Use of buprenex in detox

[wannabclean]

Ive used hydrocodone for three years averaging 150mg/day. In the last 3 months I've quit xanax,valium,soma,sleep aids and cigarettes.  I'm on day 7 with no hydro, I'm taking .324mg buprenex twice a day and feel pretty good. Tuesday is my last day, will I still feel the the full w/d of hydro or will the buprenex have gotten me thru the worst of it? Any and all input is appreciated.

[suzieneedshelp]

Sorry to break this thread but there is no where to post.  As to the topic... It seems that more time on the bup may be needed but i would ask a DOc not me!
Thomaskins!  I miss you!!!!!!!!  
Hugs...
Suzie

[wannabclean]

Its really a non-issue since I will be out on Wednesday regardless.  I really feel after a couple of weeks reading here that this will be the time i quit.  Its pretty amazing the number of people sharing actual experiences and offering support to one another.  I hope to be able to post my triumph over this devil named hydro as others recently have.  I am scared as hell of Wednesday, but I know as time passes, it will get better, it just sucks when the present is so miserable.

[KimH]

wannabeclean, I like that! great name, but you know you'll have to change it to just beclean one day! I have used it to detox and had success. Of course there could be a chance you will feel crapy, but it will take a day or two for that to leave your system as well. So that could be ten days. My guess is the worst will definitly be over! Besides, You kicked all that other stuff right? I'd say your pretty strong and if you got through that, you will get through this as well. I'm detoxing too, and so are so many others. I haven't slept for two weeks! I sleep two to three hrs a night and my doc said just deal with it. I wish there was a chat room, I would be available 21-22 hrs a day (exept a small nap). Is there anything I can do besides jump out a window? I tried over the counter sleep aids. Any suggestions? Please? wannabeclean, I think you can do this! and stop worrying about tuesday because you may work yourself up mentaly to convince yourself you will feel like ****. YOUR GONNA BE FINE! and if you do feel a little crapy, you got over a week head start into it, so how much longer? YOU CAN DO IT! YOU CAN DO IT!hell, I'll do it with you! I don't know if your spiritual, but I talk to God. I pray and ask him how long I'll feel like ****. And ask if he might help me push it along some. your on the right track! KimH

[thetxhartclan]

I am one of the many.  I am on a decreasing taper, but fell off of the taper last week.  It all just went to hell.  I can only blame the person in the mirror, but then pick myself up, dust myself off, and get my ass back on my taper.  I want to be rid of this ****.  I am a great mom and wife, but I know the hydro affects all aspects of my life and I want it gone!  

Rebecca

[vikequeen]

Sorry to break the above thread but I have a Q,
has anyone gained weight on hydros or percs? I have gained close to 30 lbs in almost 2 yrs and a year prior to that I was already working with an extra 30 from the baby, Some people like matthew perry and a GF of mine lose weight on these? why am I so unlucky?
Coke that was a diff story in my teens and early 20's I did a lot of coke and stayed small now these painkillers are making me a whale, anyone else have this problem? I can't afford to gain anymore love to all Badd

[mrmichael67]

I have a serious sweet tooth on opioids....especially methadone, but also the others as well.  I gained about the same amount as you did.

[terter]

Yes I gained 20 pounds not at first but the last 6 months or so.
I quit Ultram first then Hydro on 5/11 i recently relapsed and confessed to my husband, Soooo here I go again, I am taking darvecette to taper, My husband is going to try and find a doctor to help me through this, but I feel so impatient. The Darvocette doesnt give me a high but it holds off sleep problems and runs I still have no energy and depressed. I have been taking Elival 25mg since 5/11 and will keep taking it. Can anyone give advice on what I should stay away from the last thing I want is a new addiction, I am going to the health store to find L-Tyrosine. I cant believe after all I went through I'm doing this again........ Ter

[Huiler]

Just a comment: As far as Elavil is concerned, 25 mg is not very much. I used to take it years ago and took more. I just looked it up in a pill book, and it says that doctors might start a person on 75 mg a day in 2 doses. They might increase this to 150 mg a day. They usually don't prescribe more than 200 mg a day. and "For long term use, the usual dose ranges from 40 mg to 100 mg a day usually at bedtime." but maybe you looked this up yourself already. Good luck getting through it! Hope you get some good advice from the others1
H.

[Huiler]

What is Buprenex? Is it Buprenorphine? How does it help a detox? How long do you stay on it to detox?
Thanks
H.

[SarpyJesse]

In answer to your question:

Yes, Buprenex is Buprenorphine. Buprenex is the injectable form of Buprenorphine and comes in ampules containing .3 milligrams (300 Micrograms). The usual dosage is one ampule every 8 hours (or 3 inter-muscular shots per day). Unlike Subutex, and Suboxone, Buprenex is NOT usually prescribed for addiction as it can be easily abused by not being used as directed. Buprenex was the first form of Buprenorphine approved by the FDA in the United States, and is used as an analgesic (pain reliever). It is mostly used in pain management in the elderly because of its unique property of NOT depressing the already taxed respiratory systems of older individuals. It is used in place of drugs like Morphine Sulfate that could possibly kill a senior citizen without the close supervision of a physician.

