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fioricet addiction
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
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
PS...sorry your weekend was not so good. I agree, the crash was depressing. But, to be sick in addition...YUCK. Hope your week is better.
Well, I wonder if my name is in that database? I did have several doctors for a while (6 was the max). You probably read that story earlier in the chain of posts. I got turned in by one doctor. I know he called several of my other doctors, but don't know if he put me in the database. Do you know how to find out? Just curious.
Anyway, I am with one doctor, who will give it to me 30 w/3 refills. Typically I can refill with him about every 21-25 days. But, he really wants it to last a month. I am supplementing with the internet. I was very very nervous, but found a way to make it work. Nobody knows. It helps that I have my own credit cards and bank account. I place the order using my laptop (so nobody can see the web site I went to in teh history) and have it held at the fed ex (about a block away from work) office for pickup. So, I end up spending a mint. I figure if I can quit these, I can save at least $$600-800 a year. You know what I am going to do with that money??? I am going to buy new furniture for my office!!! Or put it down on a new bedroom set. Maybe a new couch!! Something I can enjoy every day and tell myself I have it because I quit being stupid!
So, there ya go..there is my new motivation get the heck off these and at least live within what my doctor is allowing me to have!
Anyway, I am with one doctor, who will give it to me 30 w/3 refills. Typically I can refill with him about every 21-25 days. But, he really wants it to last a month. I am supplementing with the internet. I was very very nervous, but found a way to make it work. Nobody knows. It helps that I have my own credit cards and bank account. I place the order using my laptop (so nobody can see the web site I went to in teh history) and have it held at the fed ex (about a block away from work) office for pickup. So, I end up spending a mint. I figure if I can quit these, I can save at least $$600-800 a year. You know what I am going to do with that money??? I am going to buy new furniture for my office!!! Or put it down on a new bedroom set. Maybe a new couch!! Something I can enjoy every day and tell myself I have it because I quit being stupid!
So, there ya go..there is my new motivation get the heck off these and at least live within what my doctor is allowing me to have!
Forgot to mention this: you should only quit one addiction at a time! That's very important. Of course, if your fiorinal is mixed with narcotic, you can't. But, the smoking can wait. Quit smoking when you're over the worst withdrawals from the other stuff. Smoking may help you with them! I read that in my son's neurology and how drugs affect your brain and chemistry book. Thank God he left that one here and didn't take it to UCLA. Also, I have a book , "Quitting Adddictions Naturally" and it deals with sugar, nicotine, alcohol and barbiturates. They believe the same thing - unless of course, your pills are a combination. I never took that kind so I just had the barbs to contend with! Kat
To answer your question about having a good weekend? - it was depressing because of the nonstop coverage of the Space Shuttle and I feel so bad for the families. Plus, I do have some kind of "bug" going around here - everyone is complaining about severe migraine headaches (those who never get one) and it lasts for about 4 days. Apparently, the doc that treated my neighbor with a narcotic said if you already suffer from migraines, this flu-type virus will make you go nuts! DUHH I KNOW that's what I have because every muscle and joint aches, too. Anyway, dancinginthedark asked how I went CT. Well, all 3 times - spread out since June of 2001 - I had no pills left, exhausted ALL my sources (2 doctors and 4 pharmacies) and I had already used the "I left them at the shore" excuse with my family doc and can't do it again. I was severly made an ass out of by a pharmacist 2 yrs. ago in front of customers and he refused to refill my last refill until HE thought it was safe! I got on another thread here and talked to an Rx and he said "that's illegal". I didn't know that then. So, I CT'd from 10 on a Friday to 0 by Sat. and the withdrawal started on Sunday and I vomited so severely, I truly thought I was going to die. I stayed clean for 2 weeks and started again because I felt a tight feeling in my neck and dreaded the horror of another tension/migraine headache. I had no pain with withdrawal except for a short 3-4 days. The shakes, trembling and hallucinations and not being able to sleep one bit bothered me tremendously. Especially the trembling and not being able to focus my eyes. I had been on that amount for a long time and probably was close to having a seizure by doing that stupid thing. Then, by 3 mon. I was hooked again (about 6-7) and I CT'd over Labor Day weekend.I was successful until 9/11 and 2 days after, I started