to live dependent on a mind altering drug.. take care lesa

[livngr8ful]

Wd's are just a part of it.  They are not fun at all, as most of us know.  You are not on that high of dose so it might not be that bad.  The worst part is the head games.  Dont allow you to convince yourself you have to have them.  That will come and go. If you can look at your self "when your body is saying you need it the most" and try to forget the thought, you will be fine. Keep busy, exercise, Drink lots of water, and try to eat.  If you can keepon top of that it can move quite quick.  Post your thoughts it helps a bunch.  And before you know it, you are back to your normal self.  Good luck and good decision. It's just like walking, one foot in front of the other. Ask your doc about a taper or taper yourself. It can be done many people have been through worse.  It wont kill you, and when you are done you will be able to do anything you put your mind to.