Hope that info helps-

Jess

[mystere]

I have a question about all of the pharmacies being nationally linked--Are you telling me that EVERY pharmacy in America is linked together via a "super computer" and a pharmacist from a Wal-Mart has acccess to my records even though I had my scripts filled at a local Mom & Pop pharmacy?  I know some of the national chains--Walgreens for instance are all linked together (nationally)  But I find it hard to believe that a Wal-Mart Pharmacy can access the medical records of a patient doing business with say an Eckard's pharmacy--Also as of April 14, 2003 strick new privacy guidelines have been implemented known as (HIPAA) with regard to a patients' right to privacy and the release of medical information and who has access to this information--All medical facilities including pharmacies are required to follow HIPAA guidelines--I agree that rx fraud is illegal and I am by NO MEANS promoting the use of multiple docs or pharmacies--but to tell you the truth the thought of my name popping up in every pharmacy computer in America with a list of ALL OF THE MEDICATION that I have ever been given is a little farfetched--But then again nothing would surprise me!  I also know that ALL schedule II drugs (Oxycodone/Oxycontin/Dilauded/ect) are more tightly controlled that the schedule III--(Vicoden/Lortab/Darvocet)--Anyway if anyone else has info on this please let me know--Is Big Brother Really Watching?--Peace/Prayers--Mystere

Anne

[Huiler]

Thank you for your very thorough and useful response! Do you also know how it is used in helping people detox from opiates? Thanx.
H.

[wannabclean]

Kim-
What an awesome post. I've printed it and hope to use it when I begin feeling horrible (thats if I begin feeling horrible, the positive thinking thanks to you!) Today I feel o.k. and thats what I'm focusing on now instead of worrying about Wednesday.  I glad to have someone helping who going thru the same w/d's and is as determined as myself to quit.  As far as sleeping aids I've found that being off soma,resteril,ambien,xanax(horrible w/d from xanies!)etc., my sleep is so much better, the only problem is no more sleeping in, I'm up by 7 and can't go back so I try to be in bed by12 or 1.  On nights I need a good night sleep I take benadryl.  I'm praying for you too and hope to continue hearing from you.
Hulier-
The buprenex has been fantastic for the first week in aleviating the w/d's to a very managable point. I know very well from experience the first week is hell. Keep reading in the coming days and I'll let you know how it is the second week w/o. Also I found a great sight that lists Drs. in your area that perscibe a new oral form call Suboxone. If things get real bad I got the names of two in my area that treat opiate addiction, more specifically perscription pain meds addicted patients. samhsa.gov  Type buprenex in the search box. Lots of good info.

[wannabclean]

I too am a parent (boy and a girl) and know full well the **** called hydrocodone.  I've tried MANY times to quit so there is nothing to be ashamed of in falling off the wagon. Tapering is just not an option for me, I get down to 5 or 6 and I'm right back to 15-20 a day so cold turkey using buprenex was the only way for me. I hope my previous post helps you and that you can be free from those things because they do take over your life, I know they did mine. Good luck.

[dancinginthedark]

While I spent 10 yrs. in the US & have only been back in Cda for about 5-6, here there is a nat'l d-base. I should say, it might be provincial but our provinces are HUGE so you'd have to take your dogsled on a year long voyage to get to another province.

Here's how it works for ANY scrip.  If it's a 1st time scrip for you at pharm, pharmacist needs to see your Medical Card, which every citizen has for our free not-alwsys-very-helpful med. care.  (Oh, my evil twin!)  You also need to produce picture ID, like a DL & everything including your brassiere size is input in the computer.

For EVERY scrip to be filled, including folic acid, pharm. slams info onto the computer for approval which usually takes secs.  However, if you're a day early, or another doc has prescribed it - OO, they will not fill it, except if it's my synthroid & only if pharmacist really knows me. (Needless to say, they DO!) I'd already figured out as much but my neuro prescribed me my fiorinal as my GP was out of town so I didn't see any prob.  PROB.  I was so mortified!  Also, only your GP can prescribe meds.  Here, to see a specialist you must be referred by GP & wait 18-24 mos. (no ****, in most cases) to see said specialist.  If it's urgent, he will write your short-term scrip & pops off a ltr to your GP who is then in charge of your meds.

Pharm. are even more anal about controlled substances, narcotics etc. I think that's why I had the prob with the F that time.

I'm certain there must be a way around this but I've never been motivated enuf to try & probably even more scared.  It's just not a line I could ever cross.

I can only figure if the Canadians are smart enuf to figure this out, I'd imagine the Americans are, to say the least!  Undoubtedly, in your country, privacy issues are undoubtedly still being bandied about, diff. insurance co.'s can add to complicating factors & with so many states with differing regulations (I know F is a nothing drug in Tx but VERY everything in almost every other state) it must be very complicated to coordinate.  But we all know what computers can do so I don't doubt these days are somewhat upon you & will  eventually arrive.

