Aa
fioricet
well, when i was 10 a doctor prescribed fiorinal with codeine for migraines. at first it was simply a miracle drug because it kills the migraine dead in it's tracks within 15 minutes...but at some point, and i don't remember when, i became severely addicted. from about 11 to 15 i was taking anywhere from 5 to 15 of these daily. truly and honestly i had absolutely no idea what addiction was at the time...i really had no idea i was even addicted. i just took them like tic tacs and then felt amazing afterward. if anyone knows about barbiturates...when you build a tolerance to them, instead of knocking you out at high doses, it simply leaves you euphoric and competely removes your inhibitions. stress, anxiety, and fear no longer even exist. needless to say, i still cringe in embarassment at some of the things i did at this point in my life. but eventually we found a doctor who realized i was addicted and very slowly got me off of them. i spent the next year or so trying my hardest to find anything to replace it...even taking 10 to 15 excedrine a day. it was dumb but i did. so anyway, eventually my mind healed some and i started to see things for what they were. i truly truly hate the doctor that ever prescribed this med....and then kept prescribing it even though all signs pointed to addiction. i can't blame my mom...i had her convinced i was in pain just so she'd give it to me. keep in mind the awareness of addiction wasn't in my mind...only of convincing people to give the pills to me even as early as 11 years old.
so anyway...about 2 or 3 years ago (i'm 24) i got a doc to prescribe fioricet. for those who don't know, it's the same thing with butalbital but it doesn't have the codeine and it has tylenol instead of asprin. this was EXTREMELY stupid. i still don't know why i did it. i guess because it was always in the back of my mind and i usually made it clear to new docs about my previous addiction...but this was a new doc for me and i just went with it without thinking. i got home and was terrified of what i did...but i still had the Rx none the less. i waited about a month and eventually got it filled then waited another month before i actually took one ( i convinced myself i actually had a migraine). what a disappointment...i didn't feel anything like i used to when i took it. but it did feel sedating. i wondered how i ever got addicted to begin with and vowed i wouldn't take it again. but if that were the end of the story, i wouldn't be in this forum.
eventually i started taking more of them...usually when i had a bad day at work "just to relax" or take the edge off. for the past year and a half i've been taking them every day. the way i view them is almost like they are a god to me. i love the feeling i get when i take them. the problem with barbiturates...as some may know...is when you come to love their effects, 15 minutes after taking a pill you want another. it's never enough untill you can't move. i know many people use this med without understanding why people abuse it. that's because they haven't abused it themselves...or it's simply not the way they like to feel. i do. i don't compare it to heroin...i know a lot people here have been addicted to heroin and still are....but for me, it is my heroin. i love it. i would take them all day long if i could. i constantly think about them. but...i am also going to quit them. i have quit seeing the doc that originally prescribed them and will run out monday. i'm terrified of this. i haven't been sober for 3 years and while i know the most common addictions here are to things like vicodin and oxy's and morphine....i've had those things and none of them compare to this drug for me. so i guess i'm here because i'm really scared and no one even knows i'm going to be going through this. last time i was really young...my parents got me through. this time it's all on me and just thinking about not having those pills there anymore gives me an anxiety attack. i hope people who read this don't dismiss it because it's not a standard drug of abuse. i feel bad posting in a substance abuse forum because i feel like i shouldn't be addicted....like i'm stupid for being addicted this drug. but i have tried and tried to quit. i can't make it a day without it and haven't for at least a year...so i guess i have to do it the hard way and just run out. i'm scared because i work in with medicine as a technician and i'm worried i'll steal some if i get desperate....even though that REALLY is not like me. i've already considered it and how to get away with it. if i were to ever steal, this would be what i would steal because i completely lack self control with them.
anway...i won't drone on all night. i know no one wants to read a novel. i guess what i'm looking for are ways to get through this successfully. if anyone has ideas on how to prepare for this mentally, i'd really like to hear them. thanks
so anyway...about 2 or 3 years ago (i'm 24) i got a doc to prescribe fioricet. for those who don't know, it's the same thing with butalbital but it doesn't have the codeine and it has tylenol instead of asprin. this was EXTREMELY stupid. i still don't know why i did it. i guess because it was always in the back of my mind and i usually made it clear to new docs about my previous addiction...but this was a new doc for me and i just went with it without thinking. i got home and was terrified of what i did...but i still had the Rx none the less. i waited about a month and eventually got it filled then waited another month before i actually took one ( i convinced myself i actually had a migraine). what a disappointment...i didn't feel anything like i used to when i took it. but it did feel sedating. i wondered how i ever got addicted to begin with and vowed i wouldn't take it again. but if that were the end of the story, i wouldn't be in this forum.
