fioricet addiction

[Connie51]

I have been reading this forum for a couple weeks. I have admitted my fioricet problem to my husband and am ready to help myself. I have tried before but am now determined. There does not seem to be much online about this drug but am desperate to find someone who has had the same addiction. It has a barbituate it so it is tricky to come off of but I hear it can be done.
Anyone who has been there it would be a miracle to hear from you as I have never met anyone with the same addiction.
A bit of information as to where I am at.
I am 51 and have been addicted to them for around 7 years. I take between 8 and 10 EVERY day. It started from needing pain relief from migraines and took off from there. The migrains are no longer a problem.
I am in very poor condition in the morning till I take two.
Please if any one knows of a tapering schedule or has been there I will appreciate anything you have to say. I am aware of seizures. That is why I need help from another fioricet addict (recovering)or on a taper. The people on this forum are so kind, I am so glad I have found you all.
Thank you

[rileyup]

Wow!!!  I thought I was the only one that was ever addicted to fioricet!!!
I have been taking the nasty things for over 20 years and was taking 12 to 14 a day.  Two years ago I was in detox at the hospital (my doctor at that time sent me and made me feel like such a loser-more about him later) and was off of the fioricet for 2 months.  It was the most humilitating experince and told myself that I would never go thru that again. Lo and behold, here I am again.  Finally confessed to my new Doctor on Monday that I was taking these.  Had to tell her I get them off the internet.  She was amazed and we made a plan to taper off and try physical therapy.  Went ot PT for the first time today and it was great.  I also go for a massage once a month and the chriopracor every 3 weeks.  I am down to 11 pills a day and every 5 days I will decrease by 1.  Afraid of the withdrawals.  

[Kat49]

Hey, you had some interesting comments! First of all, I HAVE to say, don't think you're some kind of loser and I'm "petal to the metal"! First of all, I've had the WORST kinds of WD's and am getting to the point that I actually feel nauseous from too much fiorinal (6-7). If you felt like you were going to puke after your drug of choice, don't tell me you'd take it, either. I slip every now and then and I'm really on the brink now. A soul-mate kind of friend died unexpectedly on Tues. at 4am of cancer that was cured. It was the chemo that killed her. I've known her for 26 yrs. and have shared so much with her. Her son and mine are the same age and grew up best friends since birth.They've lived nextdoor, too. I'm devastated and have tension headaches to knock an elephant off it's feet! The funeral will not be do-able unless I take some fiorinal and valium. In other words, ZONKED OUT! My son in L.A. is flying in tomorrow and he's about as good as a bowl of oatmeal. This is a great loss and for our community, too. A very special person who made a difference. So, please don't put me up there with those who never fall.

Also, am I understanding that you can buy codeine products in Canada over the counter????? And also, your Daytox program sounds so wonderful. I wish we had that here. We couldn't post last nite, but I wanted to tell you that I went out and bought a bag of Epsom salts and took a bath as you recommended. I did feel better and sort of cleansed. What the hell is that used for in the tub anyways? Keep me informed on what your progress is. Sounds like you're taking on an awful lot at one time. You deserve alot of credit.                                                                                                                            To everyone else, I hope that you all are doing great. Haven't heard from alot of people in so long. Maybe your recovery is such that you don't talk about it alot or you'll be tempted to use again. But, I'm thinking of each and every one who has posted since September.  Lots of good feelings!   Kat

[dancinginthedark]

Since my soak, 4.5 hours without a headache!  Not even a whimper.
I'm in shock.  The last 2 wks has been like Buddy Rich was playing a solo between my ears!

I'm going to start snorting Epsom salts!  

REALLY Dancing!

[dancinginthedark]

After the best decade of my life in the U.S., I am back in Canada & happy to report, our nationalized medicine has something which can help me & I thought I'd pass a tip onto you.

Turns out in our nationalized medicine (Cda) there's a Detox which has a Daytox, meaning free out-patient treatment, counseling, classes & 4-5 acupuncture sessions a week - All free.  Well, color me pink!  

In speaking to a nurse today she told me I was going thru not just the codeine withdrawal but fiorinal as well, binging or not.  She gave me a cheap trick & I figured for $5. I could try it.  I am delighted to report I am *floating* & feel relaxed for the first time in weeks. She told me my body was full of toxins & junk & this helped release those & relax you. So, for what it's worth: (5*****'s from this patient)

1/2 c. epsom salts in tub
Fill tub halfway with water "just warm enough" to get in.
Get in  :-)
Keep increasing the heat, inch by inch until you're really cooking.  Simmer slowly.  When meat is tender, remove, wrap in towels until dry.  Meat can then be cut with a spoon.