And of course, many "civil liberties" & privacy issues have gone the way of thee hula hoop since 9/11.  They've got the access to virtually everything now.

Mind you, what I love & miss about you Yanks is how creative & resourceful you are so I havve NO doubt you'll work your way around the system!

Anne, I wouldn't panic.  You're not like some skank who is filling multiple scrips to sell on the street.  If I were in charge, those would be my 1st targets.  If they EVER get to you, which I highly doubt, you'll have been so long serfectly pober they'll yawn & close your file.

Stay the course, Miss Anne!  You are doing SO great!

Best always,

Judes

[bmac]

I had a procedure on my low back and shoulder today, it hurt!
But for only a few minutes until the drugs took effect, thank God for meds and without sounding cruel how do you 12 steppers and AA/NA guys do this when you cant take as much as a lortab? I am not trying to start this AA/NA vs US thing I promise, I am just curious how I could belong to such a group taking tons of pain killers, any thoughts, if not ignore me like the rest do! LOL
   Bill

CINDY, what is the deal with all the closed threads? Can we delete these old ones and start over?, please. I am trying here and you know it. I am needy and need constant support form you guys! I need more space, please.LOL ***@****

[jack daniels]

yes ..that's a problem..and i don't know what the hell i would do, i guess tell the dr i'm a addtic and see what they would do...all i know is with the hell i have been through to get 14 days today clean i mite just take the pain..it probly is not as bad as the pain i just went through to get clean...i payed the price to get clean and i'm staying that way no matter what...i'll just cross that bridge when i come to it...jack

[Kurt Cobain]

Hey there Judes!  Strikes me as funny how tight-assed Canada is about scrips but sell codeine OTC!  I once drove north specifically to load up on the stuff!  It was unbelievable. . .even more unbelievable how I managed the drive home (like I said, me and a whole PLATOON of guardian angels. . .)

Damn. . .it may be that it's pretty friggin' easy for me to say this, not being in the situation, but I think I'd have to be in an ASSLOAD of pain, 24/7/365 (366 during Leap Year), to even CONSIDER going back on any kind of junk.  If my quality of life was gonna be so minimal with the amount of agony I was in for me to consider how LOW my quality of life would get if I was ON the **** again, I think a third option might be more preferable. . .like a shotgun.  But that's just me. . .your daily ray of sunshine.  :)

Peace,

Kurt

[mrmichael67]

Yes, if you got a script at a local mom and pop pharmacy, walmart or echerd could bring it up and vice versa.  I have had it done to me before.  Everything is tied in.  They would have to look for it.  It just doesn't automatically come up.  But, they do have access.  And, it doesn't matter if the person pays cash or uses insurance.  The only thing that helps is to not give your insurance company a red flag.

Bill,

I see what you mean.  If a person goes for one procedure and they are given a pain med, they aren't going to have to go through all the pain of withdrawal again.  It just doesn't happen that way.  The problem would be if they were to continue to use after the procedure.  As long as they allow themselves to be medicated and that is it, they will be fine.

[dancinginthedark]

I just discovered this msg in my Deleted file.  Over the last few wks., most in-bound msgs have been winding up there.  Tho this was dated the 11th, I have been checking almost daily but perhaps I missed it.

To ensure there is no confusion, I copied it directly so you'd have the whole picture.

Oh, brevity.

Dear Judy,

We've seen some of your recent posts in the Addiction Forum and are writing to ask you to stop the mud slinging and bad language.  In addition, we'd appreciate it if you could keep your writing to a minimum.  As we've told everyone in the past, our bandwidth costs have quadrupled this past year and the more you guys write, the more it costs us.  While there are many in this forum who think Med Help is making lots and lots of money - they are simply wrong.  The fact is, Phil and I could make more on unemployment than we do from Med Help.  Phil and I are giving as much as we can to people because we know what it's like to have our lives devastated by serious family illness.

Thanks for your cooperation with this.

Cindy Thompson
Med Help International

As pertains above:

According to my records, I've written but 2 msgs since the 11th & one before (maybe a few more, I've no way to check).   I've been entirely wrapped up in work & our fiorinal thread at DA which we couldn't sustain here due to bandwith.  And that's fair enough.

Yes, I launched a salvo at expillsortaman & goatbutt but I was *not* alone. I recall mentioning his fully erect pencil was smaller than my pinkie but he did disappear the next day & my "mud slinging & bad language" I truly don't feel is anywhere near as bad as much I've seen here & if it has been offensive, I apologize to you all & Cindy most sincerely.  

As to keeping my writing to a minimum, well, when has it been out of the realm of many many other posters?  In fact, the last 2, longish, what I thought were very inspiring posts, were posted AFTER the 11th so in this realm, they are moot.

In closing, I most emphatically do NOT think anyone providing the svc MH does should be making less than unemployment.  And I'm certain everyone here would agree with me.

Again, Cindy, Phil & all of you, I am so very very sorry for my most untoward behavior.  I really hadn't realized it was nor was it anywhere close to my intention.

Oh, and I'm almost as sorry for the bandwith I've used up in this post.

