fioricet

[scared2]

i have been addicted to fioricet without codeine for over 6 year s, i take just about 6 or 7 a day, i take about 3 every morning to get me going, because i feel it is the only way to get me going.  i want to stop.  i am scared that i may have caused liver damage, and i do not want to die.  i also in addition at night right after work pop 1 1/2 of vicodin es, but not any more than that.  but none the less still addicted.  and i have been doing that for the same amount of time, but just in the past year taking 1/1/2 everyday, it used to be just on the weekends.

i need some advise on stopping, what kind of withdrawls i might have.  what kind of herbs can i take to help maybe correct my liver damage.  i am 31, and i think i still have a chance to reverse any damage, if i can just stop using.

please help

scared

[Skyflygal]

Hi!  I am new to this site.  I have been on F with codeine for 30 years now.  I was off of it around 4 years ago, but am now back on it.  I usually take one per day.  However, maybe twice a month or two will take two per day.  I have now taken myself off cold turkey and this is my third day.  I have already lost a bunch of weight due to being ill.  I am not sure I can stand another day of not eating and things (food) going right through me due to going off cold turkey.  Does anyone suggest weaning?  If so, how?  Thank you to anybody who can help me!

[lanz170]

YOU are helping people alright

you are Helping the FBI and the government outlaw Vicodene/ Fiorcet all of the drugs that really work

.....so even if you are in severe pain like with a root canal like I had pain for 10 days and all the doctors are now refusing to prescribe the only medicine that works infact they are practically outlawing it I was in #10 severe pain for 10 days and all the doc would prescribe was motrin
root canal......now people with migranes are going to have to suffer too at

least with tooth pain you can drink whisky this mircromanaged america is hurting the people that really need help because of the people that abused the help they got and especially the people on florida with their illegal hydrocodone FARMS> THANKS when someone abuses the system WE ALL SUFFER

[vicki595]

Hi there-and Welcome...

Go to the top of the forum page and click on the post a question button. You can start your own thread and get the support you need.

I'm well acquainted with Fioicet and I can tell you that it's dangerous to stop abruptly. You MUST taper off of it.

Start your own thread and I'll look for you!

[thumpy]

I am a newbie and have been addicted to fioricet for years also, I am not taking any hydro, but I found myself today without any fioricet and don't know what to do and I am scared. I also take 3 in the morning because it is the only way to get myself going. A few months ago my doctor started giving me 230 a month which I'm sure was a mistake instead of the normal 100 a month. All of a sudden he simply prescribed me 60???? I am perplexed and about to come out of my skin....any suggesstion????Don't know whether to go to an ER or what??? Please help!!!!  

[Conniecat1]

Hi everyone, just noticed the dates....anyone still posting on here about fiorecet?? My doc has just told me he is "weening" me from these and I am not at all happy but I guess I do understand why....also he had his nurse tell me they were being discontinued soon and I wondered if that were only a suttle way to help me stop???? They are wonderful for my headache pain like nothing else but at this time I aqm extremely stressed because of being the only caregiver of my mom who is 85 and sor whatever reason these have the best calming effect without sleepiness (anymore) and I am worried how I am going to maintain without them!! Comments anyone?? I also am on the non codeine type.  Connie...catwoman!

[Piewacket63]

I have been taking the kind of Fiornal that has codiene in it.I try very hard to take it only when I feel a nasty mirgraine comming on. Some times I end up in the ER because the pain is so bad and my blood pressure goes very high 180/130. The doctor told me this is due to the pain I am having. They usually start an IV and give me a medication called diloid {sp} This takes the pain away and my blood pressures returns to normal. has thsi ever happen to anyone else?

