controlled substances

[Coz]

i was wondering what the difference is between a controlled substance, such as xanax, versus a non-controlled substance, such as zoloft?  thank you!

[2timeloser]

Hi  Glad i found this site. My story is one of many you have probably heard a thosand times before.   i just feel like creap.  Was taking 200  mlgs. of morphine sulfate a day for 2 years and decided to wean myself off   for all the same reasons we all want to quit for.  I did it in about two weeks, been clean for 4 days  DAMN  how long does this **** last. all the syptoms of w/d.   totally different then when i quit drinking 4 years ago.this sucks. I have access to what my body needs but  not giving up that easy.Definately only want to go through this once. dont want to take a step back  but feel sooo bad all over.Earlier today i thought i felt a little better, maybe i did but its back again.  All of you seem so strong. i"M sure it gets better but i will have to go back to work in a week.  What do ya think  possible???  THANKYOU

[angst]

Thanks for the information.  I said before, that I do not want to mess up my methadone.  I am on 90mg.  It works pretty good.
I still have bad chronic pain in my legs, probably a side effect of taking prednisone for asthma and shooting where ever I could get a good vein.  My counseller wants to up me to 100mg.  I am thinking about it.  I know what a ***** it is to come off of methadone.  I did it too rapidly last time according to my counseller's opinion.  

Hey, I did not mean to bash anyone.  I knew that was why some folks were talking of leaving a little while past.  I agreed with the original idea, but never got acknowledged.  I should have let it go at that.  My ego is not that starved.  I appreciate the good advice you give us medically.  It is wonderful to have good information when you need it.  Thanks again.  Good luck and Blessings,   Angst.

[J.B. to Brian and Vicky]

I haven't had the time to read all these posts here but I wanted to say that controlled drugs are strictly regulated.  My late father-in-law was a pharmacist who owned three stores years ago.  My wife grew up filling scripts with her father's supervision in her teens.  At any rate, it seems a times that they are all out to "get you"...doesn't it?  You know, all it takes is one infraction of the drug laws and you could both end up in jail!  There really is a great deal riding on the pharmacist's shoulders when you consider that he may have to fill 80 to 90 scripts per day and work double shifts for days on end.  Be kind!

Incidentally, schedule II drugs(morphine, Oxy Contin, Ritalin)cannot be refilled. You must obtain a new script each time. They cannot legally be called in to the pharmacy, either. Schedule III drugs(Vicodin, Lortab)can be called in or refilled six times. Usually you can get them refilled within six days of the refill date.

I'm sure everybody has a horror story about the pharmacy or hospital or auto mechanic and so on...that's life!

J.B.

[Hinkster]

Thanks for the help. That made alot of sense and I just might
give it a try. Like you said I'am on a low dose to start so I'am
not getting killed on it. Thanks again for the interest and help.

[mrmichael67]

Hinskter, try not to worry about the methadone.  You are on a low dose, and if the time does come to get off of it, you can go down slowly.  And, you are getting the 3 roxicodones at a time to override any slight blockade that the methadone might be creating.  If you can handle it, I think that the doc should have you on something besides the methadone.  I think it just adds a new dependence to the fold and it is not necessary.  You are getting the oxycodone anyway, so why not just let you take oxycontin?  It is a lot easier to detox off of than methadone.  But, you are on a very low dose of methadone, so you are in pretty good shape as far as that is concerned.  I know someone who is prescribed 200mg a day for chronic pain by their pain doc.  That will be a tough detox, if it ever has to happen.