with one and then you know the drill ..... So, I did it this time because I had no way to refill and was SO SICK of planning my life and vacations around "do I have enough". It has been liberating to say the least! But, I am going to use l or 2 in a severe situation, not just a bad day. Pilot, I got my script of 100 w/0 refills from my family doctor. I got a script for "hormonal headaches" of 30 w/2 refills from my OB/GYN every 2 months. Sometimes, the family doc wouldn't mark it in my chart because I figured out that if I made an appt. for a fake sinus infec. and asked him as he was walking out of the room for a script for fiorinal, he'd always write me one and give me the chart to hand in up at the desk. So, no record that day of a script! So, then I'd call in maybe 14 to 21 days later and the nurse would enter it in the chart for that day. In other words, I was getting more than HE even knew! I went through insurance - $10 co-pay for all drugs. So, 100 cost me $10.00 and the OB/GYN, I went to a small pharmacy and said I don't have drug coverage and paid cash. Usually, $15 for 30 or sometimes 40 pills. I don't know how to use the internet as a source and am scared I'd get caught and my kids who are so anti-drugs would be disgusted with me. If you get caught, your name goes on a Federal database and you're screwed! I also had a Ear/Nose/Throat specialist and got a few scripts from him, but after awhile, he said to ask my family doc for it. Some doctors are on to that stuff BIG TIME! Others aren't and hand out scripts like candy. Well, hope I didn't ramble on too much, but that's my story. Kat
Good morning everyone
Kat: If ya need one, ya need one. Taking one for a tremendous headache, after you have tried all else, is definately within the confines of what you are trying to do...not abuse the junk.
As for the only 2 1/2...well, the reason I am trying to get off from here is because I am not using it for headaches, most of the time. I use it for everything else...ignoring the grocery bill, standing up to the head honcho at work, having the energy to keep up with my kids. And I know that if I don't set a goal, I will be back up to the 100 a week I was at several years back.
You know what is really funny. I can ration them because I know I still have some. If I had quit, like Kat did, and still had a few in a bottle...they would be gone. I guess everyone's strength is different.
I have never done the codiene thing, because I am actually allergic to it. So, can't help anyone there.
Out of curiousity, is everyone here getting it thru a physician/pharmacy on their insurance?? I am only able to get 30 w/3 refills from my physician. I get the rest thru the internet and pay $140 for a bottle of 100. That is extreme, now isn't it. I am just wondering what everyone else is spending on average. I can't do the multi-doctor thing, after my last run in with the doctor network.
So, did everyone have a good weekend?
Kat: If ya need one, ya need one. Taking one for a tremendous headache, after you have tried all else, is definately within the confines of what you are trying to do...not abuse the junk.
As for the only 2 1/2...well, the reason I am trying to get off from here is because I am not using it for headaches, most of the time. I use it for everything else...ignoring the grocery bill, standing up to the head honcho at work, having the energy to keep up with my kids. And I know that if I don't set a goal, I will be back up to the 100 a week I was at several years back.
You know what is really funny. I can ration them because I know I still have some. If I had quit, like Kat did, and still had a few in a bottle...they would be gone. I guess everyone's strength is different.
I have never done the codiene thing, because I am actually allergic to it. So, can't help anyone there.
Out of curiousity, is everyone here getting it thru a physician/pharmacy on their insurance?? I am only able to get 30 w/3 refills from my physician. I get the rest thru the internet and pay $140 for a bottle of 100. That is extreme, now isn't it. I am just wondering what everyone else is spending on average. I can't do the multi-doctor thing, after my last run in with the doctor network.
So, did everyone have a good weekend?
Good morning all,
This morning, after yet another sleepless night, I had a pre-dawn epiphany of sorts. I'd been using the codeine - however unwittingly - to manage my btwn fiorinal binge times. It's been 15 days w/out codeine & when I ran out of F on Fri. as per usual, with no refill until Tues. I didn't give that any thought because it was always the same.
I WAS A MESS! I *felt* bitchy;-) restless, frustrated & worst of all: What a thumping headache. An unremitting, ceaseless SOB I might add. Imitrex, Excedrin, aspirin...no luck. The only bit of good news is I had no weekend plans but I still couldn't work, read, think...I just sat and watched TV & felt sad & depressed about the shuttle disaster & the impending war.
Is this what you all meant by withdrawal? It SUCKS! I didn't really have this last wk. because it was right after I stopped codeine, thus I was in withdrawal hell.
