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I just found out my body was dependent
I've been taking 20mg of Oxycontin 2 X in AM and 1 time in PM for a year. My Dr. recently had me Increase my night dose to 40mg (the same as the AM dose). Well of course by doing this I ran out of pills. I did submit my prescription to the pharmacist but he isn't able to get them in until Tuesday. I didn't think anything of it and said it was OK. I do not ever take more than what is prescribed. Well I'm on day 2 of no Oxycontin. My back is screaming from pain (which is why I take the Oxycontin). I had 2 back surgeries and I have a lot of neurological damage from them. Well I can barely think and hold my head up today. I don't know if its from pain or withdrawal. I'm very very tired. I didn't sleep well last night. My pain level is at an 8 right now. Now I'm thinking of addiction symptoms and thinking I don't want to take them at all ever again if I can get through these symptoms. I don't have any stomach issues but my bones, joints and muscles hurt. I can't believe I actually became addicted.
Best Answer
Hi there...it sounds like you have a good game plan in line. Addiction,dependancy,&tolerance are all totally different. Tolerance-your body builds up tolerance from taking the same meds for so long that you require a higher dosage than before. Dependance means you need them to function,and addiction can be either mentally and or physically. And it can occur by using the meds as directed. Meaning it "just happens',if that makes sense? It sounds like you use your medication as directed (congrats on that!) and want to limit what you take. I do the same thing for my pain-taper off to gauge where my pain is at and any other changes that may have been masked by the meds. Good luck with your taper and getting your script sooner than later so you don't have to go through w/d's. Stay strong and keep us posted!!~A
I have trouble with the pharmacy at times as well. But I use a big chain and they don't mind if I go to a different one. Is there a way you can switch your pharmacy to a big chain? You also may want to check in on the Pain Management Forum. There's a wonderful support group there for people with chronic pain.
Usually if someone is on a long-acting med, they're given something for breakthrough pain. Do you have anything for breakthrough pain?
I know it's a long weekend, but I think you should put in an emergency call to your doctor. You shouldn't have to be going through withdrawals. Someone is on call and can figure something out for you. I'm sure the Gabapentin is helping a little but it's not going to take care of all of it. (I take it too for nerve pain.)
They may be able to call in a lighter narcotic to your pharmacy or allow you to go to another pharmacy this once. And maybe you should talk about this at your next appointment; get a backup plan in case you pharmacy can't fill what you need.
In the meantime, try some of the home remedies here. They really do help. The Valerian Root is excellent for anxiety and the Alteril really helps with sleep. Hot soaks in the tub with Epsom salts. There's quite a few things that can help you get through this. Look at the Thomas Recipe or the Amino Acid Protocol and see what you can get.
Make sure you're drinking plenty as you don't want to get dehydrated. I did and wound up in the ER on IV fluids. If you do go to the ER, make sure you tell them you're a pain patient. They may give you a little something in your IV to get out of the withdrawals or they may not. I've had different experiences.
Being on narcotics long-term for pain can be really scary. There's a fine line between dependency and addiction. I am overly cautious with my medications because I am really afraid of addiction. Dependence is bad enough. But I really think your doctor will allow you to use another pharmacy. They don't want you feeling like this.
I no longer take any long-acting meds but I do take a small dose every four hours. I get about 2 hours of decent pain relief from it. I also use other things to help, lidoderm patches, prescription gels, ibuprofen. When I put everything together it helps a bit more.
And please check out the pain management forum. I think you'd benefit from it a lot.
Usually if someone is on a long-acting med, they're given something for breakthrough pain. Do you have anything for breakthrough pain?
I know it's a long weekend, but I think you should put in an emergency call to your doctor. You shouldn't have to be going through withdrawals. Someone is on call and can figure something out for you. I'm sure the Gabapentin is helping a little but it's not going to take care of all of it. (I take it too for nerve pain.)
They may be able to call in a lighter narcotic to your pharmacy or allow you to go to another pharmacy this once. And maybe you should talk about this at your next appointment; get a backup plan in case you pharmacy can't fill what you need.
In the meantime, try some of the home remedies here. They really do help. The Valerian Root is excellent for anxiety and the Alteril really helps with sleep. Hot soaks in the tub with Epsom salts. There's quite a few things that can help you get through this. Look at the Thomas Recipe or the Amino Acid Protocol and see what you can get.
Make sure you're drinking plenty as you don't want to get dehydrated. I did and wound up in the ER on IV fluids. If you do go to the ER, make sure you tell them you're a pain patient. They may give you a little something in your IV to get out of the withdrawals or they may not. I've had different experiences.
