Physical Complications from years of abuse?

[shelley04]

I took all kinds of opiates for 3 years (getting up to around 130 mg per day of different drugs, mostly percs & norco).  Now that i am on sub (for about 4 months) i am having a lot of physical ailments that are really starting to scare me.  My blood pressure is skyrocketing, my hands and feet are starting to swell, and my legs ache every time I move to a standing position.  I am 45 but when i go to stand up or get out of my car after about 1/2 hour or so i must look like i am at least 85!  Oh, and the fatigue i am experiencing is horrible.  I don't know if it is the blood pressure medicine (clonidine .2 mg twice a day) or what.  I have an appt with a new doctor tomorrow but I was wondering if anyone else has had issues like these since getting clean.  THANKS!  

[shelley04]

If anyone is on suboxone this may be of some help to them.  I just returned from my new primary care doc and she is wonderful.  She explained that the clonidine is not a good blood pressure med for long term use.  It is used mainly to bring down high blood pressure really quickly which is why so many people use it during withdrawals.  It is also the reason for my fatigue.  It is so relaxing that it made it very hard for me to stay awake. It also caused my eyes to become very dry as well.  I am not sure why my sub doctor did not realize this?  He also switched my antidepressant from cymbalta to wellbutrin which my new dr says was a big mistake as wellbutrin is not for anxiety, it actually makes anxiety worse.  So for anyone thinking about seeing a sub doctor who is not a medical physician (mine was a psychiatrist) please check with them before you change any of your regular meds.  

[landbray]

Hi,
I started suboxine on 6-24-08. Besides the morphine & vic's I had been taking xanax for 20 years. The first month every injury I did to my body hurt now! Every ache, pain... I was/am really out of shape. Not heavy (well some) but b/c of smoking, being lazy,high. I can't run worth ****.So I figured I have abused my body for the last 28- 30 yrs with drugs it isn't going to heal over night. I bumped into stuff all the time high. I had bruises, plus I had bruises on my legs from the drugs causing less posstaium(sp). I have allot of sweating on the sub's but not swelling. I don't think the sub's would cause swelling. it has to be coming from something else.It's great that you are seeing a new dr tomorrow. Be honest, up front, he will help you out. If not, find one that will. I hope things work for you
good luck
paaddict

[shelley04]

Thank you, i did try taking the clonidine only at night, for about 2 weeks, and then that is when my bp went up, well that and the fact that my sub doctor changed me from cymbalta to wellbutrin!  I found out that wellbutrin in itself causes high BP.  This is why i have no trust in doctors and would rather have people's real life experiences on here.  Do you mind telling me what bp med you are on now?  and does it have a diuretic in it?  

[Oxyidiot]

I know for a fact that the clonidine will infact  give you all of the fatigue that you have now. Dont believe me ? dont take one of the pills in the morning, go about your business  for the day take the evening pill & you will see that it truely is the clonidine thats making you tired . But i wouldnt think that would make you swell so yeah see the doctor about that & tell him the clonidine is making you tired.  Just seen my doc for this very reason . Switched BP meds & fine now .

[Coolio Hernendez]

I'm not sure but i think your not supposed to mix Suboxone and blood pressure meds.....

I could be wrong...

[shelley04]

Thank you for your kind words.  I will take the salt intake seriously as i do have a bad habit of eating too much of that.  While I was using drugs my eating was horrible as well,  i craved fast food and anything sweet!  Trying to stop that as well.  My real worries i guess are the pain i have in my legs and feet and I guess i was wondering if other people had issues that were either covered up by using or else were caused by using.

Thanks again.  

[122 Tactical Fighter Group]

Yes. Probably not due to clonodine. Monitor your BP - cut out all the salt you can from your diet. Eat as nutritionally as possible and use all the supplements you can think of. When you do get up after being down for a minute do not just leap up - postural hypotension - get up slowly and instages.....try to amp up your physical activity level ... good luck at the Doctors .....