All this time, I've been able to binge on F because codeine chilled me out & worked on my headaches, rebound or otherwise.
I'm prescribed 28 F for 7 days & I've NEVER taken less than 6 or 8 in a day. 4 a day seems almost humorous. After 4 days w/out, I need 3-4 at once just to get going again!
JR! How did you get thru this codeine differential? As I recall, you went thru a nasty spell taking yourself from 20-10 on your own steam. HOW long did it last if you CT'd codeine? And how many F3's were you taking p. day?
BTW; I LOVED your stories, especially the one where you switched the fiorinal 3's for plain. What a scream! Their inventory must have been only slightly off, n'est-ce pas?
Kat! At which pt. did you go cold turkey? You are so inspiring. You just did it. You've got me thinking I should go that route but for the moment, methinks I'd better restabilize. I've 3 articles & 4 column type pcs. due this week AND I AIN'T GOT NO BRAIN! :-)
And Mizz Pilot! I don't know where you have the strength & fortitude to hide & tape up your pills. I had quite a giggle picturing you running back to the office with your keys to "liberate" a few. I don't know where to hide mine from me. In the cat's litter box?
I don't think my mood has been helped by quitting smoking last Mon. (Duh!) I was just feeling so proud of myself for quitting codeine, I thought I'd take care of the cigs too. It's lucky I'm not compulsive...;-)
Well, if I cave anywhere, that's where it will be. I'm staying OFF the codeine & I MUST get on a routine with the fiorinal. I need to wake up & realize it's not about getting high; it's about keeping withdrawal & headaches at bay. They really should put that in the dispensing information! I'm sure I was told otherwise.....:-)
Have a good week everyone & hang tough!!
Dancing in the Dark
This morning, after yet another sleepless night, I had a pre-dawn epiphany of sorts. I'd been using the codeine - however unwittingly - to manage my btwn fiorinal binge times. It's been 15 days w/out codeine & when I ran out of F on Fri. as per usual, with no refill until Tues. I didn't give that any thought because it was always the same.
I WAS A MESS! I *felt* bitchy;-) restless, frustrated & worst of all: What a thumping headache. An unremitting, ceaseless SOB I might add. Imitrex, Excedrin, aspirin...no luck. The only bit of good news is I had no weekend plans but I still couldn't work, read, think...I just sat and watched TV & felt sad & depressed about the shuttle disaster & the impending war.
Is this what you all meant by withdrawal? It SUCKS! I didn't really have this last wk. because it was right after I stopped codeine, thus I was in withdrawal hell.
All this time, I've been able to binge on F because codeine chilled me out & worked on my headaches, rebound or otherwise.
I'm prescribed 28 F for 7 days & I've NEVER taken less than 6 or 8 in a day. 4 a day seems almost humorous. After 4 days w/out, I need 3-4 at once just to get going again!
JR! How did you get thru this codeine differential? As I recall, you went thru a nasty spell taking yourself from 20-10 on your own steam. HOW long did it last if you CT'd codeine? And how many F3's were you taking p. day?
BTW; I LOVED your stories, especially the one where you switched the fiorinal 3's for plain. What a scream! Their inventory must have been only slightly off, n'est-ce pas?
Kat! At which pt. did you go cold turkey? You are so inspiring. You just did it. You've got me thinking I should go that route but for the moment, methinks I'd better restabilize. I've 3 articles & 4 column type pcs. due this week AND I AIN'T GOT NO BRAIN! :-)
And Mizz Pilot! I don't know where you have the strength & fortitude to hide & tape up your pills. I had quite a giggle picturing you running back to the office with your keys to "liberate" a few. I don't know where to hide mine from me. In the cat's litter box?
I don't think my mood has been helped by quitting smoking last Mon. (Duh!) I was just feeling so proud of myself for quitting codeine, I thought I'd take care of the cigs too. It's lucky I'm not compulsive...;-)
Well, if I cave anywhere, that's where it will be. I'm staying OFF the codeine & I MUST get on a routine with the fiorinal. I need to wake up & realize it's not about getting high; it's about keeping withdrawal & headaches at bay. They really should put that in the dispensing information! I'm sure I was told otherwise.....:-)
Have a good week everyone & hang tough!!
Dancing in the Dark
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