how to get the rest of the way off

My Injury started 6 years ago, 2 large herniated discs (low back), with epidurals, chiropractic care and physical therapy I managed to keep working long enough to get Work comp to pay for surgery, Oct 06, prior to surg I was taking 2  120mg Kadian (=24 Norco ) and 3-4 norco daily, 60 days after surgery I started cutting down until now 11 months post opp. I can't seem to go below 5-6 norco a day, if I do, it really kicks my *** and can't function to well without taking 1-2.
Clonidine hcl .1mg seems to have little effect on helping to sleep, but lunesta sparingly lets me get 3-5 hours every couple days, still waking to (restless leg syndrome/ skin crawling) type of sensation that is relieved by 1 norco and about 30 -45 minutes, sometimes I may even get another hour sleep. This  discomfort however inconvenient is still better than feeling that the pain meds don't work just make me too stupid to realize how much pain I'm in. All this I could take except the latest twist, for the last three weeks I've had 3 migraines(nonresponsive to immetrex) and at the E.R. none of the iv pain meds worked to drop the pain level of the migrain, at least they got the vomiting to stop, I went through 10 norco to get through the next 24 hours, here I am 3 days later back at 5-6 norco a day, still wanting to get the rest of the way off, because this daily skincrawl and unrelenting restlessness doesn't even hold a candle to the migraine pain. which although increases my resolve, also raises my concern. Where the heck do I go from here, do I try to hang in there and keep decreasing dosage, and fight for some simblance of stabilization, or have I made it low enough to just stop,and t6ake what comes for the next couple weeks, if there's an end in sight. then what if I trigger another migraine, (not to be cynacal, but death is more bearable than many more days of that). at this point my pain mgmt Dr. is asking me, because I truly want off this merry go round, so what do you say , stick with the slow, or stop totally and try to deal with what comes .  

[Savas]

Huh. Didn't think you could put e-mails up here. Guess using it as a handle slips by the system. No matter....but you may want to change it, you may have problems with "management" here. Just forum rules.

Lack of sleep is one of the biggest withdrawal problems...and there's not a heck of a lot you can do about it. There's some things you can take that might help (search on here for amino acids, or send a mail to fladdict).
There's no cheap way to get treatment, or pain-less treatment, at least in the U.S. If you can fly out, there's some things that sound like they work, but...*shrug*

First, try switching to an alternate blood pressure med. Some people don't react well to Clonidine.  But if you were taking that once a day, that's not enough. That dose should be three times a day.

If you've got serious vomiting, here's a trick I use. I take 2x the dose of generic pseudoephenedrine. That's generic Duane Reade antihistamine. If you're vomiting and retching continuously, it's not being caused by your stomach. It's caused by over-sensitive skin due to histamine build up. It's "getting you" in the gag reflex area, in the back of the throat. You getting a tickle there? Well this will help.
Most doctors will pour on the anti-nausea meds, or give I.V. compazine, which will help, but the histamine build up usually is what causes continual vomiting.

It's a sucky symptom, I sympathize. They used to G.I. tube me because I'd be retching to the point of vomiting blood, and lo and behold, a little over the counter allergy med was all I needed.

Do take imodium (immodium) for your stomach. After three four days, the worst should pass. Then you need to beef up on the vitamins and the like.

But the lack of sleep is hard. Benzo's are addictive, so my advice is get past the first week or two, then take them for a week to get some relief. But don't over do it.

Otherwise, there's an LDN therapy that is supposed to "jump start" the brain, but you have to make sure the doctor and pharmacy prescribes correctly, or it WON'T work! and you can't use it until at least a week or two from your last opiate dose.

But I'll warn you, it won't be easy. But try to stop now, because the longer you wait, the worse it is. And DON'T let them put you on methadone! It's the kiss of death.

[[e-mail]]

sorry bout the email thing, that was how I had to sign up, using my chiro's computer, he's a friend of Bill, said I could use his computer, I'll let him know so he can hook me up with that stuff. thanks for the great words of wisdom. Jimi B  

[justlikeyou]

try a GOOD chiropractor for your migranes (migraines). you only have 2 choices with the pills, continue to take them for life, or stop.

it took me 100+ days after stopping everything to begin to feel ok.

agrrange some time off work and quit, it sucks bad, but from where i am now (135 days) and feeling pretty darn good most days) its a journey well worth taking.