eventually i started taking more of them...usually when i had a bad day at work "just to relax" or take the edge off. for the past year and a half i've been taking them every day. the way i view them is almost like they are a god to me. i love the feeling i get when i take them. the problem with barbiturates...as some may know...is when you come to love their effects, 15 minutes after taking a pill you want another. it's never enough untill you can't move. i know many people use this med without understanding why people abuse it. that's because they haven't abused it themselves...or it's simply not the way they like to feel. i do. i don't compare it to heroin...i know a lot people here have been addicted to heroin and still are....but for me, it is my heroin. i love it. i would take them all day long if i could. i constantly think about them. but...i am also going to quit them. i have quit seeing the doc that originally prescribed them and will run out monday. i'm terrified of this. i haven't been sober for 3 years and while i know the most common addictions here are to things like vicodin and oxy's and morphine....i've had those things and none of them compare to this drug for me. so i guess i'm here because i'm really scared and no one even knows i'm going to be going through this. last time i was really young...my parents got me through. this time it's all on me and just thinking about not having those pills there anymore gives me an anxiety attack. i hope people who read this don't dismiss it because it's not a standard drug of abuse. i feel bad posting in a substance abuse forum because i feel like i shouldn't be addicted....like i'm stupid for being addicted this drug. but i have tried and tried to quit. i can't make it a day without it and haven't for at least a year...so i guess i have to do it the hard way and just run out. i'm scared because i work in with medicine as a technician and i'm worried i'll steal some if i get desperate....even though that REALLY is not like me. i've already considered it and how to get away with it. if i were to ever steal, this would be what i would steal because i completely lack self control with them.
anway...i won't drone on all night. i know no one wants to read a novel. i guess what i'm looking for are ways to get through this successfully. if anyone has ideas on how to prepare for this mentally, i'd really like to hear them. thanks
Scooter~ I can discuss it with you. I'm tied up right now but I'll be back. Start your own thread on the forum.
Oh how RIGHT you are! ... as usual :) Glad you made it thru the day yesterday ...
Sorry to have been such a pest! But need to build AWARENESS about this highly overlooked substance!!
A few months ago I'd never have brought it up -- wouldn't wanna have "rocked the boat" in terms of being able to get it so easily ... but now things are OH so different!!
Sorry to have been such a pest! But need to build AWARENESS about this highly overlooked substance!!
A few months ago I'd never have brought it up -- wouldn't wanna have "rocked the boat" in terms of being able to get it so easily ... but now things are OH so different!!
well, to settle some of your curiosity...it wasn't like starting all over. i made it through the day quit well today. i still do think i was slightly insane for destroying my pills...but i'm still glad i did. i've had a horribly stressful day in and of itself so i feel sure that i would have definitly turned to pills to 'help' with that if i'd still had them. thankfully i didn't.
as to why there isn't a cure for addiction...you're right. tobacco companies certainly don't want smokers to quit and wouldn't encourage them to do so...thats why they've increased the nicotine in them 400% since 2000. what the drug companies really want is for people to be as addicted as they can be...but they'd prefer the drug they're addicted to to not kill them. because if i'm able to take 10mg of xanax a day...odds are it won't kill me like the old barbiturates...so it's ok. the fact that a drug doesn't kill people can lead people to believe it's actually safe...when in reality, they can be extraordinarily addicting.
but anyway, such is the drug industry...and i doubt it will ever change. infact, it merely seems to be perfecting it's recipe.
as to why there isn't a cure for addiction...you're right. tobacco companies certainly don't want smokers to quit and wouldn't encourage them to do so...thats why they've increased the nicotine in them 400% since 2000. what the drug companies really want is for people to be as addicted as they can be...but they'd prefer the drug they're addicted to to not kill them. because if i'm able to take 10mg of xanax a day...odds are it won't kill me like the old barbiturates...so it's ok. the fact that a drug doesn't kill people can lead people to believe it's actually safe...when in reality, they can be extraordinarily addicting.
but anyway, such is the drug industry...and i doubt it will ever change. infact, it merely seems to be perfecting it's recipe.