[my_mayberry]

yes you should be scared. often, barbiturate abusers can 'substitute' with alcohol and vice versa. in the past, when barbiturates were in their hayday, barbiturate abusers were also often alcoholics. judy garland is one example. benzodiazepines, alcohol, and barbiturates all effect gaba so crossing from one to another isn't so hard. in my experience, barbiturates have the most profound effect as far as the 'high' goes. i think if you have a history of abusing alcohol, you should use this drug with EXTREME caution. that isn't to say you CAN'T use it, but if you do you should never use it unless you really need it. just be aware of the risk. in the old days, barbiturates and alcohol were mixed (sometimes leading to death) and this doubled the high. i think if you're aware of how dangerous the drug is and use caution with it, you should be ok....but then again, if you take this drug and find out you enjoy it far more than alcohol (as i do)......then you could be in a world of trouble. its somewhat of a gamble.

there is a somewhat safer medicine called midrin. it does contain dichloralphenazone which is 2 parts chloral hydrate...this is also a sedative, but it seems that with midrin the rate of addiction is much MUCH lower than it is with fioricet. the doses required to achieve a profound 'high' feeling with midrin are hard to achieve as its provided in such low doses in the compound.....however there still is a risk with that one as well and it doesn't work quite as well on migraines as fioricet or fiorinal.

[SueM81711]

just wondering if anyone is a recovering alcoholic takeing this medication i have just recently been perscribed fioricet for migranes and my dr knowes i'm a recovering alcoholic......should i be scared?

[my_mayberry]

i sympathise with you on the chronic pain...but if taking this drug daily is the only way to relieve your pain, perhaps you should go to a pain management center?

as a last resort, i can understand daily use of this drug...but to be quite honest, its often the drug itself that causes pain. something you should know about barbiturates is that they reduce your pain threshold...meaning they increase your sensitivity to pain. fioricet and the like also cause rebound headaches...something VERY common when taken daily. these often times develop into horrific migraines if you do not take your medication. this, along with a reduced pain threshold, makes for a poor drug of choice when treating chronic daily pain. i think before you ever consider trying to find a doctor who will UP your dose, you should try to find one that specializes in pain and see what other avenues you could explore. as i said, it may be that this drug is making things much worse than they would be without it. there are a few other members in this forum who've experienced this side of the drug...i myself have. hopefully they'll share with you their own experiences also.

[my_mayberry]

butalbital is NOT a controlled substance, although it should be. fiorinal is, and the reason is purely and simply because of the butalbital. all butalbital products should be thought of as highly dangerous and controlled, even though they aren't. similar drugs are amytal, seconal, nembutal, and butisol....all HIGHLY controlled. butalbital came along much later in the barbiturate game, so it never achieved the status of the previous big brothers and somehow has managed to avoid that big fat C-II lable.

i believe the drug you mention is also known as phrenilin (butalbital 50mg and apap 325mg) or phrenilin forte (butalb 50mg and apap 650mg)....either way its a butalbital drug and NOT controlled, but you may as well consider it as a controlled substance. yes it can be highly addicting...the fact you've avoided this is GREAT...it goes to show that just because you take a drug that is addicting doesn't mean you WILL get addicted......but just be cautious, because it can still happen. read other stories on here about butalbital...you'll find it REALLY does damage people's lives once they're hooked.

like xanax, valium, temazepam, clonazepam, seconal, nembutal, etc etc etc....the MAJORITY won't get addicted...they'll use them as they're meant to be used and never have a problem. its the minority that gets hooked and these are the ones who usually find their way here. same with opiates.

but yeah, its the butalbital thats the big deal in this drug. also if you have the one that contains codeine, thats even more addicting obviously...especially since barbiturates enhance the high of opiates and vice versa

[mudpuppy62]

I have been on fioricet since i had my daughter 31 years ago. I started having bad headaches and this is what my dr. put me on. Back then I would take maybe 1 or 2 then skip a few days. As years have gone by I have to take them everyday. At least 3 a day.
How in the world do you get a dr. to prescribe you enough to take 6 or 7 a day? I get a hard time from my dr.now when I take 3 a day ? Please reply. I dont wanna take more than 3, but sometimes my dr. wont refill them. Its like as a grown young lady I have to beg, and explain i have a lot of muscle tension, which I do. And if I dont stop it there in my neck then goes into a migrane. God forbid I hate migranes!