Take care all!  I'll be at DA & hope we bump heads again.

Judy

[mystere]

Thanks so much for the feedback--I guess the paranoia thing has a tendency to rear its ugly head--Glad to see you posting again Judes and of course you are living in the birthplace of my wonderful Cirque du Soleil--(Canada)--i would love to go to Montreal one day just to see where it all began--Peace and prayers to all--I'll try and post from work--Mystere/N.O. Lady

Anne

[vikequeen]

I guess one day the feds will come knocking on my door, I have hopped pharmacies, just thurs my ortho doc called in 30 vikes 5 mg
and yest I went to see him and asked him for 7.5 cause I told him I was taking one and half anyway and he wrote me a script for 40 7.5's no where on my chart ( I looked all thru it ) did it say they had been calling in scripts for me every week unless they keep the call ins somewhere else. The pharmacy filled it but only cause it was a diff strength same doc.but I have massivly doc hopped and pharmacy hopped and I am sure soon I will have to pay the piper, thats why I am called baddgirl I know not funny!

[Poppylover]

Good Morning to All,
I do not post alot here it is so tightly controled for some reason. I think there are many lurking in need of help & advice. For that reason I searched for other forums for info.. For those of you out there here are some other sources for help. Braintalk.org has addiction, chronic pain, and many forums, tons of info & plenty of room. Pills Anonymous.com is another, but they are into not taking drugs at all even for CP, a bit radical. www.ezboard.com is another site started to help with CP, addiction, ect.... Just wanted to let people know there is help all over the place. I do like this site, but as I said not alot of people want to post here, thinking they are taking the space of a more needy person. Also as Judes said www.drugabuse.com is another option, I hope everyone gets the help and compassion they need, where ever they go. Kurt, Judes you will know me also as GoodKarma. I will pray for us all daily.
PoppyLover aka {GoodKarma] P.S. NO ONE SHOULD BE MADE TO FEEL GUILTY OVER POSTING, NO MATTER THE LENGTH OF THE POST.

[sandstorm]

I really did not know where to post this, but does anyone besides me have ringing in their ears?  Maybe I had it while I was taking the ultram and I didn't notice it.  For the last 4 months my ears have been constantly ringing, sometimes worse than other days.   Is this a part of withdrawals?
Thanks, Sandy

[pammy0690]

Bill I understand too where you are coming from with the how do the NA AA folk do it.  I am finding A new respect for their philsophy and way of life.  Hope Hammer didn't beat you up to badly and you are feeling ok today.  I am as always thinking about you.
Dancing, no need for an apology.  Cindy and Phil have a job to do is all.  Someone has to keep all of us addicts and pillheads in line!  Lets move on shall we?  
Suz, in my experience with Bup patients do need to have enough time on it to stablize and heal.  Bup is good for people like you and I who have a few years in.  Sometimes I think the docs do not see it this way and want to get folks off everything completely which is thier job.  How much clean time you have girl?  You are doing just great I am proud of you!  Pammy

[bmac]

Baddgirl you need to be aware that this is a public forum and you really dont need to talk about doc shopping or RX shopping here. From time to time we do get into a conversation about online RX's and pharmacy stuff but what you have been doing the DEA is cracking down on really bad now. In Alabama when you fill a schedule II script, you are on a list and all the pharmacies get this info. I stopped last night and filled a script for lortab 10 only eight of them. I went to pharmacy out of town because I was travelling and it took 30 minutes to find my doc just so they would fill only 8 lortab 10s. I am on morphine daily and it showed up on the pharmacy computer at a RX I have never used, ever. The Pharmacist was nice about it and explained the crack down on RX shopping. Please stop doing this or yes you will end up in jail, believe me it aint worth the hassle. Get help and dont end up like my stepdaughter, murdered and left a 2 month old child for me to raise. Find a doctoe that will treat you and stop breaking the law. It does effect us, the chronic pain patients when people doc shop and RX shop. It causes us to pay more at the doc office and alot more at the RX. There are alot of places to get help and please understand we care here we really do but you have to listen here, stop ding what you are doing,you sound young and I wish someone would have jumped my ass to help back then ,so damn it, stop playing around with your freedom! Just Concerned, Bmac

[bmac]

First off the limit on the threads is something new and we can get over it. Someone just said something about other forums and some are fine but in my surfing around most are slow and all they talk about is addiction, God cant we talk about something else on occassion. To all the lurkers, hell post where you wanta. e dont care. Use up al the threads, they are for us anyway. And you all know how addicts are, we need so much attention and babying sometimes we go over board with the fighting, those of you who read thru the Goatman arguement, I feel now I kept most of it going but hey I have been here for almost a year now and until I get banned I will stick up for the forum. If someone has a problem with anything here or with me I would love to here about it,***@****, dont feel like I cant take alittle criticism, I can take anything, I am a addict you know!
Pamela, I have to tell you how much I miss you lately. I love you so very much and the other 'P's too. Love s of my life! Forever! Thanx Doll, you have made my crazy dugged out life complete.
I read up there somewhere about not ever taking pain killers again. I wish I could and I said never ever too. 51 days of I wont ever again. It was hell. I have had 12 surgeries since 1989 and why dont I deserve to be pain free and why is AA/NA against me taking meds? I will never understand why you guys have this rule about NO medicine, do you guys know more than a doc does? I am not trying to push anyones buttons, I just dont understand why it is either drug free or else. It just blows my mind about the rules thats all. Peace everyone and I am on alot of **** right now and not liking it! Pray for me or whatever one does theses day! Thanx everyone!  Bill