Thx so much for all this GREAT insight and info. With all my addictions, I DID kick Benzo's after 10 year addiction via tapering... and Cigs after 30 years using CHANTIX about 18 months ago, THAT was a miracle drug for me. Understand it "affected" nicotine receptors. So where's the "miracle drug" for Opiate, Barbiturate 'n all the other narcotics we abuse --- Something that affects THOSE receptors? With ALL the people suffering with substance abuse...WHAT & WHERE is it?? (Probly stupid naive question.) Our whole freakin society is in midst of PHARMACEUTICAL CRISIS! Taking OTC and Rx remedies for EVERYTHING in life ... Pharm Companies, like Tobacco, rule this country -- and we just keep on fueling it. But duh -- I guess it'd be CANNIBALISTIC for Drug Companies to come up with something to get us OFF all their products wouldn't it. After all, Chantix WAS developed by Tobacco's competitive conglomerate!
Sorry for the rant, but we're ALL desperate for answers and help ... Can't turn on TV/Radio or open a Magazine without being inundated with high-priced advertising from these GIANTS who helped create our situations in the first place!
So we are forced into being stronger-willed than these powerful substances. UGH!!!
Flob:
Ur Journal entry last nite shows me that you are indeed human! Appears with as MUCH as you know and understand, you continue in search of answers and are driven IN PART by ur own curiosity and motivation to HELP others?? I may be totally off base but do wanna hear what kind of"set-back" you experience. Didn't intend for that to sound shallow. Am hoping and praying everything good for you, and ultimately success in this fight!
I'm looking to you as a model for my own success ... Fully understanding that the brain (like the heart) wants what it wants.... sigh ... Am pulling for you all the way my friend!
Sorry for the rant, but we're ALL desperate for answers and help ... Can't turn on TV/Radio or open a Magazine without being inundated with high-priced advertising from these GIANTS who helped create our situations in the first place!
So we are forced into being stronger-willed than these powerful substances. UGH!!!
Flob:
Ur Journal entry last nite shows me that you are indeed human! Appears with as MUCH as you know and understand, you continue in search of answers and are driven IN PART by ur own curiosity and motivation to HELP others?? I may be totally off base but do wanna hear what kind of"set-back" you experience. Didn't intend for that to sound shallow. Am hoping and praying everything good for you, and ultimately success in this fight!
I'm looking to you as a model for my own success ... Fully understanding that the brain (like the heart) wants what it wants.... sigh ... Am pulling for you all the way my friend!
BUT U WILL MAKE IT! if u wanna make it...and i agree...the day comes when u get thru a whole day and never once think about ur DOC..then weeks..then months...then rarely unless a problem or stressor comes into ur life...thing is that most likely at some time in ur life/a stressor will hit u//like it or not///no one I know has a totally stress free life...just that most of the population/addicts are a minority/deal with the stressor without turning to escape mechanisms...we tend to want to escape again...escape artists at heart///many of us are..with time this gets so much better and we allow ourselves to feel pain...but there is still that addict in us/most of us/that says....RUN...I dont wanna feel this pain...and engraved in our mind is that we know how to become numb//even if it is only for a while...and this part can linger...tho as u stated...it is no longer a daily part of functioning after a while...but it never really goes away...sumpin we gotta remember when the urge hits/to remember the pain addiction can cause
yeah...thats the most discouraging part...the part thats always there telling you that you can take just 1 more and it'll be fine. it never goes away.
on the bright side, it does eventually take a back seat. there does typically come a time a year or 2 into reocvery where a person no longer thinks about their drug all the time. the problem is that it takes so long to get to that point...and it's so easy to think you'll never make it.
on the bright side, it does eventually take a back seat. there does typically come a time a year or 2 into reocvery where a person no longer thinks about their drug all the time. the problem is that it takes so long to get to that point...and it's so easy to think you'll never make it.
