The hamster in the wheel....

[RC184]

I got cut off the Norco I did something that I was not suppose to do in the contract that I signed so they stopped me CT. I was taking 10 the 10/325 norco a day I have 120 left I handed them over to my husband so I can taper I am down to 6 I feel like my world is crashing around me. I am withdrawing, on the weekend I am not going to take any. I am just going to take the Klonopin or the xanax ER I have the nerontin maybe that will help... But come Monday I will start on them to get to work and noone notice what is happening ... I also have the clonodin but last time I took that I felt like puking... Ok any advice in which way to go with this I need someone's advice on how to wean the DR was never a help she just would give them to me and I would pop them like skiddles... I told her I had a prolem that I needed help so now here I am with even a worst problem the anxiety of the WD and how am I am going to survive ...So here I am in the hamster wheel going round and round with no end to this story. Am I sinking or am I swimming? I can't tell what I am doing maybe reaching for a life jacket:)
Thanks for reading,
RC

[wowwww]

You are scaring me to death, I have apparently severe enough bi-polar to warrant taking 2400mgs. neurontin, 1800 mgs. trileptal, and smaller doses of wellbutrin and lexapro each day. I have been on the Neurontin over 10 years now. I can't remember how long on the trileptal, and shorter on the other two. We certainly went meds shopping over the years as some worked,others didn't or I became slowly immune to them. I've been on this 'regimen" quite awhile now,and I'm ok most every day from 6 am til' 2 pm, then it's time for a nap.  and still have panic attacks, for which I have been prescribed visteril. (as needed, which isn't often, once a week MAYBE). I often have big swings in mood, mostly towards the bottom of the barrel than the top. But sometimes I can be days at the top too, which is fine with me.... I would never dream of stopping anything cold turkey from choice, but sometimes things happen, and they won't re-fill until it's "time" and The meds are all wickedly expensive. Maybe I should get an anti-seizure med just in case, like just 2 or 3 of them. I certainly don't want to experience a seizure... (my cat Fred just said "Oh? Why not?")....what do you think? thanx/.,

[Candee49]

Why can't you take bothy Neurontin & trileptal together?

[RC184]

Thank You, I will do that I have to stay on the Trileptal so I will just stay clear of the neurontin I have been doing pretty good this weekend my stomach is really the worst and not being able to sleep. I Hope you all have a "HAPPY EASTER" you really know your stuff cat may I ask what you do?

[cattalina]

Ok I wouldn't take the Neurontin while you're taking the Trileptal as they serve basically the same purpose and combining them may have more adverse side effects than worth it. I'm not sure about Neurontin's effectiveness against opiate wds but I'm pretty sure it wouldn't do much. It's primarily an anti-seizure med but it's also used for pain relief even tho it has no narcotic properties whatsoever. But again you don't want to take the Trileptal and Neurontin together... these are also meds that need to be tapered slowly as opposed to just stopping cuz there's a pretty high risk for seizures there as well. The clonidine is generally pretty helpful for opiate wds with people who aren't already taking a benzo. Clonidine lowers the blood pressure, so combining clonidine and Klonopin is overkill on your system. A severe drop in blood pressure would explain any nausea you might feel. The Klonopin will really help take that edge of the opiate wds and should help keep the anxiety at a tolerable level. Are you planning on tapering off the Trileptal as well? Or just basically the Norco? I would recommend just staying on what you're currently taking instead of messing with them - other than the Norco of course! It won't be fun, there's nothing to take away the wds completely but as long as you know that going in, you can do it. The worst is generally over by day 4 or 5 at the latest. Stock up on Immodium as that is normally the worst part! PM me if you need to talk or if I can help you with anything ok? Just hang in there and it will all be done before you know it. :)

[RC184]

Trileptal, Norco, Klonopin .... I just have the Neurontin because she gave it to me to see how I did with it but I was to scared to take another pill so I just left it alone but someone said it would work for WD..

[cattalina]

A few things ok? - first ur hubby says it's okay if you need to stop working to get thru this. Don't close the door on that idea cuz some people need to do that, and it's okay. The main priority needs to be you and your detox/recovery cuz if it's not, you will stay in that hamster wheel. Next, as far as an actual taper plan mg by mg, what other meds are you taking? Combinations of medications, tapering one, tapering all, length of time, how much - alot of factors need to be taken into account to make sure that you are properly medically detoxing. You mentioned Neurontin right? Do you just have it or are you taking it? I would recommend that you either try to call your old doctor, or a new doctor and ask. With benzos and the Neurontin you run the risk of encountering problems with seizures, so some type of professional supervision would be in your best interest. And like Avis said - not everyone can taper, especially taper properly due to whatever elements are in a person's situation. You can also go online and look up the meds you are taking and possibly get better information regarding a taper. Drugs.com and rxlist.com are great places for info if you choose to go that route. Good luck to you!

[RC184]

Yes that will have to be another thing for me to tackle after I get threw taking the Norco I will have to start to wean off the anxiety meds. I do not want to take them anymore and yes everytime I would count the pills to see how many I had to go now my husband has them so I no longer have to look at them and see were I am at. Sorry Allicat I did not get anything in my inbox but it would be nice to hear what you have to say. Avisg if you can please tell me how to lower my doses without sending my body into total shock that would be great I don't know if I am doing this right  felt like my heart was going to poud out of my chest this morning.... Tommarow will be one heck of a day I am thinking I'm just going to stay in bed all and sleep and watch movies no pills for me except the anxiety ones so I don't end up thinking I am going to die and end up at the ER for just another bill to pay as if I do not have enough of those. House I think you are right I am a swimmer like you said I just need to make it to shore and hopefully I will be free, I feel like I have been in chains for years I want to be out of this I guess I have not started the mental part so I have no idea what that is going to be like I guess another thing to look forward to. My husband said if I had to stop working that woulld be fine just so I can get back to being "me" but I do not think that is fair he did not put me in this situation I put myself here. I will try to hold out and see how well I can do without having more to put on his plate and mine I want to contribute to our household. I do not want him to have to take on everything alone, along with my ups and downs. 1 day at a time Lord just give me the strength to make it all the way this time.Thank you all for reading and responding appriciate it very much ..
RC

[house2]

I think your swimming but you got a ways to go to reach the shore.The tapering is good to ease the physical pain.Get on a steady sleep schedule(which is hard) and go longer each time you crave a dose and keep track of it(we're all pill counters).Your body will start to adjust but won't like it.Once you get to that point the mental fight comes and can be the hardest but more subtle.This is where I have my hardest time,feeling like I beat it so its OK to take some when I want.The hampster wheel still spins for me becuase of this.Think of the progress you've made and don't dwell on the slips and we'll both get to the point when we can say I don't need this **** anymore.I can face and enjoy life without checking how many pills I have left.

[Allicat0117]

Check your inbox. im sending you a pm on my experience and some great advice ive received here on tapering

Alli

[avisg]

Some people can taper others can not .Just remeber the benzos are very addicting as well .you can get threw this ... basics of tapering are lowering your doses alittle at a time so your body adjusts to each drop and the WD is a bit milder .It will really help that hubby is helping you .Feel free to pm me if you need to talk.
avis