[isis196340]

WOW i see so many stories about fioricet.. i have been on the drug on and off for many many years. started at 27 now im 46 <along with soma. and i never had a problem stoping it.. i didnt know till recent it is now a controlled drug.  now i have lupus and degenterative disk and fibro and the migrans have started again! i take 4 norco a day and 3 soma. well im suppose to. i do run out . have been on same drugs for 10 years. not working much anymore.   Anyway to the point.. my dr recently added cephadyn to my meds. i see it is like fioricet without the caffine. was wonder fioricet is a controlled drug and cephadyn is not.  why?? cant figure it out. after reading all the post im kinda scared to start another demon. in the past i was on fiorcet and fiorcet w codine at the same time. just stopped wiht no problem. but now that i know withdrawl.. and i do!! im kinda afraid to take this... is cephadyn the same thing.. only difference i see is the caffine.. thanks.   hope i made a little sence..

[Gee65]

Hi, I value your comments and I really dont think I have to worry yet but I guess I am a little because I am looking into it and responding.  I am taking fiorcet/cod and I was just taking 2 a day but I have upped it to 3 just the past two days and I have only been taking it for five days but before that for about seven days I took firoinal but it was hard on my stomach.  I am in pain it started with migraine which I really think is tension headaches from PMS well, that is when they occur and now my back is out, recently went to chiro and going back tomorrow so I figure if I can get my back back in order (I am working on posture) then I will be able to stop taking these.  Do you think I should taper after this short of time?  I guess that a person really builds a tolerance according to the amounts that were being taken (?) It helps with my pain but it also gives me a buzz. Should I be concerned?  Thanks so much

[gmacj]

I don't know how I stumbled upon this but am sure glad that I did. I take 100 fioricet every 25 days and am getting weary of trying to make them last that amount of time (my doc wrote the script so I can only get them every 25 days). I know that headaches are one of the withdrawal syptoms for fioricet, which seems so ironic, because that's what I take them for. I have been taking around 100/month for at least several years and my doctor doesn't semm troubled by this at all. I have to take Nexium twice a day and headaches are the most common side effect of that drug so my doc just keeps on prescribing. When the fioricet began to feel less effective, I added 3 excedrin tension tablets to each dose of 2 fioricet. I realize that this is asking for trouble but just coping one day at a time has kept me on this regimen and out of the lab to check for liver damage. My doc is no help and even though we have COBRA, hubby and I are out of work so specialist shopping and expensive Rx copays aren't really a decent option. I could use advice in getting off this high does of butalbital and tylenol and also need suggestions regarding coping with the headaches that are sure to remain once I am off. Suggestions anyone?

[sunshine6706]

What / Will  happen if i take 16 Fioricet in one day?

[dancinginthedark]

Hey, nice to hear from you on this less than delightful day.

OHMYHEAD!!!!!   Christ, ****.  

As far as getting in trouble with the DEA, I've read a lot about it here but don't personally know much about it.  As far as I know, you can only get in trouble for forging scrips, or calling in your own, pretending to be a doc.  

Since I don't know your transgressions but you say they were relatively minor, I wouldn't worry, or at least now while w/d.  I'm NOT an attorney but I believe the DA & cops gets more seriously bent out of shape over fraud, forging scrips, calling in, impersonating a doc's office.  Some ppl on this site have been busted for these crimes & charges were pressed.

Many ppl here are quite the doc shoppers - I know one woman who was getting F from 11 diff. docs & never got caught!  For the ppl who have been caught, they just get in trouble with their docc & usually cut off by all the others.

So, tell us what you're worried about & we'll try & set your mind at ease.  Believe me, ppl here have done *everything* imagineable & these are loving, honest, kind, family ppl.  The damn pills make us all crazy!

What are you detoxing from?  Opiates?  I quit codeine on Jan 20 but this F has such a hold on me I just beccame terrified it was going to kill me because I was starting to really binge on it.

It's pretty rough today but it helps to write here.  Pls excuse me for not sounding very eloquent.  I'm not in the best of shape!