A substance that affects recptor sites in the brain..be it cigs, alcohol, barbituates, narcs, benzos..dont matter...a habit is a habit..some do not have physical wds associated with wd like narcotics do...but mental wds are the toughest for any addiction recovery..it is the mental aspect of addiction that causes relapse...scary but it never goes away..a true addict is always an addict whethere they used 2 weeks ago or 20 yrs ago...an addict is always one pill, one drink or one cigarette away from total relapse
I spoke with a lady this morning who told me she takes 1 mg of xanx a day for the last 10 yrs...that would knock a non-tolerant person out for the night...she takes it each morning for work..it does not have a sedating effect on her....just as most people fall asleep after taking a,lortab/hydrocodone...but then there r the people like me who feel nrg from it...and most often we r the ones who end up abusing///for the nrg//the opposite effect most people/non-addicts get from narcotics
A friend was taking 4 50 mg benadryl each night for sleep...that is excessive for most...she had to taper off of benadryl...she also took ephedra an hour or so before a workout...she was my gym buddy...she gave me one of the ephedra one day and I felt so hyped up I thought I was gonna come out of my skin...she later stopped those as well
I am not sure of the physical wd aspect of barbituates//ie the wd symptoms//i would imagine anxiety and insomnia would be on the list/probably not the runs like narc users get..i do know they have to be/or should be tapered like benzos and not CT due to seizure risk factors/where as narcs can be stopped ct as a rule
all i know is addiction is addiction..and it never gets better til u stop..and even then it never goes away..it is sumpin u gotta always have in the back of ur mind...to remind u that "I cant go there again" cos the only place u will go is a very very dark place to go...keep posting
I spoke with a lady this morning who told me she takes 1 mg of xanx a day for the last 10 yrs...that would knock a non-tolerant person out for the night...she takes it each morning for work..it does not have a sedating effect on her....just as most people fall asleep after taking a,lortab/hydrocodone...but then there r the people like me who feel nrg from it...and most often we r the ones who end up abusing///for the nrg//the opposite effect most people/non-addicts get from narcotics
A friend was taking 4 50 mg benadryl each night for sleep...that is excessive for most...she had to taper off of benadryl...she also took ephedra an hour or so before a workout...she was my gym buddy...she gave me one of the ephedra one day and I felt so hyped up I thought I was gonna come out of my skin...she later stopped those as well
I am not sure of the physical wd aspect of barbituates//ie the wd symptoms//i would imagine anxiety and insomnia would be on the list/probably not the runs like narc users get..i do know they have to be/or should be tapered like benzos and not CT due to seizure risk factors/where as narcs can be stopped ct as a rule
all i know is addiction is addiction..and it never gets better til u stop..and even then it never goes away..it is sumpin u gotta always have in the back of ur mind...to remind u that "I cant go there again" cos the only place u will go is a very very dark place to go...keep posting
you mentioned that it's nearly impossible to give up this addiction...and it's true that it will be very difficult. however, it doesn't really matter what you're addicted to...it's always difficult to give it up. thats why it's an addiction.
one of the most intelligent people i've ever known was a pharmacist i worked with and she called fioricet the 'drug of no return'....and she's absolutely right. once the addiction gets to a certain level, it's next to impossible to stop...and there are lots of reasons for this...one of which is that people who become severely addicted to it never even knew it was addicting in the first place. but one aspect of addiction that you have to understand is we all have our drug of choice....and to someone in this forum who is addicted to oxycodone or morphine or heroin....they could likely take one of these pills and never have a desire to take another....and also never understand why for some it's so addicting. thats because they haven't developed a tolerance, and also because it simply isn't their drug of choice....although it really isn't at all uncommon for those with opiate addictions to also have an addiction to barbiturates or benzo's to some degree.
those who get addicted to this drug typically never intend to get addicted. most never know it's addicting. infact, most don't even know what a barbiturate is. it's because of this that a tolerance builds so rapidly...the person doesn't know they're addicted. infact, as far as i know...butalbital is the ONLY remaining short to intermediate acting barbiturate that isn't a schedule 2 drug. the fact that it's little known among drug users is probably what keeps it from being a schedule 2 drug...that, and the fact that it really takes a tolerance to the drug to really get a 'high' from it.
fioricet is truly a drug of no return for a lot of people. generally they start abusing opiates along with it. it's actually the nature of what it treats that makes it so easy to continue abusing it. but...for a lot of the people who never stop taking it, it's usually because they don't want to or it's too hard to stop...or they don't even know that the addiction is fueling rebound headaches that are much more severe than some migraines. barbiturates actually increase sensitivity to pain and so the more you take...and in addition, they can cause rebound headaches. i say can...but i mean 'do' because almost everyone who takes them daily experiences both. the fact that she called it a 'drug of no return' is what motivated me to quit taking them the second time. i didn't want to be written off and i made sure that didn't happen. it was those words that really gave me the strength to not seek out the drug anymore...to force myself into withdrawal. my hope is that they can do the same thing for you....because it's just as possible to stop abusing this drug as it is any other drug. i'm guessing heroin is much more difficult, though i've never tried it....and yet there are people in this forum who have managed to quit that drug.