[KimH]

Wannabclean, I am glad to bring you positive encouragement! I think the Thomas Recipe (minus the benzo for me} is an awesome idea! Especially for women! I looked up alot of it on the web and vita B6 alone helps moodswings, hormones, PMS, stress, and lots of other mental functions! Take those and focus on how much they will help you and look for the good. For me it is dangerous to ask someone else if I will be sick. What if they say "Yes, you are going to wish you were dead!" I'd be screwed right there! I am somewhat (maybe more) of a hypocondriat! If I am on the phone w/someone and they say they have a soar throat the next day I have it! My doc told me to get some melatonin for sleep at the GNC and I was pissed! I said "No health suppliment garbage is going to help me! I need like 1000mgs of trazidone! Well it worked! I slept! Never underestimate those little herbs and health suppliments. I'm finding taking them now is honestly helping and causing me to want to eat healthy and exersise. Lets do it together and anyone else please join us!  KimH

[jack daniels]

i'm with you...doing all of that..clean 15 days now...and feel GREAT...the B6 really helps...i'm so happy to have my life back...being clean is the greatest thing i have ever known in my life..it's like a buzz in it's self...HAVE A GREAT DAY...i am..jack

[pammy0690]

Bill you are such a good friend.  Methman pixi and Peazy too.  I have been way to busy and stress out. Everyone has been noticing I am not my bubbly self.  I will be again soon it is just the time of year.  My brother who has ever done drugs and is the cleanest nicest guy I know has been here and we have been having fun.  

Badgirl, I am concerned like Bill about what you are doing but in no way shape or form do I look down on you.  I do not agree that RX shopping and doc shopping I do not think any less of you.  I too have done things I and not proud of to get my DOC.  It is part of this thing called addiction.  Please be careful and think about the conquences hon!  I would hate for something to happen to you cause you seem like a good person.  Pammy

[Poppylover]

I'm sorry if I Hurt your feelings about other sites of support. That was not my intention. I don't know how this site was before, but it has been a hot bed of fighting and negitive vibes since I have been here, mostly lurking. That is not to undermind the wonderful people here. And in my surfing, these sites are not slow, and they do talk about things other than addiction. I don't know why it would bother you Bill for other people to check different views. You don't have to defend MedHelp it speaks for itself. Since my post has struck some kind of protective nerve in you, and you think this site is all anyone could ever need, I will not post again. For this you will be glad I'm sure. Anyone with a different view from you is not wanted, you have made it clear. I will continue to remember all of you in my prayers for your continued good health. God Bless all of you, And God Bless America.

PoppyLover

[terter]

I Think almost all of us have doc shopped or else how could we get more then whats perscribed. Unless we buy them off the street which isn't a commen place in my town or maybe I'm not looking. For an addict 1 pill every 8 hours doesn't cut it for most of us. I think a lot of people do it. I did my friend does. I am not saying it's ok but I didn't know it was illegal, faking Birth dates differant names on a script of course is illegal, but I didn't know getting differant pain meds such as Norco verses Loritab from differant docs was illegal.  Gives me even a better reason to stop again. Anyway does anyone now were I can find a doctor who nows about addiction? TER
Thanks Mrm & Hulier for responding.

[Nana42]

I'm in a bit of a panic here.  As some of you know, I've been on Viodin for over a year now.  Up to 4 a day.  The GP Doc has been VERY generous in just refilling my prescription.  I started using it for legitimate pain and it helped, but just needed to take more and more to feel relief.  SOOOOO, I finally went to a Rheumy a few weeks ago, who was also in the same clinic as my GP.  He started me on Prednisone...20mg/day.  It has totally taken away all of my pain.  (I had a CRP test done, which was an 8.8, normal is .09.  So I had definite swelling going on, thus the pain).  

I talked to the Rheumy yesterday.  He said he would not fill my Vicodin prescription again.  He said that now that the pain was gone I didn't need the Vicodin.  I ALMOST THREW UP!!!  I can't believe that they would hand this stuff out like candy and then just pull the rug out from underneath me!!!!  I can't do this!!!!!!  I have a 9 month old baby and there is NO WAY that I can go Cold Turkey like this!  I practically begged him to let me go on a taper-down schedule...but he refused.

WHAT AM I GOING TO DO????

I have 6 Vikes left and then it's ..... WHAT?????

Please help me...I am so afraid...and so PISSED OFF!!!!  It's not like I was buying this stuff illegally!  I DIDN'T WRITE MY OWN PRESCRIPTIONS!!!!  THEY DID!  And now they're just going let me go through this horrendous ordeal without any help?  Like they have no responsibility for it?  

