Weaning from Hydromorph contin????

[spider6]

Hi angels.....just want to post a question about weaning for my best gal friend .....anyway.....
My friend is trying to take less opy's and she is having extra pain the last couple of days cux she's been taking less and less of her medicine which is hydro morph contin??? I think I'm saying it wrong.  anyway,.....doctor today says he wants to give her gaba. pen??? saying it wrong again...  help please. don't even know what questions to ask.

[weaver71]

As you know, until she is ready to go to any length, it is a waiting game. Hopefully she will come and visit with us soon, it's hard to watch people you love suffer. Her reaching out herself would be a good sign, let us know if she decides to make a profile.

[spider6]

Thanks guys so much, I've been trying to get her to come on this site for awhile now to get some advice.  She's trying to get off these pain meds but her knees are a source of pain for her.....it's been years......her liver is already showing signs of damage.  Besides these meds she's been on oxys, Perc's, Ativan, warfarin for a blood thinner....gosh knows what else.....I really see it talking a toll on her.

[weaver71]

Even if they don't reduce withdrawal symptoms, amino acids, EmergenC, vitamins, cal/mag/zinc are found to be deficient in clinical studies of most opiate dependent people. Those nutrients are proven to be what are needed by the body to heal itself. Even during a taper or before CT, I would suggest your friend be taking those things and the other usual things, avoiding caffeine, red meat, processed foods, etc... She can return to those things later, but adding only good nutrition and avoiding any stress on the liver and kidneys will help recovery time and hopefully reduce some symptoms. As I with all addicted or dependent people, I wish her a speedy recovery.

[Amandag78]

Hey beautiful Charlotte : )
I hope your friend will be ok and doesnt have too much trouble getting better xx

[EvolverU]

Hi Spider :)

Is your friend going to be coming off narcotics completely? Is her Dr. switching her to Gabapentin for pain or did he give it to her to help with the detox? If he's switching her to a maintenance dose of Gabapentin then he should design some sort of taper for her because she'll definitely be in w/d's. I think Lulu's idea above sounds sensible.

Both drugs are addictive but one's a strong narcotic & the other a non-narcotic analgesic & anticonvulsant. The Gaba will probably help with the withdrawal (it's in the same drug class as Tramadol) if she's stopping the long-acting Dilaudid.

Please, let your friend know that if he's switching her to Neurontin, that that too, can be a difficult kick.

Wishing her all the best! :)

[lulu747]

Hey Spidey-

I am currently taking the hydromorph contin (the lowest dose 6 mg)   It is basically a long acting version of hydromorphone.  The best thing for your friend to do is speak to her doctor about lowering the dose slowly and adding in the short acting version as she gets lower as it is easier to taper.
As for gabapentin- I know some people have great success with this for nerve pain.  For me, it sent me to bed for 3 months listless and foggy and nauseous.  Everyone is different.
Hope this helps.
Lu

[Jinx_777]

her going from hydromorphone or whatever it is to gaba(something) think it is neurotin, is going to be a huge difference.

gaba....  is non narcotic and is most useful in nerve pain.  

as you know we cannot give tapering advice, but she should ask her doctor to taper her and NOT just switch meds.  there is a HUGE difference.  some people have used gaba.... to ease withdrawals, but if she is requiring pain meds and he is wanting to switch her to a non narcotic she should be tapered with the doc's help