barbiturates generally make a person tired...so the most common question is why would anyone get addicted to something that knocks you out? the answer is because of tolerance...not only is 50mg of butalbital not enough to really knock you out...but as you build a tolerance to it's effects and take it in higher doses, you do get a euphoria that you can't experience just by taking 1 or 2. you also get freed from your inhibitions....you become much more outgoing...you simply feel like stress and worry no longer even exist....and if that weren't enough, you feel "high"...drunk, euphoric...just good all the way around.this is why barbs are so addicting. so this part of the addiction resembles that of opiate addictions...they would probably say similar things about their drug of choice. that means the only difference in treatment is that barbiturates literally do have the worst physical withdrawal...they really can kill you. hence the reason it's not something you can just decide to 'give up'...and that in itself can make it nearly impossible to quit. it's very difficult to reduce your dose when you're addicted to a med...especially over the course of days or weeks. your body simply doesn't want you to and it will fight you until it wins. this is why it's a better idea to have someone else in charge of your meds. when i was taking 15 a day, thats how i got off them...someone else took over my meds.
anyway...don't ever let anything i've said discourage you. i only say it because i know more about this drug than most people...so i feel the need to share that info with anyone who might benefit from it....so when i say things like 'its a drug of no return'...i say that to give you motivation to free yourself from it...i don't say that to imply it will be impossible for you to quit.
one of the most intelligent people i've ever known was a pharmacist i worked with and she called fioricet the 'drug of no return'....and she's absolutely right. once the addiction gets to a certain level, it's next to impossible to stop...and there are lots of reasons for this...one of which is that people who become severely addicted to it never even knew it was addicting in the first place. but one aspect of addiction that you have to understand is we all have our drug of choice....and to someone in this forum who is addicted to oxycodone or morphine or heroin....they could likely take one of these pills and never have a desire to take another....and also never understand why for some it's so addicting. thats because they haven't developed a tolerance, and also because it simply isn't their drug of choice....although it really isn't at all uncommon for those with opiate addictions to also have an addiction to barbiturates or benzo's to some degree.
those who get addicted to this drug typically never intend to get addicted. most never know it's addicting. infact, most don't even know what a barbiturate is. it's because of this that a tolerance builds so rapidly...the person doesn't know they're addicted. infact, as far as i know...butalbital is the ONLY remaining short to intermediate acting barbiturate that isn't a schedule 2 drug. the fact that it's little known among drug users is probably what keeps it from being a schedule 2 drug...that, and the fact that it really takes a tolerance to the drug to really get a 'high' from it.
fioricet is truly a drug of no return for a lot of people. generally they start abusing opiates along with it. it's actually the nature of what it treats that makes it so easy to continue abusing it. but...for a lot of the people who never stop taking it, it's usually because they don't want to or it's too hard to stop...or they don't even know that the addiction is fueling rebound headaches that are much more severe than some migraines. barbiturates actually increase sensitivity to pain and so the more you take...and in addition, they can cause rebound headaches. i say can...but i mean 'do' because almost everyone who takes them daily experiences both. the fact that she called it a 'drug of no return' is what motivated me to quit taking them the second time. i didn't want to be written off and i made sure that didn't happen. it was those words that really gave me the strength to not seek out the drug anymore...to force myself into withdrawal. my hope is that they can do the same thing for you....because it's just as possible to stop abusing this drug as it is any other drug. i'm guessing heroin is much more difficult, though i've never tried it....and yet there are people in this forum who have managed to quit that drug.