Angst, I do not know what your daily dose is, but oxy will get you high.  If you are on, say, 120mg of methadone a day, you will need a whole lot of oxy to get you high.  I am sure you are aware of methadone having a blockade effect.  I was prescribed methadone for chronic pain a while back....80mg a day.  It didn't do much for my pain, but it did add a little bit to a couple of procedures I had at the hospital.  I had what is called an epidural lysis of adhesions.  It is also called the Racz procedure.  The doctor injects some type of solution into the scar tissue in the back epidurally, and it is supposed to dissolve it.  Anyway, the procedure is quite painful and they used fentanyl (sublimaze) for it.  When all was said and done, they had to use 400ug to touch the pain.  The first procedure I had, when I wasn't on methadone, it took 100ug to work.  Even at 80mg of methadone, it took quite a bit more fentanyl to even touch the pain.  The same thing will happen with oxy or any other opiate for that matter.  If you are on a stable dose of the methadone, please don't touch the oxy.  It will screw with your bodies stability on the methadone.  And, you don't want that.  You don't want to start getting cravings again.  Leave well enough alone.

[hippy]

WELCOME TO THE FOURM.
I AM AN ADDICT , I FOUND THIS FOURM 2 MONTHS AGO, AND  I WAS ON
15 VIKES A DAY AND I FELT HOPELESS. EVERY TIME I WOULD TRY TO GET OFF THE PILLS , I SUFFERED FROM SEVERE DEPRESSION AND WITHDRAWLS.THE FOLKS ON THIS FOURM WERE VERY SUPPORTIVE AND SUGGESTED I TRY TAKING THE RECEIPE ,CONSISTING OF AMINO ACIDS AND VITAMINS.  WELL I STARTED TAKING IT 6 WEEKS AGO AND HAVE FOUND IT TO BE A LIFE SAVER FOR ME. MY DEPRESSION WENT AWAY.
AND THE WITH- DRAWLS WERE MINAMIL.
i HAVE WORKED DURING THIS WHOLE TIME, THE RECEIPE IS THE REASON I WAS ABLE TO DO THAT.. i ALSO WORK 8 TO 10 HARD HOURS OF CONSTRUCTION .   KEEP POSTING AND ASK ANY QUESTIONS , THERE  ARE A LOT OF REALLY CAREING ,EXPERENCED, PEOPLE HERE.   PEACE.

GROOVY NICE TO SEE YOUR POST.
IF I SAID ANYTHING TO OFFEND OR HURT YOU  I AM SORRY AND DID NOT MEAN TO. i THINK YOU KNOW I WAS ONLY TRYIN TO BE A PEACE MAKER.
IN ANY EVENT I WILL MAKE SURE I ONLY POST POSITVE THINGS, BECAUSE THAT IS ALL I HAVE RECEIVED HERE . I HOPE YOUR DAY IS FILLED  WITH GOOD THINGS TODAY. THANKS FOR BEING HERE.

[groovygirl]

hi and welcome.  you can look back at prior posts and find a lot of useful info on detoxing. unfortunately, you are probably going to go thru pain to be free from the drugs - we are all here, supposedly, to help each other and have pretty much all been thru that pain.  

i for one, suggest finding an addiction specialist in your area.  if you are lucky enough to find a good one, i believe they can be a lot of help.

you can try to taper down on the pills, go cold-turkey or try to find a dr. willing to prescribe buprenex.  buprenex is a med that is used to rid you of most withdrawal pain.  it is also an addicting drug, so you have to be careful.  

have you told anyone close to you about your problem?  that is a very good place to start recovery...

[joew]

I am trying to get off vicodinand work 12 hrs a day
From all that I've read this will be almosy imposible.
I have been using for 10 yrs ,that was my first back surgery.
I take 5 ES every day fot at least 5 yrs.
This week I went 30 hrs. before I broke my breathing became labored and I got scared.
Somebody please give me some advise
I must work some how

[angst]

That frightens me to think that way.  I am combining high dose methadone with counselling and group therapy.  I been told by dealers outside the methadone building you can get high on oxy's.
I do not want to mess up my methadone by trying.  However, you may be right as right can be.  Keep trying.  Good luck and Blessings,   Ava.

