Addiction to painkillers

Question

I have been addicted to painkillers for 2years now i take them everyday somtimes i take 2 some days 4 depends how bad the pain is. if i dont take painkillers (pynstop) i get bad headache,backpain and most times my headache gets so bad i cant get out of bed. I dont know how to stop ? I cant tell my family they wont understand and they will just say im over reacting, if there is anyone who can give me advise i would really appriciate it. Im only 24 and im scared i wont see 30.

tabb863 · Answer

Well, I am 41 hours without a pill.  Been taking ambien to get about 4 hours of sleep.  At work today, but nausea and diarrhea are in full-force.  Been drinking some Jack Daniels to take the edge off the anxiety and make this a little more bearable.  Chasing the jack Daniels with Gatorade to keep hydrated.  If you get dehydrated, the muscle cramps get worse as well as the RLS.  Just started taking immodium to help with the diarrhea.  So far, my prescription for my withdrawals is working...just hope nobody smells Jack Daniels on my breath here at work.  Constantly have breath mints in my mouth.
 
Please keep posting folks.  Reading these posts is helping keep me strong.

17mthssober275 · Answer

Good for you for making it through the first night and just getting a drink. I found having a treat like coke or a coffee helped. You can do it, we are all here for your support, and lots of people can advise you with their own experience of getting clean also. I can tell you I am very happy and life has never been better. I followed the advice of " One day at a time".  You can beat this, be strong and stay positive.

Ewm1989 · Answer

Hi All 

so my first night was hell i didnt sleep and got bad headache i was so sick was sleeping in the bathroom the whole night.

At 5;00am i got up went to the 24hour phamacy and walked out with a coke and some soda water 

Noooooo i didnt buy them was really really close but didnt buy them at work now feel still really sick but im trying to pull through.

Ewm1989 · Answer

Hi Jimmy

No my headaches started when i was on a strict diet and trained like hell at the gym, I stopped evertyhing was just eating healthy and left my supplements bur the headaches didnt go away thats when i kept taking them the headaches always start at the back of my head almost like tension when i get that feeling i take two pills and it gets better and about 3 to 4 hours later it startes again if i dont take anything they turn into migraines.

mommymarieme · Answer

I saw your journal tonight is going to be your first night not taking something that is great. You can do it good for you :) let everyone know how it goes ok?

Jimmy1975 · Answer

Did you suffer from these headaches all your life ? Are they migraines ? I ask cause this may be a shot in the dark but I have spoken to people who told me at times Vicodin actually made their headaches worse . And I agree with the taper suggestions . You might look into that . Don't be scared about not seeing 30 if you nip this in the bud now you will be just fine I promise ! Jimmy

Ewm1989 · Answer

Hi 
My Family is very different when it comes to things like this the believe in or family you cant have a problem like this and i would be a disgrace to them so tried to tell them but they just said im over reacting so my plan is to flush it all away tonight and just try and get through the night, i think thats a start because at night i drink more and when i wake up i take 2 with my coffee so hope i can get through the night

mommymarieme · Answer

It really will get better I keep telling myself that too. I totally agree with TruckersWife18 on everything's she said. do you have a family member that can hold onto them and could taper you down? My body became so use to them that I had to keep taking more and more. You really can do this and we are here if you need anything. What is your plan right now?

Ewm1989 · Answer

was going to take some pills now have bad pain today but i keep reading your posts and it lifts me up again 

thank you again to all of you

TruckersWife18 · Answer

Hello and welcome
You come to the right place. These people on here are Wonderful and so caring an supportive.
I was on a much higher dose then you an longer.
I have been off Oxys now right at 3 months and Hydro (Norco) for about2 months

I was not addicted but my body was dependant
So same withdrawl as everyone goes thru 
I CT off Oxy an tapered off Hydro
I suggest taper to anyone who can do it. If you can give your pills to someone to give them to you when it's time

It will be much easier foe you to stop now then layer
I had headache but now after being off pain pills awhile they don't happen near as often or as bad

Oh an sleep is hard to come by for awhile an usually last sign of WD to go away. But it does. Feels like you have a bad case of the flu for a few days then WD is over

YOU CAN DO This
Just have to be strong and really want it

I'm always here for support
If you would like to read my story go to my profile an look in my journal
Again I'm here if you need to talk

Take care
Peace
Lesa

PS check out the Thomas recipe on here it has a lot of good ideas to help you with the WD symptoms

Ewm1989 · Answer

Margoh32 thank you so much for the advise and the support from jimmy1975 and mommymariene. Jimmy to get back to you about the question im on 10mg i realise now that it will be easier for me to stop now then later when i want somthing stronger. 

I went for test and they show that i am fine they cant find anything wrong.
last night i tried not to take the painkillers and i could not sleep,eventually i dosed off but got up and took 2 painkillers its like i had no control. but everyday im going to try harder.

just want to say again thank you for replying on my post and for helping and supporting me you guys are amazing.

OpenMind24hours · Answer

If you're getting treated by your doctor, then It seems your family needs to realize that. But back pain, with headaches? What does your doctor say about that? Reacting to pain isn't over reacting at all. Pain can consume a person 24 hours a day. 

Based on the experience that I had with my injury, I started on my painkiller journey on the same path that you've followed.  I had both also; and the killer headaches were a part of the nerve pain from my back injury ESIs (epidural steroid injections) I was getting. All my back problems calmed down to a tolerable level after awhile, but I kept asking for the prescriptions by then. I was hooked on opiates for the brain, not the pain. But the most important thing here is my pain needed to be addressed and treated, and it was. But that's my case only. No two injuries are exactly the same.

If you can see your way clear to get off the pain meds, with doctors blessing, we are here to help for that. You've come to the right place for support and ppl/w lots of experience with detox and withdrawal. We really don't give medical advice, just love, tons of support and our experiences on what worked and what didn't. Best of luck to you!

Jimmy1975 · Answer

Hi and welcome ! When you say 2 to 4 a day is that 10mg pills or 5mg pills ? You are on a relatively low dose with either . I was taking 20 to 30mg. a day and as far as withdrawals I was pretty much over the physical withdrawal in 4 days . Now the mental aspect was the roughest on me . It took me about a month and a half before the anxiety really started to  fade away . We are all different and you may well get off a little more easy then me . I have had some anxiety issues over the years so I am sure that was a factor . You can do this now while your at this lower dose and not have to suffer as much as what some a lot of our members did when taking high doses . Good luck ..Jimmy

mommymarieme · Answer

I don't know how many mg you were taking but some taper that is what my husband did and I had no self control so I had to cold turkey it. It is no fun at all but you have to really want it and try to stay positive no matter how hard it is. I know I felt terrible but I kept telling myself that everyday will get a little better and I am on day six today it is still hard but that is ok. The hot baths, Imodium and my vitamins have helped. You can do it!!!! :)

Ewm1989 · Answer

Hi 

thank you so much for the advise i already feel so much better knowing im not alone and that people are willing to help even if you dont know me, i think its amazing. I hope one day i will be able to help other people with this problem but for now i have to help myself.

margoh32 · Answer

Hi,hun I have been there and done that and you have to start out believing that you can win the battle first. Then the body will follow what the mind tells it,that's when we substitute 1 pill a day with a Tylenol pm®,3tylenols for one pain killer. Because the body doesn't know that its not a pain killer and that's  going to help you cope and then you do this every day for two weeks before you know it you will for get all about the pain pills and the withdrawal won't have you on edge(the Tylenol PM ®,can be a generic) And that's how I made it through 6yrs.ago. When I had cancer and became addicted to the pain meds ,I had to wing myself,you can do it,I know you can