Help..Question about ephedrine

[Timdonald]

Hi,

I want to know if anyone has ever had a problem/addiction with ephedrine. I have found myself taking 15-20 pills at a time for the mood change and energy boost. I do this a couple of times per day and I have to go to many different pharmacies to support this behavior. If I don't take it I am so dead tired I could sleep for a full day...it's like I'm walking through 6 feet of mud. It makes me irritable and I think I'm an addict...but I didn't think this drug was addictive..?? or am I wrong?? Might I be dealing with addiction?? I was thinking about checking out NA but was thinking they deal with hard drugs...and I might not belong.  Thoughts? Opinions? Help....

THANK YOU IN ADVANCE!!

[BarbRTR]

I'm very glad you found you way here, and got some great advise above.

One thing to think about as well is, your heart isn't made to handle such amounts as you were taking. And just because you have taken up to 20 pills at once in the past and have been ok, doesn't mean the next time you swallow the same amount you'll be ok. A heart attack, possibly fatal, could happen anytime upon ingesting such amounts.

Please be careful, and stay in touch here.

[Timdonald]

Thank you very much for your responses. The use of ephedrine as a type of speed allows the mind to work all kinds of rationalizations....like "its not a hard drug"..and "I won't belong in NA".

[VICourageous]

WOW all I was wondering what this was.....Very Interesting.....Great Info.
Thanks vickie

[weaver71]

Ephedrine is the primary ingredient in manufacturing methamphetamine. Cough syrups with ephedrine are regulated and placed behind a counter or in the pharmacy and sold in limited numbers in many stores. Like ActingBrandNew said, anything can be addictive, but stimulants like ephedrine are the most widely used and addictive drugs in the world. Tobacco and coffee are at the top of the world's addiction scale. Ephedrine may be a natural root, but it is the natural form of speed. If you THINK you may be dealing with addiction, you probably are. Definitely go to a meeting and start forming a recovery program. Don't anticipate what people will think or what kind of people are in the meetings. Keep an open mind and do whatever it takes to get your natural energy back. I used to sell ephedrine root by the pound in a health food store. Those who used it in larger amounts and regularly formed weak immune systems, nervous ticks and paranoia. It will stop giving you energy eventually. You can get through this. The physical withdrawal is usually over in about 2 weeks, but the mental part of addiction lasts forever. Addiction can be put in remission with aftercare. Why not start today? Keep posting for advice and support.

[ActingBrandNew]

"...but I didn't think this drug was addictive..?? or am I wrong?? Might I be dealing with addiction??"

People can be addicted to food, drugs...the internet. Ephedrine addiction is very real and don't think you cant go to N.A. because they only deal with "hard drugs" and you wouldn't fit in. To the contrary...Ive been to meetings with pot smokers....glue huffers...N.A. doesn't discriminate. All you need is the desire to stop using and a ride to the meeting and you will fit in.

Here's some info for you:

"Although Ephedrine is obtained from a herb, prolonged or unregulated use of it can cause not only an addiction, but has serious side effects. Ephedrine abuse and addiction may be present in users who have needed to increase their dosage because they have developed a tolerance to the drug, while their brain and body has became dependent on it. Without it, the user will do anything to obtain more before they begin to experience withdrawal symptoms that are associated with it."

Withdrawal

"Anytime a person abuses or has an addiction to Ephedrine, they will have some sort of withdrawal symptoms. These will vary from person to person. Some withdrawal symptoms may be less severe than others, but all will be unpleasant to the user; such as, headache, nausea, vomiting, irritability, uncontrollable shaking, irregular heartbeat, paranoia, and depression. Withdrawal from Ephedrine is not as bad as other drugs, but it is still very hard to deal with if the person has an addiction."

http://www.thecabinchiangmai.com/archive/ephedrine_use__abuse__and_addiction
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