Maybe we can talk each other thru this "long weekend".  Post back here if you want to chat.

Take care!

Judy

[rodewc]

I know how you feel, Judy (Dancing).. Like Craaaaaaap.. So do I. It's day 1 and 1/2 here, and man it sux.. I thought maybe wine and a nice dinner but that holds no interest.. Only the puppy perks me up, she and her cat bros/sisses..

Anyway, I did have one Question as I was reading thru all this DEA stuff.. Does the DEA investigate what I consider "minor" addicts like we? I mean do they come after normal citizens who maybe used a cupla docs and pharmicies but did so w/ legit scripts? Thatz enuf to scare the beejeebies outta me.. on Top of trying to quit CT (when on toppa everything that damn puppy hound found 83 frickin' Vikes..)

And to think of alla those bezellion times I have torn the house apart for one spare pill just cause it twas too early to fill the script.

I too like F. and unfortunately have about 20 of those, for Migraines.

I swear, all this talk of DEA is enuf to give me a migraine, or mebbe I am Just lookin' for a reason to fall off the wagon I have barely gotten on. I am even afraid to take a Xanax for fear it will worsen the runs and weaken the willpower.

Chin up, Judy. We can do this?~

[Kat49]

Judy - I just read your post and didn't know you were going to go CT!  For me, that's the only way and I don't even have neurontin! You'll be just fine, believe me. You know I've done this 4 times, 3 without ANYTHING to help me! I strongly believe valium helps tremendously and phenergan suppositories for nausea. And don't forget our "friend" Imitrex, because if you can keep anything down for at least 1 hr., then pop one of those to start working on the MOFO headache that will ensue. I never had any seizures except the 1st time 2 yrs. ago I told all of you I had little black "things" floating by that resembled hairs and I was always thinking my dog was shedding all over the floor and would try to pick them up! hahahah Now that I look back, I believe those were small seizures. My son's medical book on brain activity states that after a patient has brain surgery they can experience that exact thing for up to a year and they put them on Dilantin or anything like that. It's considered a seizure, but mild. When I read that, I nearly died! But, I only read that right before the 4th time I tried to quit - he had all his books at his apt. at school. I think if I knew at the time, it may have given me more incentive to not go back. But, this other post above about the grandpa who died of kidney failure due to fiorinal is something I always knew about and I never quit because of that either!

It has it's claws in all of us and that's why we've all formed such a strong bond. Like the mother of 3 above - WELCOME by the way - her using 2/day isn't a big deal in my book. But, some day she'll maybe need 5 because the kids are REALLY driving her nuts and then it starts all over again.

I hope you're feeling better today hon! It's day 2 and that's always one of my best. After puking all of day 1 (about 30 hrs. after the last pill) I feel like the Amtrak Express hit me and backed up and hit me again! But, I feel calmer and more in touch with everything. And lest not forget the MOFO headache - I will have that for approx. 3-4 days. So, hang in there my friend and we'll talk soon. Huggggsssss to you - Kat

[LinnieSue]

Please be careful.......if you feel that badly maybe you could get a small amount of valium or zanax. It could take the edge off. I don't know how many you were taking but I do know what your going through. And there is always walk-in clinics if it gets too bad.Just make sure there is someone you can call.
Don't worry about posting .....just take care of yourself.

                                       Linda

[dancinginthedark]

Ladies!

I'm in cold turkey hell which is why I haven't replied to your posts.  Don't worry - I have plenty of neurontin in my system which is an anti-epileptic.  As per usual, I took (not) "as directed".  I CANNOT taper & I just finally got fed up & am going for it & we'll see what happens.

Only day 1 & I'm real nauseous...gotta go.  Linnie, I'm so glad you wrote & I will reply.  You & I are like 2 peas in a pod!

I promise to write later.  Wish me luck & yes, ladies, we can beat this.  Look at all you have accomplished in your lives, raising all those kids, working, etc.  Do you really think some stupid pills are stronger than you?  I know they are NOT.