Am I an adult making my own decisions?  YES....but...I WAS following doctors orders and had NO idea that this would happen and I would become so addicted to the stuff.

I'm sorry for rambling...but I'm so afraid of what's coming up in the next few days/weeks.  

Has this happened to anyone else?  Where the doc just cuts you off without any warning or tapering?????

[wannabclean]

Funny you talk about being a hypocondriac because after reading about your insomnia, I maybe got 2 hours sleep last night. Exercise and dieting (I've been taking supplements,everything in the thomas receipe plus tons more since I was 15) have always been a part of my life. It has been very hard going to the gym this past month, but b/c my family and friends all workout at the same place whenever I miss a day I always get a few calls. Everyone knows the parinoia w/d's bring, I am terrified if I don't go to the gym the will all find out about my problem. I guess I should look at that positively also since its getting my butt to the gym.  I will pick up some melatonin today and give it a try tonight! Its really great having someone doing this same daily grind with me, you have no idea how easy it was to just continue with the hydro and keep my secret. Stoping seemed so hard alone not being able to get help from anyone in my life. I feel OK today and haven't taken my buprenex yet, I'm going hour to hour trying to make it w/o. I hope we can make it to July together! Thats my goal so I hope to have you around until at least then. Thank you sooooooooooooooooo much again!

[Nana42]

AND FURTHERMORE....

I think all doctors should be put on a narcotic, like Vicodin, for 6 months (at least)...and then be pulled off of it.  THEY NEED TO KNOW what they're doing when they dole out these prescriptions.  They need to be able to FEEL what it's like and how it affects a persons entire life!  AND they need to know/feel what withdrawal is like.  

Can you tell I'm upset?  Panic striken?

I almost feel like going to my clinics board and raising holy hell with them!

I'd sure like the online doctor to explain to me the rational of what my doctors are doing and how they think they can just promote/enable (whatever you want to call it) an addiction such as this...and then just turn their backs and ignore what they've created.

Am I totally wrong here?  Is it just the panic setting in that's making me so angry?  Or am I right in how I'm feeling?

[AmberHunter]

there is a place in the NA basic text that talks about the fact that "we are not doctors". i spent a long, long time in NA. when i needed to take pain meds i did so, responsibly. like telling my sponsor and letting someone else dispense them. taking them for the shortest amount of time possible.

i was a chronic pain patient for two of the years i was in NA. my sponsor who was a nurse knew about it and supported me in getting relief from a very painful condition. now, at the end of the two years i was abusing the **** out of them but i was able to take my meds responsibly for a long time before that.

i have even run into people in meetings (not many, but a few) who were on methadone and went to meetings. in my opinion, being on methadone maintenance is MEDICAL and if not abused is a good way to save your life if living narcotic free isn't an option.

anyhow, i don't know what area these meetings in that tell you not to take pain meds for a painful medical procedure or a migraine etc... trust me on this one: the fellowship of narcotics anonymous is NOT full of a bunch of martyrs! and keep in mind that the opinions and suggestions that you hear in an NA meeting belong to the person speaking them. nobody speaks for NA, the organization, in a meeting. suggestions are just suggestions... even if the person "suggesting" them thinks they are some sort of NA guru...

as long as you stay honest about taking pain meds and do as much as you can to protect yourself from abusing them then you will be ok... tell your sponsor, tell your spouse, you do NOT have to share this at a meeting if you don't want to. use your discretion~

hope this helped...

amber

[Jerri2]

Hey there you big teddy bear you!I was asked to tell you to get your butt over to the P.A.W.S. board and visit once in awhile!They miss you!!!Hope your doing good..Love ya..Jerri

[sandstorm]

I went through the same thing you did.  After the 2nd year of ultram my doctor cut me off completely.  I told her I needed help getting off of them or I needed to taper, but she said NO. I called another doctor's office and explained the situation because I knew I would die if someone didn't help me.  Mine was for legit pain also, but I did get addicted to them.  I went in the next day, the doc was so nice to me and I needed kindness that day.  I felt like the scum of the earth.  He weaned me for 7 months.  I've told them over and over at that office they saved my life.  I hope you find some help, you have done nothing wrong.  I wished the same "horror" on my doctor as you did, I couldn't help it.  Someone will come through for you.
I'll be thinking of you.  Keep posting.
Take care,
Sandy

[mrmichael67]

Nana, try to make an appointment for another doc and see if you can get someone to help you.  Try to get an appointment for an addiction doc.  Call your local hospitals and ask for their doctor referral service.  They will know who all the different docs and their specialties are.

Poppylover,

People should be able to post what they want.  BUT, knowing the way it is here, people could show some consideration for others.  There is a kb limit on these threads.  I don't think it is right for someone to say in 50 sentences what could be said in 5.  It is just not being considerate of others who might want to post something.  It wasn't always like this.  But, now it is.  And, there is nothing wrong with people showing some consideration for others.

