Damage to other organs due to excessive opiate abuse?

[ChiTownGirl]

This question is for the Doctor.  What damage can be done to other organs, besides the liver, from long term opiate abuse?  Are there any warning signs that we are doing damage and need to stop immediately?

[NEW ORLEANS LADY]

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE SUPPORT--IT IS UNBELIEVEABLE HOW MUCH IT MEANS ESPECIALLY AT THIS POINT IN MY WITHDRAWAL/BEGINNING RECOVERY. I'M STILL DEALING WITH THE MALAISE THAT SEEMS TO HIT AT THE MOST INAPPROPRIATE TIME--ALTHOUGH I DO THINK THE L-TYROSINE IS HELPING. JUST BEING ABLE TO COME TO THIS SIGHT HAS GOTTEN ME THROUGH THE LAST 7 DAYS--ALSO THERE SEEMS TO BE GREATER FORCE AT WORK HERE AND I'M NOT A PARTICULARLY RELIGIOUS PERSON--I WILL TELL YOU IT IS NOTHING SHORT OF A MIRACLE--MUCH PEACE AND ESPECIALLY HOPE AND LOVE TO EVERYONE--YOU ARE ALL A GODSEND!

[theGolden1]

I don't know which of the painkillers have tylenol and which ones don't .... except the obvious like tylenol3. Also, which ones have alot of tylenol and the ones with just a little. If anyone can post a website on this or help me out. If I need to take any .... I want to use as little tylenol as possible. Thanks .. (notice I said IF ...) I am so grateful for all the testimonials here ... now if I just had the guts and a place to hide for 2 weeks. Can a person use plain tylenol or motrin during withdrawal? It has to do something ... especially in therapudic doses ... any information is appreciated.

[Thomas02]

Since our doc here is not an MD anyway, I can tell you what I've learned studying the latest literature -- at least the latest to be translated for laymen. The liver is principally affected by the additives in pain pills -- chiefly, tylenol. But I'm sure you knew that.

The other organ damaged by long-term opiate use is, unfortunately, the brain. Over time, the brain physically changes to adapt to the constant presence of opiates. When the opiates are withdrawn, the brain cannot function normally. This is why so many of us frequently say we are using simply to feel normal. Non-users think we're using the word normal instead of high. But the latest research tells us we are more correct that we could ever know. Researchers compare the brains of long-term opiate addicts to that of stroke victims. Without the continued use of opiates, the long-term addict must struggle as a stroke victim struggles to utilize new neural pathways to achieve a semblance of normality.

I have used opiates contantly for 30, no, 31 years. There is no way back for me. 31 years of changes in my brain cannot be undone by all the 12-step meetings in the world. My doom is sealed by my physiology. That is why, as much as I don't like the idea, I am applying for methadone maintenance. Detox for me is a waste of time. I've detoxed myself 50 times and, each time, there I sit, with a brain that can no longer function without opiates. Time does not heal all things.

I tell this story, probably too often, because for many on this forum, the way back is still open. From the point at which one begins recovery, the great dramas and opportunities of life expand in all directions to infinity. Don't throw away your chance to play a role in the world as I have.

Thomas

[movingon]

Hello,

I'm planning on going into an inpatient detox soon for a 2 year 80 mg Oxy/100 mg hydro habit. I'm told I'll be on Buprenex, clonidine and maybe librium. I've heard several references to the Thomas recipe and pieces of it but don't know exactley what it is. Can someone tell me where to find it or what it is?  Also, is this something I can do while I'm still inpatient or begin once I'm out.  I'm looking for all the help I can get.  
Thanks for any help and encouragement.


movingon

[NEW ORLEANS LADY]

MOST AND I DO MEAN MOST OF THE HYDROCODONE PREPARATIONS CONTAIN SOME AMOUNT OF ACETAMINOPHEN (TYLENOL)--ALTHOUGH THE AMOUNTS CAN VARY CONSIDERABLY--MY DRUG OF CHOICE WAS CALLED ZYDONE10/400 WHICH MEANS IT CONTAIN 10MGS OF HYDROCODONE AND 400 MGS OF TYLENOL--THIS IS CONSIDERED A SMALL DOSE--BECAUSE FOR EXAMPLE VICODEN E.S. CONTAINS 750 MG. OF TYLENOL PER PILL--VICODEN,LORTAB,LORCET,PERCOCET,TYLOX THESE ALL HAVE SOME AMOUNT OF TYLENOL--THERE ARE MEDS THAT DO NOT CONTAIN TYLENOL--OXYCONTIN-DEMERAL--PERCODAN (CONTAINS ASPIRIN)--I HOPE THIS INFO WILL BE OF SOME HELP--FOR ME THEY ARE ALL DEADLY--WHEN I THINK BACK AT HOW MUCH I CONSUMED IT IS A MIRACLE I STILL HAVE A LIVER. LOVE PEACE AND TO A NEW YEAR NEW LIFE-- N.O. LADY

[Jennibean]

There are many different strengths of tylenol and other additives in some pain meds. Just to name a few Vicodin 5/500 means it has 5mg hydrocodone and 500mg tylenol. There are also different names, lortab, vicodin, norco etc all hydrocodone with different brand names. Vicodin Es has 5/750 , lortab comes in 5/500 and 5/750, norco is the best at 10/325. Percocet comes in 5/325, 7.5/325 and 10/325. There is Oxy ir which is percocet with no tylenol. Oxycontin ahs no tylenol and I am on oxyfast which is liquid percocet with no tylenol. I think these are the most common pain meds used. Tylenol is a dangerous drug and sadly MANY people don't know it. I had a friend who recently took 25 lortab 5/750 2 days in a row. She almost lost her life, her eyes were the color of the yellow on the phone book, her scalp was orange and she was in and out of coma. She has a damaged liver but luckily is alive to talk about it. Even after that happening just several weeks ago she struggles to stay clean. Tylenol aka acetominophen can cause liver failue and death. You just never know when you are going to hit that lethal dose as it goes by weight so it is different for everybody. Tylenol extra strength 500mg warns not to take more than 8 in a day which is 4 grams. I have heard an estimate that 7.5 grams can lead to overdose in an average weight person. I know that rarely overdoses happen under 10grams and lethally most around 15 grams. this is in a 24 hour period. This is what I have read and discussed with my own Dr but again if you are very thin it may take much less. Also long term regular use under these amounts is now found to cause some liver damage so if you take it everyday even in small amounts you are at risk. I know that my liver enzymes get elevated when I am taking pain meds with tylenol because I have had them checked when I have been worried. Also the thing with tylenol overdose there is an antidote but it must be given with in hours of the overdose and usually a tylenol overdose doesn't even show symptoms for a couple days at which point the damage has already been done. Anyway this is what I have learned and I have to tell you it has always scared the hell out of me. If Dr's are going to prescribe pain meds for an extended period they should really use the ones with no tylenol. sadly alot of addicts go to many Dr's who don't know what we are doing and don't realize we are taking so many from so many Dr's so they use pain meds with high amounts of tylenol.

Jen