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when do you start feeling better
hello all i was taking vik-hp for 6 months ,about 150 a week and its been 22 days since i took anything my question is im still not 100% is it normal to still have the runs and not sleeping and the felling of dispear my dr. not really helping me with this hole thing i just stoped taking them which was dumb i thought i was going to die the frist few days any help well be great thanks michael
i take the valium when i try getting off oxy to take the heebie jeebies away and to try and get a little sleep.they were prescibed for back pain causing twitches in my leg.trying the ultram today started with 100 mg won't take any more for at least 6-8 hrs,i heard about people getting the headaches like you said. i'll see what happens. thanks!
fatigue is a very common opiate withdrawal symptom. It just takes time to get beyond it, possibly a few weeks. But if you haven't solved the pain problem, I'd think you'd want to find a way to use your pain relievers without them bringing you down. Chronic pain, all by itself, can be extremely depressing. It certainly is for me. But the suicide factor suggests to me that your depression is a separate, more profound problem than your pain. Can you find a psychotherapist to talk to? You need to make that first connection in your new location somehow. The right one could do wonders for you. I would think there'd be some professionals who focus on pain patients with depression. You'd save a lot of time if you found one.
If I'm not mistaken, Ultram comes in a 50mg tablet, so they're saying eight a day -- pretty standard. Just go slow for two reasons: 1) Ultram has a long half-life, which tends to make its effect additive, one dose layers on top of the last, and you can wind up more medicated than you intended; 2) Ultram is not an opiate, and an impending overdose doesn't "feel" like an opiate overdose. For example, you take too much vicodin, or a second dose too close to the last, and you usually know it by getting very drowsy (otherwise know as happy) and falling asleep, thus limiting your overdosage; Ultram overdosage doesn't bring on much drowsiness, so you don't really know you've gone too far until you suddenly experience weird spatial perceptions, headaches, sweating, and a sort of claustrophobic feeling. Next stop, Ultram seizure. Not recommended by the manufacturer (or me).
I used Valium for years when I could weedle some out of a doctor just as a little booster for the opiates. I didn't get hooked until I had disk problems and started taking them on top of the vics to boost the effect. Bad idea. Seemed nice at the time, though. If 4 5mg's a day ever stop making you a zombie, you should think about stopping. They will sneak up on you. You'll start needing them for less and less "stress" or muscle pain, or whatever you use them for. Tolerance seems to stay level for a long while, then escalates dramatically, doubling your dosage tolerance in a month or less, doubling it again a month or so later. Exact dosages stop meaning much. If I took some now, 2mg would drop me, as it should. When I was hooked for about a year, I could take 40mg at once and carry right on to the next dose a few hours later. When I switched to Klonopin (in my humble opinion, the Rolls-Royce of benzos), right out of the gate, I could, and did, take whopping doses.
The thing that makes benzos, in my opinion, generally more hazardous than opiates is that they tend to have the same sort of "dis-inhibiting" effect that alcohol has. Opiates don't change my behavior, don't make me do things or make decisions I wouldn't have sober. I can't say the same for benzos. Being hooked on a drug that encourages you to act impulsively is not good in my book. Have you ever done or said anything after taking Valium that you later regretted? If the answer is yes, I'd think about getting a new drug.
Valium fails the tom-litmus test for drugs, which is, does it change my behavior or my decision-making abilities? Do I take part in activities or hang with people I wouldn't if not on this drug? Will it cause me to shirk my normal responsibilities, such as showing up for work or attending to the physical or emotional needs of my family? A yes to any of those questions puts that drug on my don't-do list. All benzo's have been on my don't-do list since 1994 and will stay there. I hope that helps, Vic. See ya.
I used Valium for years when I could weedle some out of a doctor just as a little booster for the opiates. I didn't get hooked until I had disk problems and started taking them on top of the vics to boost the effect. Bad idea. Seemed nice at the time, though. If 4 5mg's a day ever stop making you a zombie, you should think about stopping. They will sneak up on you. You'll start needing them for less and less "stress" or muscle pain, or whatever you use them for. Tolerance seems to stay level for a long while, then escalates dramatically, doubling your dosage tolerance in a month or less, doubling it again a month or so later. Exact dosages stop meaning much. If I took some now, 2mg would drop me, as it should. When I was hooked for about a year, I could take 40mg at once and carry right on to the next dose a few hours later. When I switched to Klonopin (in my humble opinion, the Rolls-Royce of benzos), right out of the gate, I could, and did, take whopping doses.
The thing that makes benzos, in my opinion, generally more hazardous than opiates is that they tend to have the same sort of "dis-inhibiting" effect that alcohol has. Opiates don't change my behavior, don't make me do things or make decisions I wouldn't have sober. I can't say the same for benzos. Being hooked on a drug that encourages you to act impulsively is not good in my book. Have you ever done or said anything after taking Valium that you later regretted? If the answer is yes, I'd think about getting a new drug.