[Nana42]

What can I take right now?  I have some Clonazepam...but I have a 9 month old.  I'm totally shaking and don't dare take a Vike because I only have a few left and I think I should save them in case I can't find anyone to give me any more.

Is there anything I can take that I would have at home?  A home-remidy type thing?  My hands are tingling and I'm feeling like I'm going nuts!

Please...any 'just until you get an appointment' help you can offer???????

[vikequeen]

Bill I appreciate your comments and concern, I am not young I am 38, also I used to doc shop, actually it was dentist shopping but anyway, I am not in a pain clinic but I am taking them for pain as well as fun the pain part came first. I had a total hip replacement last year, yes what I have done is wrong, I no longer shop around and get them only from the Ortho doc and when I dont have any I buy them. I know the trouble you can get into and I have kids young and old so thanks for the warning, you too pammy, sometimes I just feel like venting cause I have no one else to talk to about this. Thanks guys maybe you all can come to MD and knock some sense into me. Badd

[Kurt Cobain]

Well, seems the time has come for me to mosey along, too.  I love this place -- and it helped me several times to feel like I was not alone -- but the overall "vibe" here lately and the spoken and unspoken messages from the powers that be here at MedHelp make it clear that my time and energy would be better spent elsewhere.

Restrictions on bandwidth are understandable in today's internet.  Anyone should be able to understand monetary issues. . .hell, addicts most of all.  How many of us were "smart shoppers" when it came to saving money to scrape together enough for our next bottle of junk?  I actually remember thinking how I'd been saving the family money by not eating food as a justification of the cash I spent on my drugs.  Yeah, insane, but most of us can relate, right?

So the economics of this place are justifiable.  What isn't are the double standards being applied to different members of the group.  Before anyone accuses me of "waah waah"-ing like a baby, rest assured that I will only provide two specific examples -- both relating only to things I have personally been a part of or witnessed personally.

The first was during the whole "cosmicstargoat/expillman" fiasco that I unfortunately witnessed just upon my return to this forum from an almost two-year absence.  First of all. . .it should have been obvious to anyone who read these posts that this guy had more issues than the Library of Congress had old copies of "Time" and "Newsweek".  The guy loses his wife AND subsequently decides to cold-turkey from OxyContin?  Either event could easily push anyone over the edge. . .with BOTH going on?  This guy's rantings should have been completely ignored by anyone with any sense at all, myself included.  I DID try to stay out of it as much as possible. . .but when things got so out of hand that space was becoming an issue, I took a "question" spot to post the topic "Is this how it is here?"  I genuinely wanted to know if this was how things had been while I was away, and if it were, what could be done about it.  Along with MANY wonderful opinions from you folks (that mattered to me), I got a short, "scolding" response here publicly, from Cindy, about not using a "question" slot to start a "discussion" and how the doctor's time was "valuable".  Of course, I understood both of these points. . .but considering I ONLY used a "question" spot when it became very apparent that no one in power would notice/do anything about the situation otherwise (and SPECIFICALLY encouraging in my post that ANYONE with a "real issue" was more than encouraged to "hijack" the thread), I was a little taken aback by the response.  And as far as the doctor's time being valuable. . .well, I've said it before and will say again that, while acknowledging that, I will add that mine is at least as valuable, if not more, since I have actual experience in being a junkie and obviously spend way more time and space posting here than any physician I've seen on this or any other forum.  This is not to say "Yay for me, I'm a wordy junkie!" -- it's just a plain fact.  Blessed are those of few words and clean bloodstreams -- addiction is a disease I would wish on no one.

That was mildly annoying, but was something I was willing to make an allowance for (as a direct-care CNA working with elderly dementia patients, I have learned to make a great many allowances).  What was less called for was the response I got to a question regarding the similarity of heroin to fentanyl -- a question it seemed might benefit some here who were struggling mightily with Duragesic withdrawal.  I was curious as to the similarity between the two since the withdrawal syndromes seemed so terribly similar.  The forum doc's reply was "I don't get what you are driving at in your post.  I cannot comment on illicit uses of narcotic agonists in a constructive fashion.  Sorry."  I'm paraphrasing (since the thread has since mysteriously been removed), but I'm willing to bet the wording is 99% correct -- and those that read it will recognize it.  Maybe I'm just a sensitive little drug addict, but the impression I got from this response was "Well, since I'm not a dirty junkie who abuses drugs, I don't know what you're talking about.  Sorry.  Don't waste my valuable time."  Fortunately, this was all I expected from the "medical" community, and I got some very insightful and well-researched responses from my fellow dirty junkies out there.  Thanks to you, hopefully the people who needed the information and insight got what they came here for.

Even THAT I could have let roll off, and did. . .the Golden Rule of geriatric/Alzheimer's patient care is  "Don't take anything personally", and it was becoming very useful to me here.  But after a subsequent "open thread" was created by another forum participant -- which was VERY necessary for room to post -- and the only response from the doc was an encouraging "post room", and no response at all from Cindy whacking this person on the knuckles for using up a "question" slot, I began to feel as if maybe I should be getting the clue that, why yes, it WAS just me.

