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356518 tn?1322263642

Anyone had to detox from their meds due to tolerance?

I am curious, has anyone here had to detox from all their meds due to tolerance issues? I know some people who have had to be hospitalized to take them off all of their meds to start over because their doses to treat their pain had gotten so high they could not increase anymore and wasn't getting any relief from the high does they were on. This is a scary thought to have to detox and start over, I stayed on the same dose for many years out of fear this would happen and my Dr finally encouraged me to go up 20 mg because I was hurting so bad. He says this problem of getting such high doses that I would no longer get relief and have no more options is a long long way off for me as I am only now taking 20 mg three times a day. it still is a scary thought though.
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501792 tn?1261111106
I defenitly hear where your coming from suec. Most DR's are concerned about increasing a dose too much but there are some DR's who feel it's more nessesary(though I have only heard about these DR's  but told they do infact exist...kind of like big foot)

None of us will ever feel pain free on opioids. DR's usually try to shoot for a lower number and help get us to function a little better. But trying to lower the pain too much I hear can lead to lower functioning because of side effects and can actually cause more pain.
I somtimes would love to have my pain more controlled(especially as of late) but is going up a dose really worth it when you open that can of worms?

My PM DR is very strict with medications and doesnt prescribe too much breakthrough medication unless I really need it. Sometimes I wish she was a little more generous but I try to understand she has my best interest in mind and knows I may be on and off of pain medication for a very long time so doesnt want me to build a tolerance up and have no other options left.  I appriciate that, although right now...not so excited about it.

Taking timed release pain medication is seen as the only option left when everything else has failed to work. I know I want to keep that option available for as long as I need it so I dont end up where I was before too soon.

I do wish that all the extra pain meds that some DR's are willing to prescribe could go to everyone who is still suffering with nothing available to them at all.
We lose far too may CP sufferers a year.  I wish PM treatment was consistent for all.
Like I said in my journal...if someone could just invent some sort of machine or meter that could read pain signals. Just put it on the area of the body that experiences pain and the meter will interperate the signals and read the pain "number" for us.
Seems doable to me. We have walked on the moon...
Oh geez that is so cliche, sorry everyone!


TMA
Helpful - 0
535884 tn?1270898471
I have had to detox twice as once my tolerance was overcoming any benifit I got from my medication. This was done in hospital over a two week period with supplement drugs to help, then changed to a new drug that worked well for a while.  But like us all our body adapts and we can no longer get the relief we need to lead life with a reasonable amount of quality.  The second time I moved interstate and my new PM Doc did not like the drugs I was on and decided to change me to a "cocktail" of drugs he approved of. This time it happened over the course of a week with not very much support and was extremely painful and I had all the withdrawal symtoms you see on TV with Heroine addicts. I would not wish this on my worst enemy!  I am currently seeking a new Dr as the one I have now has no qualms at all increasing my dosage and giving me anything I ask for. Which is NOT very helpful or a good answer when I am lookin to try and decrease my current meds or swap to something else. This I have found to be a good way of treating pain as it gives the body a different drug and seems to trick the brain allowing you to get better relief from lower doses. I think it rather irresponsible of Drs to just keep upping doses of narcotics willy nilly instead of helping their patients find a solution. If anyone has to detox I highly recomend finding a phsyician to help you do it responsibly in hospital where you can be monitored properly.
Helpful - 0
356518 tn?1322263642
I am taking extended release meds and the short acting of course for break thru pain. Some people can stay on an extended dose for longer amts of time than others I just stayed on the same extended dose for seven years fearing I would keep having to increase and be left with no options eventually. My PM made it very clear that is a long ways off as I am on a relatively low dose because I have been taking the same dosage for so long it wasn't helping me. The increase of 20 mg done wonders for me and that was a few months ago but I can already tell I am not doing as good on that dose anymore. It is a endless cycle that I am afraid will lead me to no relief in the end and that scares me. I am assured by my PM that I will not have to face that for a long time so that puts me at ease some but like TMA says the thought that it will happen is scary enough.
Helpful - 0
501792 tn?1261111106
Hi Sandee

I have been afraid of that possibility since I started Pain management. I always feel like increasing my dose is opening a can of worms and I eventually will run out of doses that will work. I've heard about it alot, giving your body a break, and know that some PM DR's like to do it once and a while. So I always let my DR know I dont want an increase in my meds since my pain has increased or the dose is losing it's full effectiveness.
Since my condition doesnt have a cure and in my case it has been so painful, I always worry that the pain will never go away and I'll have to be on and off pain meds until a cure is found, a treatment actually works, or for the rest of my life.
I've been in PM for about 3 years(maybe 2 1/2) and have managed to avoid increasing my long acting meds but know if I cant find something to work I'll either have to take a break(really serious ouch!!!)so I can continue taking the same dose or raise it which I really dont want to do. 3 years is nothing in the world of Chronic Pain...thats very overwhelming to me since I've lost so much and I'm already so tired.
I think the withdrawls would be somewhat tolerable if I was weened off or given support
medications. But the pain would be excrushiating and that is what is so scary. Having to live in pain.
I know we will all eventaully have to take a break and sometimes I really want one because I'm so sick and tired of taking pills, but then the pain always pops up to remind me what its capable of  and I realize the position I am in.
The thought that keeps me up at night is will I ever be in a position to go off, or is this my life?
I guess it's a question that bleeds into alot of the other issues, anxities and stress about taking narcotic pain meds.

TMA
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
what meds are taking that have been increased. most pain docs will just put you on a longer acting med (extended release
Helpful - 0
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