barbiturates generally make a person tired...so the most common question is why would anyone get addicted to something that knocks you out? the answer is because of tolerance...not only is 50mg of butalbital not enough to really knock you out...but as you build a tolerance to it's effects and take it in higher doses, you do get a euphoria that you can't experience just by taking 1 or 2. you also get freed from your inhibitions....you become much more outgoing...you simply feel like stress and worry no longer even exist....and if that weren't enough, you feel "high"...drunk, euphoric...just good all the way around.this is why barbs are so addicting. so this part of the addiction resembles that of opiate addictions...they would probably say similar things about their drug of choice. that means the only difference in treatment is that barbiturates literally do have the worst physical withdrawal...they really can kill you. hence the reason it's not something you can just decide to 'give up'...and that in itself can make it nearly impossible to quit. it's very difficult to reduce your dose when you're addicted to a med...especially over the course of days or weeks. your body simply doesn't want you to and it will fight you until it wins. this is why it's a better idea to have someone else in charge of your meds. when i was taking 15 a day, thats how i got off them...someone else took over my meds.
anyway...don't ever let anything i've said discourage you. i only say it because i know more about this drug than most people...so i feel the need to share that info with anyone who might benefit from it....so when i say things like 'its a drug of no return'...i say that to give you motivation to free yourself from it...i don't say that to imply it will be impossible for you to quit.
Hey, thx so much for writing and a mighty CONGRATS for choosing to stop AND sticking with it!! I truly hope you're doing well!!
I know you're right -- there's no way on earth I'LL be able to stop on my own after being so addicted to this and other opiates and substances for so many many years. But right now I'm not even sure I'm ready to fess up ... especially after reading about how nearly impossible it is/will be to get off this. I do however have an appt with Neurologist in 2 weeks (dealing w/ Trigeminal Neurology and upcoming surgery) and I KNOW once he sees how much of this I'm taking, the cat will be outta the bag and I'll be forced to take measures -- possibly even BEFORE he'll allow me to go thru surgery which I WANT and NEED to have to stop crazy pain I have that doesn't respond to narcotics! But for right now -- I have no self-control whatsoever.
I've come to the conclusion that any of us who've abused this evil substance have definately been flying under the radar cuz it's only a Sched III drug. My Dr KINDA keeps an eye on it cuz mine is the variety w/Codeine, but other than that, look at the amounts of Tylenol being ingested as more of a concern than the Butalbital it contains, at least when taken in high doses. That's why my Dr. rx'd plain Codeine Sulfate for me to take in addition when I complained that 8 capsules/day weren't as effective anymore. Gosh that really shoulda been a red flag, but then, that's why I went to him in the first place -- I could get whatever I wanted and how ever much I wanted. (He has since moved ... hmmmm... and my current Dr. studied under him, therefore respects him so keeps rx'ing it to me.)
I don't wanna write another novel, but PLEASE keep me posted on how you're doing --you most certainly are an inspiration to me! You had been taking a lot of this at one point, so that for sure gives me hope that I'll be able to eventually stop.
Would love to read in your Journals about the experiences your going thru -- IF you're up to it and have time. Although I really like what you're currently writing! Any luck with joining forces w/ the musician who wants you to write lyrics? I was married to a musician and have been friends with well-known artists over the years and think that would be such a cool thing for you to get into ... if nothing else a good diversion for you (don't know about your interests) But you'd have to be careful of the obvious pit-falls of the music industry!!
Geeeez, I wrote a novel yet again, sorry!
Hang in there and stay strong!! Please please please keep me updated on how you're doing... and thanks again!!
I know you're right -- there's no way on earth I'LL be able to stop on my own after being so addicted to this and other opiates and substances for so many many years. But right now I'm not even sure I'm ready to fess up ... especially after reading about how nearly impossible it is/will be to get off this. I do however have an appt with Neurologist in 2 weeks (dealing w/ Trigeminal Neurology and upcoming surgery) and I KNOW once he sees how much of this I'm taking, the cat will be outta the bag and I'll be forced to take measures -- possibly even BEFORE he'll allow me to go thru surgery which I WANT and NEED to have to stop crazy pain I have that doesn't respond to narcotics! But for right now -- I have no self-control whatsoever.
I've come to the conclusion that any of us who've abused this evil substance have definately been flying under the radar cuz it's only a Sched III drug. My Dr KINDA keeps an eye on it cuz mine is the variety w/Codeine, but other than that, look at the amounts of Tylenol being ingested as more of a concern than the Butalbital it contains, at least when taken in high doses. That's why my Dr. rx'd plain Codeine Sulfate for me to take in addition when I complained that 8 capsules/day weren't as effective anymore. Gosh that really shoulda been a red flag, but then, that's why I went to him in the first place -- I could get whatever I wanted and how ever much I wanted. (He has since moved ... hmmmm... and my current Dr. studied under him, therefore respects him so keeps rx'ing it to me.)