Valium fails the tom-litmus test for drugs, which is, does it change my behavior or my decision-making abilities? Do I take part in activities or hang with people I wouldn't if not on this drug? Will it cause me to shirk my normal responsibilities, such as showing up for work or attending to the physical or emotional needs of my family? A yes to any of those questions puts that drug on my don't-do list. All benzo's have been on my don't-do list since 1994 and will stay there. I hope that helps, Vic. See ya.
Tom, Thanks. You always seem to be out there with some information. Will go slow.Says no more than 400 mgs a day! Seems like a lot.How long did it take to get hooked on the benzos? Were you taking many?I am prescibed 5mg valium. 4 a day. Never take that much, i'd be a zombie. I heard they are the WORST to detox from.
I've been on some type of opiates and benzodiazapines since approximately 1983 due to a neck injury. I functioned great up until 1997...no matter how much I took..the pain was still there and I just came extremely despondent. I tried to commit suicide on 10/19 last year and luckily I was found before I made it. I was taken to a psych hospital to withdraw from all the meds and help with the depression and was out in about 3 weeks. Its been almost a year now and the depression is still here. I was also put back on pain meds...was taking Oxycontin 320 mg/day and 40mg/day of valium. I have decided to take myself off this garbage...can't see any light at the end of the tunnel while I'm on this...but am also wondering whether there will ever be any light after I stop? Has anyone else experienced extreme fatigue and weakness, and if so, how long has it lasted? I know I can get more pain meds anytime I want...but I really want to get better and be drug free. I'm just having a heck of a time dealing with this extreme weakness...I live alone and have just moved to a new location so there is no help for me. Any suggestions are greatly appreciated.
Although I have never had the pleasure of withdrawing from oxycodone, I'd have to say yes, absolutely. The first 2 or 3 times on Ultram felt like a gooood old fashioned opiate. I was really quite elated at discovering it. After that, the "opiate-like" sensation literally disappeared, replaced with headache and nausea (oh, yes, and a seizure -- I almost forgot). So, if you haven't used Ultram before, or even if you have, I'd say it would have to ease the oxy withdrawals somewhat, but it would be unrealistic to expect it to do more than take the edge off. From everything I hear, this oxy seems to be on a par with morphine.
But, valarie, please listen to me when I tell you this -- DON'T TAKE MORE THAN 2 OF THESE AT A TIME. GOT IT? Any more than that is really quite dangerous. I scared the **** out of myself when I experimented with 4 (I weigh about 185 lbs.) and found myself passed out on my sun deck in my bathrobe in the middle of the day, with no idea how long I'd been there. I still have no memory of losing consciousness. It was one of the two scariest things that have ever happened to me drug-wise, the other being a seizure while withdrawing from benzos (valium, etc.) and I've been doing rx drugs for 27 years. I am lucky to be alive.
If you take them, be aware that Ultram takes about twice the time to kick in as, say, vicodin or codeine or, I suppose, oxycodone. Don't get impatient and take a second dose sooner than, say, 3-4 hours. The effect will build gently, with the second dose really bringing on that opiate sensation. But Be careful. If you get a headache - stop. I think it could be considered a sign of overdose.
But, valarie, please listen to me when I tell you this -- DON'T TAKE MORE THAN 2 OF THESE AT A TIME. GOT IT? Any more than that is really quite dangerous. I scared the **** out of myself when I experimented with 4 (I weigh about 185 lbs.) and found myself passed out on my sun deck in my bathrobe in the middle of the day, with no idea how long I'd been there. I still have no memory of losing consciousness. It was one of the two scariest things that have ever happened to me drug-wise, the other being a seizure while withdrawing from benzos (valium, etc.) and I've been doing rx drugs for 27 years. I am lucky to be alive.
If you take them, be aware that Ultram takes about twice the time to kick in as, say, vicodin or codeine or, I suppose, oxycodone. Don't get impatient and take a second dose sooner than, say, 3-4 hours. The effect will build gently, with the second dose really bringing on that opiate sensation. But Be careful. If you get a headache - stop. I think it could be considered a sign of overdose.
I have read about ultram in this forum and know it can be addictive.But..can it help take the edge off during the first hellish week of oxycontin withdrawl.I know many of you out their are quite knowledgable in this area.I have read hours of posts here,and not to be disrespectful, am just looking for a specific answer. Iknow I need medical supervision and a support group etc. But if anyone can answer this I would REALLY appreciate it. Thank you so m,uch and the best of luck to all.I say this sincerely.Tom? Somebody?
Mike, didn't have your symptoms, but felt like death - still do sometimes!