Hugs & best wishes,

Judy

[LinnieSue]

I also want to say .....having a full time job with three little ones is like having four jobs. It's no wonder you have anxiety. When we take a pill we become superwoman......we think. And we try to do everything. You have to ask for help. I never did...I used the pills instead.Big mistake.
I don't know you situation.....but maybe you could work part time or ask for help with the children. You can't do everything alone. I know because that's what I did and I burned myself out.
                                 Take Care,
                                    Linnie

[LinnieSue]

Hi and welcome to the forum......I started out just like you. Three kids as well(All grown now). I think it's great that you tapered but now I guess the real work starts. I took them for migraines and found a whole new personality. It got me through all kinds of things. I took them for so long that I don't know  if I can totally get off of them.
I know what you mean when you say you don't know who you are because I have no idea who I am. The good part is your still young and you know what can happen.
I am fifty......and having a very hard time tapering because I feel like I'm tapering my personality as well.
There is so many wonderful people on the forum. You can also join us at Drugabuse.com.....under the fiorinal thread.
Check it out and post and everyone will be there for you.
I bet your a better person without the drug......we all are.
                         Stay with us,
                            LinnieSue

[mommyw3babies]

I have been reading your comments for quite some time (since your thread started in early fall last year) and I wanted to tell you that you have given me enormous strength and helped me more than you could realize.  I was up to 4/5 F per day and I am excited to say that through your advice (tapering) I am now down to 2/day.  This weekend I plan on going down to 1/day (scary...).  I have been taking Fioricet since I was 16 for migraines (I am 28 now).  I read all of your comments from your previous thread and I also took them eventually to feel more outgoing and confident at work and in social situations.  Then I would take them just to feel better...to change my mood?  I even wonder what my "real" personality is anymore.  I am terrified...what if my friends/husband, etc don't like the real me?  Crazy, huh?  

I could relate to everything that you have been saying.  These are things that no one can understand unless they have also been there.  I have three children under age 4 (2 are twins) and I have a full-time professional (and stressful!) career.  I had convinced myself that I could not survive without my little crutch...as you all put it, the boost effect that it provides (believe me with my life I need a lot of those).  It has just been part of my life for so long.  I read your stories of bravery and knew that I was headed down a path that would only get worse.  It has not been easy (to put it mildly)...but I am proud that I have made it to 2/day.  I wanted to tell you because I know that no one else in my life would understand what an accomplishment that is!  

I have been having so much trouble with mood swings/iritability and anexiety.  How long will it take for this to improve?  It is so hard with 3 little ones...I feel like I have no patience while going through this.

Thanks for listening and for being there.  I am so relieved to know that I am not alone and that I CAN do this.

[enigma0301]

yes you both are right... i know it is a controlled substance... from when i lived in pa.... and its very controlled there... but in texas it is written as a regular script... and they have triplekets also here and f is not on texas's controlled substance list... i know it is in the us  but texas has alot of laws  of there own that are different than everywhere else in the us.... cus when i 1st got here and they said it wasnt that about blew me away... cus i know in  pa (which i lived there all my life till 3 years ago..)and everywhere else it is controlled.. and i also know it is a class 3 drug... believe me i learned along time ago everything there was to know on this damn drug i had to so i knew how to get it.... i didnt get it cus i had headaches at the time... i got them cus u could get high from them.....  and from taking the f so much over the years i have headaches now all the time....and the little town i live in the dr's will give u what want ever u want basicly as long as they are getting paid.. sad but true.. cus i know in pa its harder than **** to get anything...and for right now i can deal with the anxiety.. but if it does get to bad i will ask for valium or something like it... to help...and  as with my bipolar no i know it hasnt helped with the meds that i take cus i always have to stop them so theres no iteraction between the different drugs... but i take  all my meds now ... cus i wont be takeing the f anymore... and im very lucky that my wife  always is standing by me and that she is very supportive... and i thank u all cus when i read the threads   that to also helps me each day....

hope everyone is having a good day...
enigma0301