[road2recovery]

I am so sorry about your migranes (migraines), i get them too, terrible..Luckily imitrex helps me, and phengan for the vomiting...i am coming of f  of narcotics so imitrex is the best for me..
hope things get better
r2r

[Savas]

I used to use something called midrin for migraines. It's non narcotic, a glorified type of aspirin. But for some reason, it really works. I'm trying to find out if they still make it. I think they do...

[Calzy]

The last time I had midrin was about 7 mos ago and it would help me most of the time also, i could feel the constricts of the blood vessels in my head and thats when the migraine were start to ease. Wikipedia says midrin is a C-IV drug but i did not think it was.

[beentrying2quit]

Try Imitrex for  your migranes (migraines).  One warning....THEY ARE EXPENSIVE!  The last rx I filled was for 10 tabs.....$190.00....maybe cheaper if you have better insurance.  There are actually several different types of migrane (migraine) meds out there but they do work.  

Imitrex is a pill you let disolve in your mouth...about 10 mins later....headache gone.  Hope you find some relief.

[Calzy]

I'm getting a migrane (migraine) thinking about paying $190.00 for 10 tabs

[Savas]

Wait... I thought midrin was just a glorified aspirin. That doesn't put it in the addictive class does it? I haven't taken it for a while, and thought it wasn't.

Midrin® as a combination product containing Acetaminophen, Dichloralphenazone, and Isometheptene Mucate see Acetaminophen.

Anyone know anything about the second two listed ingredients? I can't bring a search up on them.

[cherokee_gal]

Info on Midrin:

CAUTION: Federal law prohibits dispensing without prescription.

PRESCRIPTION: Each red capsule with pink band contains Isometheptene Mucate USP, 65 mg.; Dichioraiphenazone USP, 100 mg.; and Acetaminophen USP, 325 mg.

Isometheptene Mucate is a white crystalline powder having a characteristic aromatic odor and bitter taste. It is an unsaturated aliphatic amine with sympathomimetic properties.

Dichioraiphenazone is a white, microcrystalline powder, with slight odor and tastes saline at first, becoming acrid. It is a mild sedative.

Acetaminophen, a non-salicylate, occurs as a white, odorless, crystalline powder, possessing a slightly bitter taste.

Midrin capsules contain FD&C Yellow No.6 as a color additive.

ACTIONS: Isometheptene Mucate, a sympathomimetic amine, acts by constricting dilated cranial and cerebral arterioles, thus reducing the stimuli that lead to vascular headaches. Dichloraiphenazone, a mild sedative, reduces the patient's emotional reaction to the pain of both vascular and tension headaches. Acetaminophen raises the threshold to painful stimuli, thus exerting an analgesic effect against all types of headaches.

    
INDICATIONS: For relief of tension and vascular headaches.*

* Based on a review of this drug (Isometheptene mucate) by the National Academy of Sciences - National Research Council and/or other information, FDA has classified the other indication as "possibly" effective in the treatment of migraine headache. Final classification of the less-than-effective indication requires further investigation.  

CONTRAINDICATIONS: Midrin-" is contraindicated in glaucoma and/or severe cases of renal disease, hypertension, organic heart disease, hepatic disease and in those patients who are on monoamine-oxidase (MAO) inhibitor therapy.

PRECAUTIONS: Caution should be observed in hypertension, peripheral vascular disease and after recent cardiovascular attacks.

ADVERSE REACTIONS: Transient dizziness and skin rash may appear in hypersensitive patients. This can usually be eliminated by reducing the dose.

DOSAGE and ADMINISTRATION:

FOR RELIEF OF MIGRAINE HEADACHE: The usual adult dosage is two capsules at once. followed by one capsule every hour until relieved, up to 5 capsules within a twelve hour period.

FOR RELIEF OF TENSION HEADACHE: The usual adult dosage is one or two capsules every four hours up to 8 capsules a day.

HOW SUPPLIED: Red capsules imprinted with pink band, the letter "C" and 86120. Bottles of 50 capsules, NDC 0086-0120-05. Bottles of 100 capsules, NOC 0086-0120-10, Store at controlled room temperature 15-3OŠC 59-86ŠF in a dry place.