MAD, MAD ,MAD ADDICT

[outotown]

I went to my Dr. too get help with a bad pain med. addiction that IDIOT put me on two addictive Meds. Suboxone which I can see I needed ( whatever your feelings of sub. it help me ok! ) I posted last night about Cymbalta Im on 180mg perscribed by Dr. I cut it down to 150mg yesterday and all the w/ds that i had when i frist stoped the sub. came back I took that 1 30mg Cymbalta and they went away. I asked my Pharmacey about Cymbalta W/d and she said she never heard of it. So I started experimenting by just waiting to later in the day and see if I had w/d and droping either a 30mg or a 60mg to see what. My w/ds off Cymbalta is as bad if not worse than my w/d from sub. So ive done some research on it this morning and there is all kinds of sites that talk about Cymbalta w/d and my pharmasiste dont even know they exsist what is a junkie to do when you cant trust your Doctor, I have more trust in my fellow addicts and GOOD GOOD FRIENDS on here than my own health providers this would make a preacher cuss, Da, gone im made my dr better be glad i cant afford him any more I would rip him a new A@%*@*&^%$@#

[morganave]

I can not take cymbalta because it gives me terrible panic attacks.  I have tried it two times now.  Both time it has done me in.  The  doctor swore up and  down this was not possible.  After speaking with others I know on this med, it is possible to have panic attacks.

I find that asking friends and the pharmacist I get more info about the meds then the doctor knows about.

Good luck to all of us.
Morganave

[nursegirl6572]

People can blame doctors all day long...and yes, some docs don't do a great job of educating their pts on the risks of ANY medication, but the basic responsibility in the END lies with US.  We need to take 100% full responsibility for any new medication we decide to take...OTC, vitamin, or otherwise.  That is why EVERY prescription med comes with an education monograph, so that you can read it and decide after having the info if it is something you want to take.  They don't put those monographs in there so we can use them as kindling for a bonfire!  :0)

The bottom line is, IMO....we go to the doctor, we want help...so they try to help us.  That is their job.  Any new med, whether it be for diabetes, hypertension, or addiction...carries risks and benefits.  It's OUR bodies and OUR job to weigh the risks and benefits and decide whether it is worth it.  Also, "not knowing" is not an excuse...if you have a question about a medication...ASK.  Ask the prescribing doctor, ask the Pharmacist (who, btw, are EXCELLENT rescource people, and MUCH more accessible than most docs)....and do so BEFORE taking said medication.

I guess it just irks me to see so much blame put on docs...and see comments like "He put me on such and such a med and never TOLD me it was addictive!"  It's one thing if a person asks and is given wrong info (like the great Ultram debate)...that is a whole different scenario...but again...it is up to US...we have to have our own back.

Also...since I brought up the Ultram issue...that is another thing...when newer meds are introduced into the market....docs prescribe them based on the info they are provided.  Like with Ultram, docs were not lying to pt about the dependency issue...they didn't know themselves!  The drug was marketed as a "safe" analgesic alternative to narcotic pain meds!!!  Ultram (until recently) was NEVER associated with addicition/dependency/w/d's...hence the docs HAD incorrect info and GAVE incorrrect info..resulting in a lot of suffering.  New meds on the market have many many risks of their own for these exact reasons...until there are databases FULL of case studies...a lot of times, it is a lot of guesswork and assuming, based on (usually) pretty minimal research studies.

In a nutshell...always protect yourself, NEVER assume, even with an OTC med or supplement.  You HAVE to do your homework.  Doctors prescribe a med, but expect YOU to make the final decision based on YOU educating yourself.

[sway1]

i get that little voice in my head telling me to get on sub. i never heard of it til coming on here. been clean 24 days now so have absolutely no reason to get it . i think my little monster just wants to try everything at least once. addiction is definitely an illness.one that must be maintained, won't go away by ignoring it. make the choice each day. i don't think half of these doctors have a clue how pervasive their decisions can be in our lives. hang in there. keep posting. peace.    sway

[dominosarah]

I see in previous posts you had a problem with percs so best to get rid of them.  Dont take that chance of having them around.  All the best.........sara

[dominosarah]

If you want off all opiates you are going to have to stay away from the percs too.  It isnt going to help trying to get off one opiate by taking another.  Best to just get this wd over with and be done.  Take your vitamins, drink plenty of fluids, exercise if you can and take warm baths or showers for the aches.  You can do this!!!     sara

[strong_woman]

i couldnt agree with you more...you have done such a good job with the subs u r an inspiration to me as well and 2 day i had a crum but 2mrw will be no subs at all....i dont hace a prob with percs and i was wondering if i took like 1/2 of one during the worst of wds will it help me through or just set me back even further i dont want to take any of that **** but i am just trying to see if it would work

[lisammm]

I also wish that doctors would be more informative. I was in a inhouse treatment for pain medicine addiction in Aug 08. The doctor asked if I wanted to feel better. Of course I did. He gave me suboxone. I thought it was the best thing since sliced bread. Of course I did not know at the time about suboxone and that it would be hard to get off of. I mean I think suboxone has really helped me but I think I would have done a quicker detox using suboxone if I would have known. With all the new medications coming out all the time, I wish doctors would take the time to learn about them and share the pros and cons with the patients. Anyway, Good luck and let your body tell you what you shoud do. I have decided to wean myself slowly off of suboxone and stabalize for awhile when my body tell me to.
Lisa

[122 Tactical Fighter Group]

You just have to be actively involved yourself anymore. Do your back up work like you are doing and dont let your guard down. Sounds like that is what you are doing. Glad that you are doing okay with the sub. Seems to me that a long, slow taper is the answer to that stuff if you need it more than a few weeks. SubDoc Jeff has almost convinced me that some people should take it like high blood pressure medicine. No one ever skips a dose of that. Do what works for you.............................

[enough170]

hey my friend, drs suck, trust me!! i am a nurse and when someone complains of pain they slap them on the strongest pain med they can without a thought!! keep doin what your doin if it works for you, and know that we can do this :-)