does it count?

[907baby]

okay so I've been clean from opiates for two days.  Woohoo, right?  But I've been taking a lot of ambien and lunesta that I had, sometimes enough to get high.  SO they arn't my drug of choice but Im still technically using right?  Its just really hard for me to C/T EVERYTHING.  I don't know what to do.  My boyfriend thinks I'm doing good just because I threw all the percs out.  I feel so guilty...again.  Also I don't know how to stop taking the sleeping pills, expecially the lunesta.  The ambien tends to give me double vision when I take too much.
What to do?

[Sharon0255]

I am 2 days off opiates AGAIN thank God. I had 45 days opiate free but I was trying to taper off of valium and Ambien and the guilt of not being really clean croaked me. You need to taper off if you are addicted. I used them during my detox and couldn't come off them. I binged but the good news is while binging for a week twice, after tapering for the 45 days I have not been taking the Ambin or the valium at all. I did take some benzos once during a binge because the pain of looking at my addiction was so painful. So for me it worked out. I had barely any sleep last night and the Ambien and benzos were right there and I didn't take them.
It felt great I think it's time for me to flush them and suffer until my regular sleep returns. I am using the melatonin, valerian and other natural herbs.

[cindy1265]

my advice is be careful, ive been on ambien 12 yrs ive been trying to get off but i struggle every day .. I found myself waking up after 4 hrs and taking more ..then running out and feeling worse,,I would start cutting down now or it will be much harder on you later on ...

[wannabefree330]

2 days IS a big deal!! give yourself credit for that.  If you are taking the sleep aids to 'get high' then you're trading one drug for another.  If you want to be free from all of this, get rid of them.  Nobody every died from lack of sleep.  It really suck$, but you can do it.  You don't want to go through another w/d from the ambien/lunesta once you are done w/d from the percocet.  Just take the step and flush em.  Then there's no temptation, and no questioning yourself.  You are doing a great job so keep it up!

[cathy5841]

listen to susan she knows, she has been there.  please be careful...congrats on throwing out the percs...thats awesome.

[lady67]

I am sorry to be the negative one here,but it sounds like you are trading one drug for another.  Of course that is my opinion, and it is based on my experience with both.  I have always abused hydros off and on, but my true addiction was to lunesta and ambien.  Even though they tell you that it is non-narcotic, that is a pile of ****.  It started out as one a night to sleep, then quickly escalated to 3-4 several times a day.  If you aren't taking them as prescribed, 1 a night, then you are getting addicted to them.  They had control of my life for 2 years and almost ended my marriage and my life.  

Please be so very careful with this stuff and take only as directed because it is evil and it can cause you much harm.  It will cause you to do things and say things that you never remember.  

A Friend
Susan

[cellie]

I am proud of your effort to stop the opiates and know that the W/D from those alone is a kicker.  The danger is going to start once they are all out f your system.  Because the addictive nature in you will still seek whatever pleasure you gained from the opiates and if the ambien provides an easy escape or comfort, it can easily take the place of opiates.   Its so hard to know when your w/d is over and you are now just using them to feel good as opposed to taking them to prevent the w/d pains.  Keep talking to the people online and sharing your feelings.  They will help you to ask yourself the questions that are needed to ask.  I wish you well and thank God for two days off of those opiates.  I am on day 3 of no methadone.  I am detoxing myself with the pain medicine the rheumatoid arthritis doctors have been trying to get me to use for the last year.  Im not getting sedated or feeling comfortable, but i am being very careful to take my blood pressure 3 times a day and am using the minimal amount of what tramadol they had prescribed me along with my blood pressure meds and an anti-anxiety pill.  So far I have had a few anxious hours where the sweats and cramps almost convinced me to go back to a methadone center to manage my pain, but i got through it and god willing I will continue.   For me the W/D is much longer so i expect at least 30 hard days of this.  I am alone here and that is scarey but when i feel scared i come online to this site and write.  Please feel free to message me anytime.  We all need each other to get through this.  The greatest thing is that it isnt a secret and we all can recognize what we are going through.  My prayers are with you.

[sadinmichigan]

yes..be very careful of ambien..it sounds like you are already taking too much of both the Lunesta and Ambien..(why both) are you taking so much of them to try and get high??I understand how hard it is to get some sleep during and after w/ds..but in this case..the old saying..if 1 is good...2 is better...NOT SO..You are going to end up with a dependancy on sleep meds and possibly harm yourself..please be careful..I took Lunesta for a week or 2 but couldn't handle the groggy feeling and the nasty taste it leaves in your mouth..I would suggest sticking to one or the other as they are both RX..and only take them for a short time..congrats on quitting..you are almost 3 days..you will start to feel better soon..

[soreadytodetox]

hey! you are fine, but just becarful with the ambian it is very very additing and dont take more than you are to take!!!! why do you feel guilty? arnt you taking them just to help you w/d? lunesta is over the counter isnt?what was you doc & how long & how much? congrats on the 2 days clean days. i had a 4 yr. snorting( pers)habit 20 plus pills a day! the opiates are really bad to w/d from me snorting was extra bad. it took me over 2 weeks to get back on track but i am 40 days clean from opiates today! get back with me. sherri