Well, I read your comments and I have been looking for an answer to help me through withdrawls. I had been taking my best friends pills for about 5 months until I ripped my back muscles playing soccer, then I had injections and was administered 3 different types of painkillers, which I proceeded to snort rather than ingest. Follwing it down with bottles of brandy and burbon-whiskey I was killing myself, and I thought of death every day. I am currently going through withdrawls, and I will admit that I have lied on several occasions to my fiancee. It got so bad that I was snorting asprin just so that I had something up my nose. Nightmares and coke dreams are frequent and they immediately send me into fits of fright and anger. I want to rip my fiancee's skin apart sometimes because when I am drug deprived I am so angry, and it hurts so bad. He is so understanding, and loving - I find that during withdrawls a part of me is thanking him for helping me and another part of me hates him for helping me too. I realize that this is a disease and that I can get through this with the Lord's grace and my fiancee's support, I am strong enough...it's just that sometimes it hurts so bad...
I totally understand what you are going through, just be there for each other, and your relationship will get stronger too.
Thank you for your time,
Toni Lynn Sailors
Well, I read your comments and I have been looking for an answer to help me through withdrawls. I had been taking my best friends pills for about 5 months until I ripped my back muscles playing soccer, then I had injections and was administered 3 different types of painkillers, which I proceeded to snort rather than ingest. Follwing it down with bottles of brandy and burbon-whiskey I was killing myself, and I thought of death every day. I am currently going through withdrawls, and I will admit that I have lied on several occasions to my fiancee. It got so bad that I was snorting asprin just so that I had something up my nose. Nightmares and coke dreams are frequent and they immediately send me into fits of fright and anger. I want to rip my fiancee's skin apart sometimes because when I am drug deprived I am so angry, and it hurts so bad. He is so understanding, and loving - I find that during withdrawls a part of me is thanking him for helping me and another part of me hates him for helping me too. I realize that this is a disease and that I can get through this with the Lord's grace and my fiancee's support, I am strong enough...it's just that sometimes it hurts so bad...
I totally understand what you are going through, just be there for each other, and your relationship will get stronger too.
Thank you for your time,
Toni Lynn Sailors
you guys have been great i just wish i found this site on day one i did try to stop a few times in the past few months but was having alot of problems the main one was my dr. would just keep giving me the drugs this all started from a kick boxing injury i got fighting in n.y.c. so i got the pills and then started felling great so great a started fighting while i was on the drugs and really massed up my body the so this is what happend my dr goes on vacatin for 3 weeks and that was it no other dr in my area would hook me up so i was screwed the dr. who was on call said forget it your on your own my wife said i told you so and that was that again thank you all michael
Congratulations. You are one of the few. I go in to a 16 day rehab 12 Sept. I am already feeling better just knowing I made the comitment. I feel like I can talk to family I have been avoiding for 5 months. I think it's because I know that I took a big step, and at least now can come out from hiding. I know I am going to get sick when I stop, but am nearly looking foreward to that. Life has gotten so bad that I am looking foreward to anything different, even withdrawl. I am taking 200 mg oxycontin a day, and I am a mess. I tried to hide the addiction all along, and after today I really don't care who knows. Igot evaluated today at a rehab center, They are booked up till the 12th, but I got accepted. I want to feel better so bad that I am almost welcoming the withdrawl. I know what it feels like too, been there. Hang in there Michael. The day you feel better may be tomorrow.
The amount you have taken and the strength of the narc have alot to do with the amount of time it takes to feel normal or human as I like to call it. I'm interested on what made you stop. Was it by choice? If you have made it for the past 22 days and have not relapsed you should give yourself a huge pat on the back. Unfortunately, it does take time to get back into a regular sleep pattern and you should be taking Imodium for the runs. Do you have any support? Believe me, I have seen so much love and support on this forum that it will really help you if you keep us posted. This will probably be the hardest thing you ever have to do so stay strong!!! I wish you relief soon.
you should be soooooo proud of yourself..it is a hard road my friend....you are past the really bad part...around 30 days seems the sun starts to shine again...my prayers are with you...go excersise my freind
I admire you for being able to quit on your own! I was addicted to a much more potent pain med and it took me about three months to start feeling better. My doctor was not much help either. I hung out at NA and AA for a while and that was a big help. Even after being off narcotics for six years the craving still pops up at times. Hang in there, please. You are doing OK and time will heal you. Don't give in to it now!
Michael I started feeling better after about three weeks. Not 100 % but better. Its now been 55 days and I do feel normal at last. I exercise as much as I can. I can finally say that I do not mis my long term opiate addiction. I did have the help of an addiction specialist who used buprenorphine for my withdrawl. I used this drug for the first three days with great results. Good luck Bob K
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