This is a very sneaky drug which nearly drove me nuts when getting off of it.
While on a trip to Asia I bought some over the counter 50 mg. Took a few a day for my back. Seemed to help.
That was a couple of years ago.
Recently I got some more from the same country for my back pain.
Took about 2 or so a day and felt 'OK' but also little whacked, like there was extra electricity in my brian.
I thought I had to take bigger amounts for more effective pain relief.
Results were: face itchy, dopey out of touch with people.
Was only taking about 4-6 50 mg per day but after a couple weeks it just was not doing me any good. Pain was the same really and I still felt sort of whacked out. Electric zaps in the head sheets of energy seemed locked up in my head and neck.
Then I decided to stop. so I took two and then none.
I was hit so hard by grief, anxiety and body aches. It felt like the devil was in me just dancing with my feelings and body !!!
The first night I woke to a terrifying nightmare, one that I could never replicate in any book or movie cause it was all personal and in my head. The following morning was more grief and crying over the divorce from my wife and small children two years ago which I thought i was pretty much over.
There was flu like body aches and my head felt like it had frozen jello in it. I was cold to the bone and sweaty.
By the second day I had read several posts here and realized I could have tapered off but did not want that poison in my body anymore, ever.
I told my wife about what was going on (she did not know I was taking it) and she was really surprised at the reaction. As a doctor she prescribes it more so than the harder opiates like Vicodin or Percocet because she feels they are relatively harmless in comparison. She said that the effects are not known to be harmful and that the med profession does not know about this drug or its effects.
I am 4 days off this crap and feel much better !!!
I am getting my own thoughts and identity back whereas I was possessed before. Chemically possessed.
These drug companies are only in for the money and could care less how the drugs affect people. When you really really understand that and know that they have no compassion for the souls of men you can begin to chose life and living even though you have pain. Embrace pain. Confront it and do all you can naturally to feel better be it diet, working out or just being more active with friends or family.
Hang in there. Get off all meds. Take lots of vitamins and drink lots of water while going through the hell and just know there is a much better way to live !!!!
Peace and love to all mankind