OxyCotin and lorazepam misuse

[anthony]

dr.,
I have a friend that has been taking lorazepam 1mg tablets and oxycontin tablets for over two years now and I'm wondering how to get help for him.
My friend takes 3 lorazepam tabs and two oxycontin tabs a day what are the possible side effects of abruptly stopping these drugs?
What are the long term effects that these drugs have on his body,I know that the body is dependant on these drugs,how has his body changed from having a constant supply of narcotics in his system?

[From Aunt Lindy to Mariah]

n/m

[Renee1060]

I've been on pain meds since the early 1980's.  My tolerance has increased drastically over the past few years...therefore the large amount of Oxycontin.  I started with only 80 mg's per day.  I am now down to 80 mg's every 8 hours which is great.  I am actually starting to feel a bit normal.  Not as weak and fatigued  as when on the higher doses.  The depression seems to be easing a bit also.  This is giving me great incentive to stick with the doctors orders and keep cutting back extremely slowly.  
My doctor believes I am physically dependent upon the meds...and psychologically also to a degree but he knows I am sticking with his directions and not abusing the meds.  Therefore he will give me up to 2 months of meds at a time.  If I decide I do want to take more than perscribed I agreed to give the meds to someone else so they could dole them out to me.

[Shiny]

How in the world did you get 360m a day from a doctor.  I only get 100 10m Lortab and 60 20m oxycontin every six weeks.  In fact I had to go to the ER a while ago for stomach problems and the doctor said I should ask my doctor for Stadol because it is easier on the stomach.  When I told my doctor this he had a fit, and said that stuff is really addictive.  Why it could be more addictive then Lortab and Oxycontin I don't have a clue and I wasn't about to ask.  This is the same doctor that gave the Lidoderm, which I immediately called and told him I could not attached these things all over my body, I look like a mummy.  Anyway go figure.

[Lynn to Neena]

I have heard of using buprenorphine in a hospital for 4 days, then they let you go home.  What are the benefits of detoxing in a hospital setting vs. trying to do it at home? Either way, if you have easy access to the drugs, are you that much cleaner (for lack of a better word) than if you went to a hospital. I know you mentioned about the first 3 days. Are those the worst? HOW DID YOU STAY CLEAN???

[addict]

stay away from jeff!

[Renee1060]

Can you please explain where/why/how you received the buprenorphine treatment?  Is this treatment the same as Rapid Detoxing?  I'm a bit confused about how you say you didn't have any withdrawl symptoms..yet..you were tired, had no energy and were a bit sad.  Aren't these some signs of withdrawl?
Being tired, no energy and depression is one of the reasons I've gone back to taking the narcotics.  I am currently slowly tapering off this time...which the doctor states will minimize the withdrawl symptoms.  But, here it is, 3:00 AM and I feel horrible even taking the opiates.  It feels as if I am just prolonging the inevitable by slowly tapering?
I feel like such a hypocrite as I wrote earlier and stated that "PATIENCE" is so important to recovery and that WE WILL GET BETTER OVER TIME.  And here I am bitching again.
I've read through so many comments here and noticed tonight that it seems like I am taking enough drugs to kill a horse.  I take three 40 mg tablets of Oxycontin (120 mg's) 3 times within a 24 hour period for a total of 360 mg's/day.  Has anyone else taken this amount?
I emailed a Dr. Greenberg who emailed me back stating he wanted to talk to me on the phone and that I could benefit from the Rapid Opiate Detox process.  I would have to fly to Canada to have this done, which I would but...it almost sounds too good to be true.  Has anyone else here tried this process?
It's so wonderful to have this place available.  Everyone's comments are so helpful and give me that extra bit of will power to keep going.  I come back here so often in hopes of reading new replys and hoping that maybe someone has listed a question that I in turn may be able to help with.  
Take Care ALL!