Withdrawl from long term use of narcotic pain killers

[shelby]

I am thankful to have found this site, as I find this a very difficult subject to talk to anyone about. Reading eveyones stories helps me feel not so alone. Here's mine. I was diagnosed with a life threatening cancer about five years ago. I was treated aggressively and apparently successfully, but the treatment left me with some chronic pain. I have been taking ms contin and oxycodone for breakthrough ever since. In addition to controlling the pain, I liked the feeling it gave me. Rather than feeling tired all the time ,I seemed to have more energy, plus a feeling of wellbeing when facing a very difficult time. Well, it looks as though the cancer is not going to get me and I want to finally put that chapter behind me and get on with life. Through it all I have maintained a busy professional life as well as being a wife and mother of school age children. So, about three days ago I cut my dosages in half, and its been rough. I think what I am experiencing is textbook withdrawl; leg cramps, diarrhea, feeling cold all the time, and inability to sleep. I think that is the worst, when the whole house is asleep and I am up and down, in the bed, on the couch etc, etc. I suppose I should ask my Doc about this but I have to admit I am ashamed to. My docs and the nurses have been great and have never made me bad, so I guess it is just my hang-up. I had to laugh when I read on one of the postings that this tendency to try and do it yourself is often part of the problem! Thats me, hard headed. Thanks for listening.

[Miss_Sara3]

I'm a 22 yr old mom and I have been taking Vicodin for almost a year now. It started out with a back problem that happened at work and then I was buying them from people I know cuz my doctor would give me anymore. After a while the vicodin turned into norcos and I was take any where from 7-10 a day. I ran out and I'm deciding to stop taking them. I kind of tappered down but not enough for it to really help. Today is day 2 without and my one main side affect if anxiety. I can seem to sleep because of it and I can't sit in one place for more than 20 minutes. Other than than that it's cold sweats and diaherra. I decided to stop on a long weekend. I don't think it's going to get any better. I also just quit smoking cigarettes recently and I think that has a lot to do with it. Please if anyone has any information about how I can ease the anxiety side effect that would be greatly appeciated!
Thank you,
Sara

[sizzle185]

Methadone withdrawl was absolute hell! took a good 14 days untill the symtoms subsided. I took percocet for the first time at age 15, and was addicted ever since. I chased the "Dragon" for the past 9 years. I could never have enough. Could never get high enough. I kept looking for this "serenity" in the drugs. When I was high, I was KING! In all reality, I was nothing more then a coward. It took losing my brother to a dui car accident at age 20 (he was 21) and losing my apartment, my car, my possessions, and damn near my own son .. untill I realized that the path I was taking, wasn't working. I needed a change. I had to hit MY rock bottom untill I was ready to get clean. Even then, my only "friend" I had left, was that bottle of methadone I had just scored the evening before. My addiction was in FULL rage!!! I had no money, and no friends, and no food.. I took every pill I had left and hoped I wouldnt survive.. I did, and I HAD to go through the withdrawl.. It was in NO WAY easy, yet I DID IT. I have 30 days this tuesday, and I have a new found LOVE OF LIFE. I have money, a job, a car, and most importantly, I HAVE MY SON! Life is GOOD! Love yourself enough to make the change, I can PROMISE you will never regret getting clean! Theres ALL sorts of help out there for recovering addicts. These support groups and the people in it, have BEEN where you are rite now. THEY WILL HELP! Life is good, GOD is GREAT, and sobriety is AMAIZING! Love yourself enough to take that leap of faith .. YOU WILL MAKE IT, and the grass is ABSOLUTELY greener on the other side. Put down the mask you wear everyday, and learn to love yourself again. If you are reading these posts, you have already took the first step and you ARE on your way to recovery! GOD BLESS ALL of you!! - Thanks for listening

[shayy86]

i've been struggling with pill addiction for over two years off and on...i have quit twice and this time i am now 3 months clean and its harder than i ever thought!! my moods change my depressed moments are devastating and i search for pills when i know there are none here! My body aches sometimes so unbearable i drink to numb it or just go to bed to forget it because all i think is how easy of a fix it could be.  I was clean for over a year and relapsed this year! i felt like a failure and even turned tococaine at times.  Its been rough but i moved to utah, took a new oppurtunity and now am clean and happy and finally getting healthy!  The side effects are still there....its a daily fight of pain, agony, and depression but for right now im winning!!

I read all your stories and wanted to share mine...addictionof any kind is super hard but its nice to have some support and understanding!

[spellweaver640]

All I can say to withdrawal symptoms is keep yourself busy. I cannot stress this enough.  Go shopping, running, exercise, swimming, hot bath, something to keep you moving or occupied. If you just sit there and watch TV and loaf out on your couch your body is going to vibrate until its on fire and even the touch of your cat is going to annoy you.

I've been taking Tramadol for the past 3 years, at first for back pain, but then it turned into recreation. It made me thin, happy, confident...and I honestly believe it gave me the courage to accept a new position at my job. Yes, it made me like a god. But the side effects of pain killers do not outweigh the good in the long run. I was constantly constipated, had hemmorhoids, and the monetary means to sustain such an addiction is heart breaking! All that money flowing through your veins to make you feel better. Ridiculous.

I quit once for 3 months then relapsed. I quit again last week after I slowly weened myself off the drug. I still have withdrawal symptoms even after I weened. I've been taking tylenol extra strength during the day and nyquil during the night. I feel dizzy, achy, irritable, and I seriously want to cut my limbs off. It feels like electricity is running through them. Tylenol is definitely helping. The nyquil is helping me sleep too, along with the other flu like symptoms. It gets better. Just stick to your guns and damn it, think of something happy. Play music...the vibrations from the sound will heal you!

[spellweaver640]

All I can say to withdrawal symptoms is keep yourself busy. I cannot stress this enough.  Go shopping, running, exercise, swimming, hot bath, something to keep you moving or occupied. If you just sit there and watch TV and loaf out on your couch your body is going to vibrate until its on fire and even the touch of your cat is going to annoy you.

I've been taking Tramadol for the past 3 years, at first for back pain, but then it turned into recreation. It made me thin, happy, confident...and I honestly believe it gave me the courage to accept a new position at my job. Yes, it made me like a god. But the side effects of pain killers do not outweigh the good in the long run. I was constantly constipated, had hemmorhoids, and the monetary means to sustain such an addiction is heart breaking! All that money flowing through your veins to make you feel better. Ridiculous.

I quit once for 3 months then relapsed. I quit again last week after I slowly weened myself off the drug. I still have withdrawal symptoms even after I weened. I've been taking tylenol extra strength during the day and nyquil during the night. I feel dizzy, achy, irritable, and I seriously want to cut my limbs off. It feels like electricity is running through them. Tylenol is definitely helping. The nyquil is helping me sleep too, along with the other flu like symptoms. It gets better. Just stick to your guns and damn it, think of something happy. Play music...the vibrations from the sound will heal you!

[notbymyself1]

i been cycling and streching working out. Getting my *** kicked at bed time thu..but pushing on amd manin up..Let kick this together...