Being on narcotics long-term for pain can be really scary. There's a fine line between dependency and addiction. I am overly cautious with my medications because I am really afraid of addiction. Dependence is bad enough. But I really think your doctor will allow you to use another pharmacy. They don't want you feeling like this.
I no longer take any long-acting meds but I do take a small dose every four hours. I get about 2 hours of decent pain relief from it. I also use other things to help, lidoderm patches, prescription gels, ibuprofen. When I put everything together it helps a bit more.
And please check out the pain management forum. I think you'd benefit from it a lot.
I'm so sorry your going through this. Is there any way you can call your doctor and ask for permission to use another pharmacy just this once? I know my pain management doctor would have been ok with that.
You are dependent and that's no surprise. If you've been using them for a long time that is what happens. Addicts take them for the high and they take more than perscribed and get them off the streets etc... Only you will know if your mentally addicted. But it sounds to me like you are simply dependent.
I would call your doctor first thing tomorrow morning and explain to him what happened. I'm sure he can find a way to work with you.
You are dependent and that's no surprise. If you've been using them for a long time that is what happens. Addicts take them for the high and they take more than perscribed and get them off the streets etc... Only you will know if your mentally addicted. But it sounds to me like you are simply dependent.
I would call your doctor first thing tomorrow morning and explain to him what happened. I'm sure he can find a way to work with you.
I didn't think I was addicted until I ran out. Now I do believe my body is dependent on the drug. However my back pain is so bad that I can't stop taking them if I want a quality of life. I take my pills exactly as prescribed and don't think about taking them up until about 2 hours before my next dose (that is when my pain breaks through) and I tolerate it for those 2 hours. I can't do a lot of activity as it is with my back issues and can't stay in the same position for more than 20 minutes or drive more than 20 minutes without it becoming aggravated even when I'm taking the medication. I don't take anything for breakthrough, for now I just get through it the best I can. It is life limiting.
I can't get over how bad my pain level is. My back is throbbing and the pain in my left leg is just over the top. Pain level is at an 8. The burning pain from nerve damage is being controlled a little by Gabapentin. Even though I feel the way I do right now, like you, I don't know if I ever want to take them again and go through this. I am a little better today but shaky and can't concentrate. The pain though has me very limited in activity.
Oh no, it went through with my insurance, my pharmacy had to order them. I go to a local independent home town pharmacy but signed a contract with my doctor to only use that pharmacy, therfore I can't go to another. He had no way to get any from another pharmacy. I really didn't think I'd be like this. I'm very shaky today and can't concentrate. It is a little better than yesterday was.
I'm not addicted but dependent but found myself twice in withdrawal due to stomach illnesses. That's when I decided to taper off my meds. I don't want to feel like that ever again. I've managed to get off a boatload of meds and now I'm down to 15 mg of morphine every four hours. My taper has been put on hold by both my primary doctor as well as my pain team due to a non-related illnesses that they're trying to get to the bottom of. First time it happened, I had no clue what was going on. I wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy.
At times I have tried to taper a little too aggressively and wound up feeling lousy but when I start the taper again, I'll go slow and steady until I'm off.
THen I'll reevaluate the pain and decide what I really need and how often. I don't want to be taking things by the clock any longer
At times I have tried to taper a little too aggressively and wound up feeling lousy but when I start the taper again, I'll go slow and steady until I'm off.
THen I'll reevaluate the pain and decide what I really need and how often. I don't want to be taking things by the clock any longer
Sorry my computer jumped.
There is a difference between addiction and dependency. Do you feel you are addicted? Or are you just worried about being dependent on the drug? I'm no expert but I've been doing a lot of reading because I myself am mentally addicted to my pills which is why I stopped. I wanted them for the high, not the pain relief.
There is a difference between addiction and dependency. Do you feel you are addicted? Or are you just worried about being dependent on the drug? I'm no expert but I've been doing a lot of reading because I myself am mentally addicted to my pills which is why I stopped. I wanted them for the high, not the pain relief.
Ok I have a couple of questions. Did the pharmacy say they had to order them? Or your insurance wouldn't allow a refill that early? If they had to order them, you could go back to the pharmacy and ask them to check to see if any other stores have them in stock. Someone is bound to have them. If it's because of insurance the doctor can over ride the insurance company and allow the refill.
With that being said, There is a difference between addiction and dependency. I
With that being said, There is a difference between addiction and dependency. I
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