After reading Judes' reprimand today, however, regarding "mud slinging and bad language" however, as well as the sentiment that "we'd appreciate it if you could keep your writing to a minimum" copied by her verbatim as sent from Cindy, to avoid confusion. . .well, that's when I knew it was time for me to fly.  The fact that someone besides me had been "singled out" for behavior that has been much, MUCH more extreme in many other participants and their posts here (such as length of posts, bad words, bashing, and so on) sadly confirmed my suspicion that there are those here who can and do "get away" with such things, and those who cannot.  It's very apparent to me which side of that group I find myself on here at MedHelp.

To all those addicts here who I've met and enjoyed reading/interacting with, prayers and good wishes go out to all of you.  It's a hard ******* road to tread, but we junkies are some of the toughest people on this planet, physically, mentally, and spiritually, and we won't go down without a fight.  Keep fighting.  For those of you who may not mind reading the occasional long post, you'll find me these days over at drugabuse.com, which doesn't seem to have (yet) the kinds of issues that have made me unwelcome and uncomfortable here.  Hope to see some of you there.  Again, shalom.

Peace,

Kurt Cobain

(PS -- sorry for the extra-long post, guys. . .but at least it'll be the last you'll have to deal with!  As my buddy Tricky **** once (kind of) said, "You won't have Kurt Cobain to kick around anymore!")

[mrmichael67]

I would hold off on the clonazepam if it knocks you for a loop.  If you can tolerate it, it might calm you down a bit.  The best thing for you to do would be to get yourself together and look in the yellow pages for physician referral services connected to your local hospitals and get a hold of an addiction doc....and NOW.  Or, how about your GP?  An addiction doc would be able to wean you off with something....most likely buprenorphine.  There really aren't any home remedies.  But seriously, look in the yellow pages.  Also, you can search for an addiction doc in your state here:  http://www.ama-assn.org/aps/amahg.htm
Addiction is not listed in the regular list of specialties.  You have to click the expanded list of specialties and addiction will be listed there.  I tried it for NJ and I got a list.  I hope you have luck with it.

[Nana42]

My Rheumy just called me.  Turns out they had their weekly meetings where all the docs get together and talk about their patients.  I was on the list of patients.

He said he had changed his mind and will go ahead and let me taper down....tapering 1/2 pill every 5 days.

THANK GOD!!!!!

It sounded to me like he was reprimanded a bit by the others for thinking he could just stop with the pills and not be responsible and taper me off. (I could hear it in his voice).

Anyway...he said to NOT take the Clonazepam because that was addictive as well and he didn't want to have to deal with that further on down the road.

I know I can do this!  Hope everyone has patience with me on this forum...cuz I'll probably have some rough days coming up.

Peace Out!

[sandstorm]

I was waiting for more people to respond who might have more experience than me.  I agree with Mrmichael,  start calling and believe it or not there are doctor's who want to help.  When I called I didn't care if they checked me out or not with my orig doc. I told them exactly what was going on.  The doctor I ended up going to did not really know that much about addiction and he didn't know that ultram was addictive.  Thank God he had an opened mind and told me in the end he was now educated on addiction more than he had ever been.   I was very blessed to find him,  more than anything he wanted to help me like all doctor's should want to do especially when you are sincere and desperate. Try to relax and start calling.  You are going to be ok.  Keep posting. If You can't get a doctor go to an emergency clinic.  Most Professionals will help when you pour your heart out.

Let us know.
Sandy

[sandstorm]

THANK GOODNESS! I was concerned for you. I'll be here for you.
Sandy

[Courtney Love]

Goodbye Kurt.

[pepsi4]

Well, I had a relapse a few days ago, and decided to take Tramadol to help with wd.  It worked very well.  I know a lot of you are against this med, but in my case there was no "high" and I would never consider taking it unless I had to -- I really didn't like the way it made me feel, but it was much better than the alternative.  This may be just what some of you need to get you through the initial wd.  I know it will just be a substitute for some, but I can't believe I'm the only that doesn't care for this drug -- it could be a life saver for some.  Don't get me wrong, the wd was still just as bad emotionally, but I could function, sleep and eat.  I took 1 or 1/2 tablet at a time.  One night, I took 2 because I was afraid I wouldn't sleep (past experience) -- I slept great, but didn't like the way I felt in the AM -- I'd never take 100mgs at once again.  I apologize if this offends those of you that have had problems with it -- I'm just trying to help those who can't seem to get through the initial phase.  We can all do it one way or another -- I truly believe that -- I have had some of the best days of my life recently (before relapse) -- it's great to be living again.  If you have any questions about other things that I did to help the wd, please ask.  Peace to all -- thanks for being here -- I stop by every day!

[mrmichael67]

I just suggested the clonazepam for the current time....to calm you down.  Taking it one time won't make you addicted.  You certainly don't want to take it on an ongoing basis, unless it were indicated for something.  You are MUCH better staying away from benzos.  Just make sure you work that taper to the number.  A half pill every five days is a good taper.