I don't wanna write another novel, but PLEASE keep me posted on how you're doing --you most certainly are an inspiration to me! You had been taking a lot of this at one point, so that for sure gives me hope that I'll be able to eventually stop.
Would love to read in your Journals about the experiences your going thru -- IF you're up to it and have time. Although I really like what you're currently writing! Any luck with joining forces w/ the musician who wants you to write lyrics? I was married to a musician and have been friends with well-known artists over the years and think that would be such a cool thing for you to get into ... if nothing else a good diversion for you (don't know about your interests) But you'd have to be careful of the obvious pit-falls of the music industry!!
Geeeez, I wrote a novel yet again, sorry!
Hang in there and stay strong!! Please please please keep me updated on how you're doing... and thanks again!!
thanks for your responses. i did run out a couple days after i wrote this and have not had any since then. it has been VERY difficult...i quit smoking 6 months ago and the urges to smoke weren't nearly as hard to resist as the urge to take another pill...or steal some...
but so far so good.
to GottaQuit:
i feel very sure you can overcome your addiction. i've done in the past at even higher doses than you describe. but a word of warning...it will be VERY difficult and you simply won't be able to do it on your own. it's no different than someone who's drug of choice is oxy's...if they have some, they simply won't be able to say no to them. this is why i suggest you allow someone else to be in control of your meds and you undergo a medical taper...there is no other way to withdrawal from barbs. i was able to taper down to a safe level...and my plan was to quit before i actually ran out just in case i needed some. no matter how hard i tried...i couldn't make that final step and stop on my own. i had to run out.
i am going to guess that your taper will need to be rather slow. the "suggested" tapers just don't work. as for your comment about me getting so few responses....thats the unfortunate nature of barbiturates. they're a dead drug and so that means very few people understand them....and very few people can relate to being addicted to them. but if you read other posts on here...there is a lot of common ground. barbiturates are severely physically and psychologically addicting...just like opiates. infact, they even enhance the effect of opiates and alcohol. i wish more people could relate...but i suppose it's much better that they can't.
anyway...i've made it nearly 1 month and i'm very proud of that....but not even an hour goes by where i don't think about taking a pill. i know that will change with time...because i've gone through this withdrawal once before...but it will be quite some time before i'm close to 'normal'
i've been reading a lot about the changes that have occured within the addicted mind. it has helped me UNDERSTAND aspects of my addiction and in turn, made me more prepared to deal with them. i suggest anyone going through withdrawal read as much information as they can on what processes to expect your mind to go through and why it's going to go through it...because when you understand that the urge is grounded in something physical, it does become a little bit easier to manage. it helps me not to feel so weak...it makes me understand that this really could have happened to anyone and it didn't just happen to me because i'm weak.
but so far so good.
to GottaQuit:
i feel very sure you can overcome your addiction. i've done in the past at even higher doses than you describe. but a word of warning...it will be VERY difficult and you simply won't be able to do it on your own. it's no different than someone who's drug of choice is oxy's...if they have some, they simply won't be able to say no to them. this is why i suggest you allow someone else to be in control of your meds and you undergo a medical taper...there is no other way to withdrawal from barbs. i was able to taper down to a safe level...and my plan was to quit before i actually ran out just in case i needed some. no matter how hard i tried...i couldn't make that final step and stop on my own. i had to run out.
i am going to guess that your taper will need to be rather slow. the "suggested" tapers just don't work. as for your comment about me getting so few responses....thats the unfortunate nature of barbiturates. they're a dead drug and so that means very few people understand them....and very few people can relate to being addicted to them. but if you read other posts on here...there is a lot of common ground. barbiturates are severely physically and psychologically addicting...just like opiates. infact, they even enhance the effect of opiates and alcohol. i wish more people could relate...but i suppose it's much better that they can't.
anyway...i've made it nearly 1 month and i'm very proud of that....but not even an hour goes by where i don't think about taking a pill. i know that will change with time...because i've gone through this withdrawal once before...but it will be quite some time before i'm close to 'normal'
i've been reading a lot about the changes that have occured within the addicted mind. it has helped me UNDERSTAND aspects of my addiction and in turn, made me more prepared to deal with them. i suggest anyone going through withdrawal read as much information as they can on what processes to expect your mind to go through and why it's going to go through it...because when you understand that the urge is grounded in something physical, it does become a little bit easier to manage. it helps me not to feel so weak...it makes me understand that this really could have happened to anyone and it didn't just happen to me because i'm weak.
