Needing encouragement

[Jennibean]

I have been lurking on this site for a couple months but this is my first post. I would come here when I was running out of my scripts thinking of quitting and when I had a new refill you would never find me here because I was in denial. I have been taking Vicodin for the past 8 months everyday and lately I have been taking (12) 5/500 or (8) 7/750. I occasionally had scripts of percocet in there too. It started with a back injury and when that was feeling better my gall bladder started giving me alot of pain. It took them a couple months to diagnose my gall bladder problem but I had it removed on Jan 8 and I guess you could say I am pain free. So natuarlly time to stop taking pain medicaition. Well that proved impossible!! If I woke up without any I was so depressed and I would go to any Dr or Dentist to get more. So I wrote my Dr a letter telling him about my problem and I sat there as he read it. I knew I was bringing my main supply to an end but I had to. His solution was to give me oxycontin so I wouldn't have the ups and downs because it lasts 12 hours, he gave me a small dose of 10mg's and took me to take it for 10 days and then every other day for 5 days. Hmm yeah right you know that was gone in just 3 days! From there I hit urgent cares and dentists and suddenly this past Sunday I didn't feel like going and waiting 3 hours at urgent care. I decided I would finally quit, well I was so sick I couldn't take care of my child my hudsbad had to lift her because my back hurt so bad. The diarreah has been awful so I keep immodium next to me at all times. But the worst part was trying to go to sleep. I tried everything but to no avail, my legs and arms were flying all over the place, I was SO aware of my feet it was unreal, guess they had been somewhat numb for 8 months. After  not sleeping I knew I needed to go back to my Dr and ask for more help or I would just go find some Vicodin because the feeling of withdrawl was unbearable. So my Mom came over and I went to the Dr, he gave me a script for Ativan and that is going to help me I think, It stops me from having panick attacks and most importantly stops my feet from jumping around. I told him no more opiates! I was afraid he would try more of that and after one night of detox I know I never want to start this again. I don't drink or do recreational drugs, I didn't go into this looking to get high I did it because I was in pain. I am no longer in pain and I need to stop taking these things because they are affecting my life, haven't made love to my husband in 8 months, my Mom and Brother's and sister are all worried about me thinking somehow I have changed but not knowing why, I thought they made me feel normal how I was suuposed to feel but after just three days, the colors are brighter and the way I think truly is different. I have a LONG way to go which Is why I finally decided to post. 3 days is NOTHING compared to the 8 months I was on them. I still feel awful and am wondering when this will go away. Like a bad flu almost but I know the Ativan are helping. I only have those for 10 days though so I hope it gets better soon. Will I ever have that feeling of well being again without vicodin? I took 2 and knew my life was fine everything was fine..LOL now I am not so sure and I am scared!
When will I wake up happy again? I used to say people who did drugs were idiots and I LOVED feeling normal. I can remember saying it but don't remember what normal feels like! Thank you for listening, I really hope I can do this. I have never tried before because I never really want to quit, I want to take them for the rest of my life!

[spook]

Codeine(3-methylmorphine)
Dihydocodeine(7,8-Dihydro,3-Methylmorphine)-DF118
18mg of DF118 is Equivalent in Analgesic Potentcy to 30mg Codeine.
Heres the REAL difference,saturation of the 7,8 double bond (Alkene)increases blood brain permiability(more lipid soluble),resulting in more rapid affect and greater potency(less enterohepatic recycling and thus metabolic degradation),however it also changes receptor binding affinity and localization in SOME regional areas,resulting in a Qualitative improvement as well,thus with DF118; SWEETER euphoria and more SEDATION.A lot of these qualitative changes are linked to receptor regional localization specificities in  Limbic entities like the Mamilary body,and Olfactory turbercle,thus the "TASTE" is better.Do not expect to find this information in any old Medical Text,this is cutting edge research,most not published yet.

[J.B. to Brian and Vicky]

I suppose that I could look this information up but what is the difference between plain codiene and dihydrocodiene?  My brother-in law gets 8mg codiene and aspirin compound from Canada and gave me a rather large amount of this about two years ago.  I wasn't really impressed with the stuff and we ended up taking it like any OTC pain reliever. We just kept the bottle on the kitchen table along with all the other normal OTC meds. I've had pure codiene before and found it to be pretty awful stuff.  Maybe I'm allergic to it?  J.B.

[Andy]

P.S.

I forgot to say that they are in Schedule II

[Andy]

The Dihydrocodeine Tartrate is known as DF118 in the UK, They come in 30 mg strength. Also they do not contain any other active ingrediance.

[spook]

Ok,OK the "ceiling" dose varies amongst all individuals,I get side effects and no increased analgesia around 180mg(single oral dose) and you can handle 240mg(divided doses).It is not absolute.
What is known for sure is that it is the demethylation of Dihydrocodeine to Dihydromorphine that mainly contributes to its analgesic effects.The Enzyme(cyp2d6) required to do this will become progressively depleted from your liver and as a consequence a tolerance will occur rapidly.Morphine does not require "this" `specific` enzyme and although its bioavailability is around 23%(oral)it enzymatic metabolizing systems,do not contribute to Tolerace greatly,in fact continued Oral use can increase bioavailability.(first pass systemic bioavailability)
Dihydrocodeine is available OTC in Australia,in a compound tablet 7.5mg/300mg Aspirin,easily removed by dissoving in water and filtering.
Could you tell me if what you are taking is known as DF118 and the strength of tablets and what schedule they are in?.
Thankyou in advance.

[Andy]

I have never come across not exceeding 180 mg per day. (There is no paracetamol/tylenol in it, just Dihydrocodeine) Why should you not exceed this dose? The doctors seem to prefer me on the Dihydrocodeine to the Morphine and to be honest the morphine is a far better drug for killing the pain. Maybe thinking about it morphine does not have a ceiling to its effects, Dihydrocodeine above 240 mg a day has a ceiling to analgesic effect or so I have read.