Worried about ambiens, occasional valiums - does this mean relapse?!!

[nefesh]

Thank God I'm over 80 days clean from opiates (oxycontin's) after using various opiates for 25 years... I couldn't sleep and it drove me NUTS so I took a little valium for that and then found that ambien works much better and I never liked valium much anyways... my trigger for opiate addiction is PAIN, so I started noticing that a little ambien in the day helps ease the pain... of course it also puts me to sleep so my energy levels take a dive which is a killer...  So am I relapsing or what??  These ambiens don't give me anywhere near the pain relief, energy, or high that opiates did - and the valium seems pretty useless even just to put me to sleep... But am I failing and falling here??!!  Am I starting down the old trail again??  Do I have to erase my 85 clean days off opiates and start from zero because I started taking some ambiens in the day??  What's the straight dope here??!!  I know I'm an idiot and have to cut out taking ANYTHING in the day and maybe even stopping the ambien at night for sleep.... but does this mean I've lost all that I thought I'd gained??  
BACKING DOWN THE DRAIN
Nefesh

[mr.lucky66]

Taking these drugs and ambien in the day is a bad sign. I've done it and it is a very slippery slope. be very carefull as this can easy cause opiate craving and relapse.

[nefesh]

thanks for your help... I'm gonna stay away from the valium totally and worried got it exactly right - what I need's a muscle relaxer... but I am also worried...  thanx for your support
Nefesh

[worried878]

be safe with those drugs..specially the benzos...ambien is not made to be taken during the day and can cause black outs..not as addictive as valium but be safe...u r worrying bout this so that is good..perhapos a mucle relaxer would serve the same purpose and be much safer for u

[SophieShine]

Don't go down the benzos road, it's he!! to taper.
Did you try melatonin as sleep aid or valerian roots? Just an idea...
Congrats on 80 days of freedom!!!
sophie.

[nefesh]

Thanks for your help... in a supportive way you both really told me what I need to hear - that I better get off this stuff asap... and then I'll just have to deal with the sleep problems when I get there again.... I go from no sleep to all sleep... need to find the healthy and pill-free happy medium...  blessings to y'all!
Nefesh

[tommm70]

Hey, stay strong nefesh! Avis is right. Cross addiction is something to be wary of. Our addicted brains are looking for any kind of "high" or "altered state" and can be very easy to fall into this trap.

You ask if you have to erase 85 days clean off of opiates. The questions I have for you are whether or not you are getting the ambien and valium from your doctor. Are you taking them as prescribed? Are you taking them for the right reasons? Only you know the answers to these. Once you answer this you will be able to answer these questions.

The ultimate goal is to be pill free, correct? You can do it!

[avisg]

no you don't have to start from zero but I would stop the others ASAP because you might end up cross addicted to these pills now unforuntly it happens often .Be very careful many are addicted to both of these drugs .