The butalbital in fiorcet is a barbiturate - - it should never be stopped cold turkey......there are many health risks involved........you need to taper very slowly and for a long time - -
OMG ... I JUST found this post of yours after you responded to MY POST: "NEED HELP STOPPING FIORICET W/ CODEINE" last week ... and didn't realize til finding and reading THIS how much you DO know and DO understand what I'm going thru!!! Fioricet & Fiorinal both with AND without Codeine have been my drug of choice on and off for over 20 YEARS! The "off" times were when I couldn't get it rx'd to me so I'd use more commonly prescribed (and easy to find) Opiates -- codeine, oxycodone, Hydrocodone, you name it -- in combination with VALIUM and XANAX! I guess this was the closest I could get to the combo in Fioricet (that I LOVE!!!) before I found a dr about 4 years ago who rx'd Fioricet w/ Codeine to me in mass quantities! I went thru a taper-down program to get off my Valium addiction about 2 yrs ago (because that was the ONE addiction I admitted to my family and friends), but now understand why that maybe wasn't terribly difficult -- because it was while I was using the Fioricet w/Codeine!!! (which they were unaware of me taking.) It took me nearly 10 months to safetly get off Valium -- I really did have w/drawl symptoms if I tried stopping it too fast -- even w/ Butalbital I was ingesting from the Fioricet.
I'd really like to hear more from you! The situation in my original post focused more on upcoming surgery and my wanting to get off this CRAZY DRUG, BUT now that I've learned I'm gonna have to come clean with surgeon and other doctors about my use, I NO LONGER HAVE ANY SELF CONTROL, and am taking it as much as ever ... 8-10 per day (at one point I had a double rx for and would take as many as 16 a day WHILE DRINKING but would get so horribly sick ... and realize NOW how close I perhaps came to OD'ing!!!!! I guess that's a good indication how high my tolerance is.
Okay, I'll stop for now -- as you put in your post, nobody likes to read a novel, but can tell you that there have been times in the past when I used to choose Fioricet w/Codeine over Cocaine & other recreational drugs that would be available to me when out partying -- THAT'S HOW POWERFUL THIS STUFF IS!!
PLEASE STAY IN TOUCH -- I'll send you a personal message in case you're not checking on this post anymore... cuz apparently not many understand how wickedly addicting this stuff is -- can't believe you have only ONE RESPONSE to this post!!!!!!!
I'd really like to hear more from you! The situation in my original post focused more on upcoming surgery and my wanting to get off this CRAZY DRUG, BUT now that I've learned I'm gonna have to come clean with surgeon and other doctors about my use, I NO LONGER HAVE ANY SELF CONTROL, and am taking it as much as ever ... 8-10 per day (at one point I had a double rx for and would take as many as 16 a day WHILE DRINKING but would get so horribly sick ... and realize NOW how close I perhaps came to OD'ing!!!!! I guess that's a good indication how high my tolerance is.
Okay, I'll stop for now -- as you put in your post, nobody likes to read a novel, but can tell you that there have been times in the past when I used to choose Fioricet w/Codeine over Cocaine & other recreational drugs that would be available to me when out partying -- THAT'S HOW POWERFUL THIS STUFF IS!!
PLEASE STAY IN TOUCH -- I'll send you a personal message in case you're not checking on this post anymore... cuz apparently not many understand how wickedly addicting this stuff is -- can't believe you have only ONE RESPONSE to this post!!!!!!!
being addicted to anything doesnt make you stupid because its not wat everyone else is addicted to. im not firmiliar with that sort of drug but a long time ago being addicted to xanax when i heard people say it would baffle me cuz all it did was put me to sleep. but like you said when u build tolerance to it its a completetly different feeling. I am here to help you in any way i can. what type of withdrawls are associated with that type of med? did u notify your doc? maybe he can wean you down if you feel cold turkey isnt an option. some drugs like benzos and alcohol come with risks of seizure n death if you stop abruptly so just be careful. i will research as much as i can for you. PM me if you need/want to talk. addiction is addiction and i "know" or should i say feel what u are going thru right now..
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