[Hinkster]

Hi Angst Yes I'am what they call border line diabetic. What ever
that is. That is probably the cause of my neuropathy. Thanks for
taking an interest. I have to watch what I eat, thats about it.
I still don't see what good the methadone are doing. I though
you took methadone to phase out the other meds. Maybe they do
work together.
Tom

[angst]

You are following the instructions of your pain specialist.  You are taking the medication prescribed.  I do not know of any addict who could do better.  Hold up your head.  You are wanted and needed on this forum.  You answers seem very close to truth
without malice.  Good luck with the neuropathy.  Are you diabetic?  I'm just looking for causes of neuropathy?  You do not have to endulge me.  Tell me to mind my own business.  I can
take it.

[Hinkster]

Thanks WW that was very nice of you to say that. You made my day.
Tom

[Witchywoman]

Tom, friendship is the most important thing anyone can ever offer.

I hope your pain gets treated and that you can have a good quality of life.  Methadone is given to a lot of chronic pain patients.  You don't sound as if you are abusing the medication, so I'm guessing if you get to the point where your pain is no longer strong enough to call for narcotics, that you would be able to taper slowly and be done with it. I do hope your pain goes away, but if you have to be on it then try to make peace with that. At least these meds do exist..I can't imagine how horrible it must have been for people who lived in times when they had no real treatment or help for chronic pain.

Hang around, no matter what. You're a gem.

WW

[Hinkster]

Just though I'd jump in to let ya'll know where I'am at. I had
a Dr appointment on the 9th. They kept me where I'am at with the
methadone (10mg morning/5mg noon/5mg 4pm) but, and a big but I may add, they increased my roxicodone to 3 30mg tabs every six
hours or so for breakthrough. That sounds like a lot to me. My
question is two fold. First why am I on the Methadone in the first place? and God forbid what will it be like when I have to
get off of all this. I'll probably be on this for life, like I
stated before, but who wants to be on pain meds the rest of their
life. Hopefully I'll beat this wicked disease I have and will
really need ya'll when I detox. But in the mean time I'd like to
hang in with ya'll and maybe help answer a question or two once in awhile. I don't have very much to offer except my friendship.
I indeed truely love this forum and hopefully I am not getting
in anyones way. Thanks everyone.
Tom

[groovygirl]

you are right about tapering - i'm certainly with you on that one.  i just don't have the willpower to make it work - you have to either give the meds to a trusted friend to dole out to you, or have a will of steel...i don't have a will of steel...rubber maybe lol.  my husband was holding the buprenex for me, but it actually started to cause problems between us.  i would get pissed if he didn't give me more if i felt like i needed it, etc.  now i just keep it in the kitchen, in the cabinet but where it can be seen.  just knowing that he is checking on it makes me not want to abuse it too much (although i still kind of do) - i feel like a total loser when he notices that it is dwindling at too fast a pace.

i know in my heart that one of these days, i'm going to have to give up the buprenex and just go thru the agony.  believe me, i do not feel that bup is the wonder drug i used to feel that it was...for me it is just as addicting as any of the other stuff i used to abuse.  i feel so low today...i'm going to drag my butt outside to do some gardening...that always takes my mind of being depressed.  thanks for listening.....

[Witchywoman]

Hi scared,
I've been clean since August 26th 2001. It might have been August 29...I don't remember...lol  but it was around that time.

I went cold turkey, after several months of posting on this board. At the time, I was two months post back surgery, still in a lot of pain, but in even more pain over how bad my addiction had become.  

Cold turkey is very hard, but doable. You get through it faster and the memory of the wds helps keep you clean.

I tried to taper many many times, but kept relapsing on the taper. I just couldn't do it.

Good luck to you..just never, ever give up!
love,
WW

[Mace]

I don

[scared in so cal]

Just wanted to say that you are right on the money about realizing you have a problem when something like that happens. A few weeks after that incident I ended up in the hospital for detox.
You're also right that we wouldn't be posting here on this board if quitting drugs was easy! It's really hard now though because I found out that I have a slipped disc in my back. So now I feel like I'm entitled to have vicodin. It's going to be a long hard road.
How long have you been clean?