Take care all.  

Dancing in the Dark

[dancinginthedark]

Speaking of the "big brother" computers.  I live in BC which has its own Pharmacare...or something, which is the provincial repository for all drugs dispensed by a pharmacist.  As soon as you fill ANYTHING - including a scrip for Folic Acid, whichever pharmacy you go to has to run it thru the central d-base. They also pull up your pharmacare record of all drugs dispensed to you & I doubt you could use a fake name as you have to produce a govt. card (like a SS#) to get any scrip filled. Once the pharmacist puts this info into computer, it's approved  or not, on the spot.  I suspected it was so but I was mildly embarassed once.  My neurologist had insisted F was the best for me & gave me another scrip for it & there was no way I was going to try & dbl dip but I felt stupid going to my usual pharmacy as it was a few days early.  So, went to another.  After a few min. I was called to the front & the pharm discretely told me that I was 3 days early & she couldn't give me any.  I was mortified!

I'm sure there are ways to dr. shop etc. but I've no idea.  I think I'm too afraid I'd wind up on the evening news or something!

I have a great liaison with the pharmacy I go to & they know how bad it's been & how far I've come & they are terrific.  This AM the mgr advanced me 4 (did it!) for the day as she knew I was in bad shape but she's usually pretty tough with me, yet always nice.  Only strange thing was this AM she suggested I refill (have plenty of refills) the Emtec.  I was surprised as I'd talked to her about how much I was taking & how much I wanted to stop & that I had.  She's very anti-drug & this stunned me.  I was taking a LOT of codeine & she knew it & to suggest I go back on it was very weird to me.  She just said, you're going to need more F otherwise.

Kat..I don't take a combo of Fiorinal & codeine.  I was taking Fior.Plain + Emtec (Tyl. 3 w/out caffeine) + (BIG plus) the OTC ones we buy here which are 8 mg. of codeine, tylenol or aspirin & caffeine.  4 of those equals one T3.  I stopped all that nonsense 15 days ago so now I've got the rebounds from that + a 12 a wk. drop in F since early Dec. He just dropped the last 7 a few wks. ago & I'm nowhere close to adjusted.

You 2 have some amazing stories.  I'm feeling like an under-achiever here!  BTW; you both inspire me so much.  Here's Kat, pedal to the metal, full throttle ahead.  And Pilot, so focused, calm & deliberate.  And you're both succeeding.

Only, Kat!  Don't feel guilty for taking a wee bit for the mother of all....it sounds to me like you've got it under control because you know what out of control is.  Besides, all that worrying will just give you the mother of all.....!!!

Best,
Joods

[Kat49]

Yes, I know how your name gets in the database.  It's very simple: if you order a controlled substance and the cops confiscate the shipping person, i.e. a Fedex truck or UPS truck or the border guards search & seize anything coming overseas or from the Mexican pharmacies, your name is on the package and they send you a form that says they have it and unless you can produce a valid American doctor's prescription and a letter on his letterhead that you've been his patient and on this drug, withing 10 days, THEY keep it or destroy it and your name goes on a DEA list of people smuggling controlled drugs into the U.S. Some people have valid scripts and are simply trying to save money going to Mexico. Mexican doctors also write scripts for a small fee for Americans to justify their use, but the law says it HAS to be an American doctor. So it's no good. Also, my doctor said everytime you pick up a script that's controlled, your name goes into the DEA's files and if too much is being prescribed, you're caught. That's how they catch people who "doctor shop" alot. With computers now the pharmacies can be in touch with each other and flag you because they know you just were at one unrelated to their franchise and picked up the same drug. I know all these laws because my dad was a District Atty. growing up. He's 82 now, but told me how people get caught. If you use an American pharmacy on the net, I doubt you'll get caught because THEY know you don't have a script from your regular doc and THEY will be shut down it YOU get caught. I'd really try to stick with your doctor's scripts and then you are being controlled by him and the weight of doing all these things to stop your overusage of F comes off your shoulders. But, it sounds like you're on the right track and you AREN'T taking the "binge" amount. Just take it easy and slow and you'll conquer this nasty habit.  Kat