Advice?

[cbfullofgrace24]

Hello, I seem to be getting varied answers about this so I thought I'd ask an expert. I have until this point been sporadically abusing fioricet (without codeine) and ambien (not usually at the same time as the fioricet.) I can go days or weeks without either and then go back to them. I know this is a problem and I am working on getting help for it. I had not taken the firoicet for a few months but got a script a week or so ago and took 4-8 pills a day (spread from morning to evening) for about six days then I stopped. I have been off them for four days with some anxiety and rebound headaches but seem to be doing well aside from that and have NO plan of going back to this med. this time (as it is clear that I cannot handle it.) Some members on here are telling me that I have to taper off and may get seizures, but since I took it for only 6 days and have been off for four days with low w/d effects would you suggest I start again and taper or can I continue to stay cold turkey (which I would prefer)?
Also, the ambien I had not taken in about ten days but when I got it this last time I was taking about 150-100mg per day for three days straight. I have been off this for almost two days now, again with no intention of getting more. I have had some anxiety but that is the worst of it so far. I have the same question about the ambien--do i need to taper or do you suggest I continue to remain cold turkey (which again, I would prefer.) I know my doses for both meds were high but they were both for a short time so I am figuring I am ok but would like some advice. Any thoughts you have would be helpful. Thank you.

[J T Junig, MD PhD]

I think you realize that you are playing with some serious fire.  At this point, you are probably best to stay away from both of them;  they both have relatively short half-lives in the body, and I don't see a need to taper them now, after a couple days have gone by.  I would anticipate that you have trouble sleeping for at least a few days, as your system accelerates in response to the lack of sedatives-- but you are likely well over the worst of that acceleration.

Your behavior is not all that unusual, by the way.  Many addicts describe months or even years of semi-controlled use of substances before becoming daily users.  I would encourage you to realize that there is a part of you that is struggling to tolerate 'life on life's terms'--- that is demanding a break from reality every now and then.  Most of use who became addicted made promises that we were through with taking things, but then violated the promises we made to ourselves.  Perhaps you can step back and see the use for what it is-- the early signs of a very dangerous, potentially chronic problem.  If you can realize that you simply must ALWAYS tolerate life-- no escape through pills, ever-- perhaps you can avoid the mess that many of us are forced to deal with for the rest of our lives.  I wish you the best-- take it serious, and learn from the mistakes that others have made.

[cbfullofgrace24]

Thank you:) That was really helpful