Coming off loratab 10mg

[ericgifford]

Hello everyone.  I have been reading posts on here for 2 hours now.  Long story long, I have been using pain meds on and off since high school.  I am 29 now.  I knew I liked the feeling and what it did for me.  Every chance I could call in a cough for some Tussionex I would.  I grew up in a Godly home and was in church every week, so I knew it was wrong.  A friend had some Ultracet.  I tried some and liked them.  I justified they were ok because it was not a narcotic.  I have been taking Ultracet weekly and sometimes daily for four years getting Tussionex and other opiates we I could.  I have come off the Ultracet a few times now and did not like the WD's....shaky legs, headaches, etc.  A few months ago, I was diagnosed pleurasy was given Loratab 10 for pain.  Upon running out, I convinced my Doctor that Ultracet caused the pleurasy and have been given Loratab for low back pain ever since.  That has been 2-3 months now.  I am now taking 30-60mg a day.  Mostly of the evening.  It is my reward to myself.  Starting noticing that I wanted to take them earlier in the day and looked forward to the next time I would get one.  It consumes my thoughts.  I have quit and flushed everything before.  So I knew it was becoming a problem.  I stepped out last week and told a friend that hit rock bottom.  Since then I have told my doctor no more pills, my pastor, my wife, my parents and another friend in Christ.  It feels better and better with everyone I tell.  I am clean for 7 days now and I am freaking.  I need help.  I have cut off my access and I am pissed at myself about.  Why did I go CT......why did I stop Ultracet and let it get this far?  I keep telling my self I should just go back on the Ultracet.  I have been completely blind sinded by this WD's.  Nothing physical besides minor issues, but these mental and emotionally feelings are rocking my world.  I am so depressed.  Depression wasn't even in my vocab.  I find the optimisitc side of everything.  I can't stand feeling this way and I know with the drop of one pill it will all go away.  The only way I have made it 7 days is with a killer support system and cutting off access.  I have started looking through peoples cabinets and I know it is a problem.  But what can I do about these emotions and depression.  I am regreting stepping out now and get so angry when someone says "you can NEVER have another pill again".  Getting mad just typing it.  Why can't I have Tussionex for a cough and chill and watch a flick with my wife?  This ***** ya'll.  I know I am not alone, but I am so unhappy right now.  Please any advice.  What is this Suboxone and Thomas plan stuff.  Physically I feel ok, but I can't even play with my boys right now.  I want to sleep just to pass time and my thoughts are consumed with why not and give me more.  Can I go back on Ultracet?  It isn't a narcotic and it will take this emotions away.  How long will this depression last?  It has been 7 days now.  This *****!

[worried878]

Congrats on hanging tight...each day will get better...before long there will be more good days than bad days...it does take a while to get back to normal for most...ur dose was not huge but u were on them for a long time..even a headache can be missed if u have had it long enuf!..this is a habit u were in for a long time..like smoking..it is hard to let ift go and not think about it in a short amount of time..changing behavior is not easy and takes work..seems like u r doing the work u need to do...and I am glad u caught this before it was a major mg problem

what is ur plan as far as staying clean?  do u think u may crave later on?..if u do/post and the forum will help u..great place to be and lots of support here

[ericgifford]

Thank you all.  I am now eleven days clean and I feel great.  Thanks for your support and prayers.  I know that I have a long way to go, but for those of you who are coming off or want to, you can do it.  Let the wd's be your motivation never to use again.  I can actually say now for the first time in years, I do not need a pill to function.  Why did I put those chemicals in my body in the first place.  Once again, thank you all for everything.  I know I need to be careful now since the wd's are over.  I can't tell myself that I can use successfully.  That is a lie.  You can do it.  Don't let a little pill control your life.  You are better than that.  Keep me and my family in your prayers.

Be Blessed,

Eric

[corey411]

Hi and congratulations on 7 days clean. Your right the mental part is the tough part and this can last up to 6 months but the good news is that it does get better with time. The first month will not be so good but the second should start picking up. If depression gets bad see your doctor. Physical exercise always helps. Your brain is not making enough endorphins anymore and physical exercise will help produce some. These are needed to combat depression and anxiety. Make yourself go play ball with those boys. You will not feel like it but you WILL feel better when your done.

Do not take the Ultram. It is not labled as a narcotic but is highly addictive and since it is a synthetic opioid it will just prolong your wds. Suboxone is similiar to Methadone and is also an opioid that you will eventually have to wd from.

This addiction is a lifelong thing. It's great that you have a support system in place but going to NA and learning how this addiction will play you is something that you really need to consider.  Under health topics in the right of the forum you will find the Thomas Recipe which helps with wd and the amino acid protical which can recommend things to give you energy. It is also good to read PAWS (Post Acute Withdrawal Symptoms) to let you know what to expect down the road. There is also a lot of info on Suboxone there. This takes time and is hard but it can be done and is so worth it. Good luck in your journey. Posting here is also a great support system.

[ZJILLIAN]

I hope you are still out there and still clean. The emotional stuff is awful; worse than the physical symptoms for us long time users. It was explained to me that when you start using drugs in High School you stop your emotional development. That puts it pretty strongly but it has to do with learning how to tolerate bad feelings without instantly making them go away. Its about learning that everything passes and it is not necessary to panic or feel trapped by a bad feeling. You have a lot in your life to protect, ride this WD out. I like to picture myself balanced on a surf board in the midst of huge waves and rocky waters. I like to feel that I can float above this pain and detach myself. Things will get better unless you make them worse.

[Astray]

As Whitie says the longer you use the longer you pay afterwards. I had ten years to pay for so its probably worth sharing my WD experince in case it helps.

I only had 3 days of the full raft of physical WD symptoms but they were utterly ghastly, there was about 18 hours on day 3 where my pulse never fell below 180. Luckily I'm very fit otherwise it might not be typing this! After that I felt much better but insomnia persited for 10 more days after that and I've had several 1 day bouts of physical symptoms but far milder, each not as bad as the previous one.

The mood swings going from manic hyperactivity to severe depression have also come and gone but again have got steadily more manageable. Its day 24 now and today I feel great so hang in there. Things DO get better and will improve soon. I used valarian root to help sleep and probably should have got some St johns wort for the depression. Both might be worth checking out.

Don't give up and don't make any major decisions if you can avoid it right now, your brain chemistry is temporarily out to lunch, its IS only the WD and it is only going to temporary.

Totally agree with Whitie about the opiates etc and other drugs btw.

[whitie]

since high school, and now your 29??  

you cant just expect things to return to normal after 10 plus years of use. the good news is you were not onlarge doses of vikes,heavy oxys,methadone,sub or heroin for ten years.......... but your still going to have to pay a high price to be free,every one does in the end no matter what they are on. the wd's are worse for some,because of their DOC, but after that, the long term wds' or paws can be the same for every long term user. thats what your experiencing,from what I am reading. it might take a month longer or 6 months to be %100.

you cant  just take opioids or opiates(or even ultracet) because you obviously cannot control your use,from what you said. searching through peoples cabinets,ect....  your mind is dying for freedom, and wont be right till its been given the time to return to normal.

suboxone is SUPPOSED to be use for heavy addicts only. but I am sure if you look around and have great insurance/lots of cash they will be glad to give you some, with some of the joker systems that are out there. IMO it would be a huge mistake.