[groovygirl]

hi - what you said about being around people being the best thing for you, but the last thing you feel like doing...that is how it is for me.  i find myself cancelling things with people that i love at the last minute all the time.  i avoid my neighbors, who i used to love chatting with...it's awful.  then, the times that i actually FORCE myself to go, i am so thankful - i forget about my problems for awhile.  even tho i know i'll probably feel good about going some place, i still feel like a recluse.  the funny thing is that i am always on the phone...i like that, but seeing anyone face-to-face feels like a chore.  drugs have really made me into a different person...i don't think i like this person very much.

[angst]

I've seen that happen.  I also know a doctor further down on the coast who will post date precriptions for dilaudid to keep certain dealers out of jail.  She got seven tablets for migraine headaches or would pee in a cup and stick her finger squeezing blood into the urine to appear to have a kidney stone.  This same doctor precribed more dilaudid to her.  She is not good looking.  She is a dealer who is her own best customer.  
That is why we get our business carried from pharmacists to insurance companies to doctors.  And it is all legal.  But to all doctor hoppers, legit chronic painers pay the price for our behaviors.  I do not do that anymore.  I was enlightened.

[Witchywoman]

Hiya scared...I agree with Jenny..don't ever worry about bringing anyone down by posting that you are having trouble stopping using. That is what we are all here for, to support and help each other. If it was a cake walk, we wouldn't be addicts! I bet every one of us has been in your position at one time or another and can understand how you feel.

I don't know what to say about the Pharmacist.  I guess they are regulated by the DEA and they do keep a look out for people who are getting multiple scripts filled.  I know it sucks, and must have made you feel really angry though.  They sometimes take it upon themselves to police us.  I did have a Doc question a script of mine once, and fortunately for me it was completely legit, but I felt pretty annoyed.  It kinda served as a wakeup call for me though, and helped me get started seeing that I did have a problem.

love,
WW

[scared in so cal]

I saw the postings about difficult pharmacists and had to post my own little story. About 2 years ago my doc would presrcibe 60 vicodin at a time (2 a day,a month's supply). Well I was in his office every two weeks and he was always writing scripts that would overlap. At that time my insurance would let me get my refill when the script was half gone. So I knew on day number 15 I could go get my refill or new script. Because of all this overlapping I would go to different pharmacies because I didn't want any trouble. Well I got a little lazy and started going to a certain pharmacy a little more than I should have. Anyway, I go in with a new script and there was a new pharmacist there. I guess he thought he was above my doctor and decided it was to soon for me to have my medication. Then as I'm standing helpless behind the counter, he gets on the phone with my insurance company and starts getting my history of refills, FROM ALL MY PHARMACIES. (I still can't believe the insurance company gave him this information, don't I have a right to privacy?) Then in front of everyone standing around me, he begins to recite to me every script I've had in the past three months and where I've had them filled. He then tells me I should have fifteen days left, and he won't fill my script. Then on top of that, he gets on the phone with my doctor and starts giving him the same rundown. At this point my doctor cancels my script and I go home in shock with nothing. What right did this pharmacist have to do this? Does he think he just made my situation better? I think he was way out of line and it's an experience I'll never forget.

[hippy]

good to see ya posting,how ya making out.
I know from my own experence how hard it is to get clean,
and also to do it while getting over a relationship at the same time.
Are you working or even able to work, I know working and being around other people is the best thing for me, and the last thing i feel like doing.
Don't run out of the amino's
you seem to know kip , do you go to meetings, they alway make me feel better.   peace

GOD IS EVER PRESENT IN HIS SEEMING ABSENCE.!

[tex3]

I think many of us have been where you are. I always "liked" opiates and would take them whenever they were prescribed, but never tried to get them otherwise. Until I ended up in chronic pain and started seeing a pain mgmt doc. I still remember leaving his office with my first script for 60 vics (at double my usual dose) and refills. I thought I was in heaven! Two years later I was at more than double that dose, but it only took maybe 3 weeks for me to get in real trouble. I guess I had that tendency but never indulged it until I was able to.

How are you doing today? Remember, you are strong, you've been here before and are hanging tough. It sucks, yes, but not as bad as the alternative. Today is good for you, I really hope. Please update when you are up to it. t