[Prewmullins]

I've been taking hydrocodone for almost ten years now. I think the main thing is to find some level of control. Anyone who takes painkillers has a time or two that it gets unbearable. We've all gone through the sweats and shakes and tingles. Hell... you name it, I've tried it. Believe me, there are a lot worse things that can happen to you than an addiction to painkillers. Not to say that it's something to take lightly, but it really could be worse. The most important thing to remember is that no matter how bad it seems to get, there is always someone out there with much bigger problems. I've found that with a certain level of control it doesn't have to be a "problem". Not to say that my view is for everyone, for some the best thing to do is to get the hell off of the dope, but I've found that moderation works for me.

[justtobe]

Sittting here going through the post it's good to know i'm not alone, i sit here and wonder what to do i have been on lortab 7.5 for 2 years taking 6 or 7 a day, i am on them for various chronic back problems, i always said i wouldn't ever get in this situation as my mother is and has been for 35 years. Don't get me wrong i do have bad pain but i take them when i don't just to feel good and get through the day and can't make it through one day without them. I want help but i guess it's like quitting smoking i'm afraid to be without them cause i've depended on them for so lone, maybe not as long as some people though. I tried to talk to my husband this morning about it and he's Mr.do no wrong so all he done was chew me out and critize me. Where i work at it's like drug planet everyone is on something so it's hard being around it and not do it. I know i have to come off of these but i'm really scared if that makes any sense, does anyone have any advise.

[totolyozmtoo]

Hi everybody I was addicted to lortab after being in a car accident about 5 years ago. I was prescribed lortab 10 for chronic back pain, and have been on it ever since. I was abusing it and built such a tolerance to it, I was taking 20-30 a day. It got to the point where I even felt lousy when I had the drug, I no longer got the "high" from it. I tried to quit cold turkey and the withdrawls are unbelieveable. I began seeking help for addiction.

I have been on methadone treatment for 53 days now, and I cant say enough good things about it! The first several days, I had some withdrawl symptoms such as achiness and cramps, but NOTHING like going cold turkey. And then after the first few days, its like you come out of the darkness and into the light. You feel normal again. You can think and FEEL again! I know I heard alot of horror stories about methadone, it can be abused like any other narcotic. But if you are sick enough of being a drug addict like I was, you can have the willpower to get through it. Even though I still have some back pain (the methadone does help that also) I am willing to live through that to be drug free. I started out on 50mgs a day, and have lowered to 45mgs. Hopefully in 6mos as this rate I will be totally drug free I was also assigned a counsler to help through the rough times. The cost of my treatment is $11 a day, which is nothing compared to what I was spending on lortabs (I was prescribed 180 lortabs a month by my doctor but I would run out in a little over a week and would have to buy off the street).

About a week into my treatment my husband left me. He couldnt handle learning about all the money I spent when I was an addict, and all the lies I told. I couldnt lie anymore. I told him and my parents and sister everything. He knew I was taking pain medicine, but he had no idea the extint of my addiction. It was like a weight being lifted telling my family about my addiction. It hurts that he couldnt have stuck with me when I needed him most. I wish he could be more understanding and compassionate, but I guess it was not meant to be. My parents and my sister have been very understanding and helpful though. They have shown me the meaning of unconditional love. And my counsler is helping me through my seperation with my husband (and ultimate divorce, I have tried to reconcile with him and he does not want to try). The guilt I had was overwhelming. How did I get to the point of addiction? What kind of mother and role model was I to my children? I felt of course that I tore my family apart. But she is helping me through this. She said that I am a perfectly decent role model to my children...that I am human and had a problem, and that I am facing my problem.

Even if you decide to go cold turkey, I highly recommend getting some kind of counsling also. Alot of the addiction is in your mind. Being on methadone, and slowly weaning myself off gives me the time to change my way of thinking. Even if you quit cold turkey and your body no longer craves the drug, your mind still will.

I wish you all the best of luck, I understand what you are going through. I hope you all can get the help you need, and try to be positive. I try to look at it as starting my life over and bettering myself. I had little if any self esteem left when I started treatment, and I am gaining more self respect everyday. I am happy to answer any questions anyone may have about methadone, just email me.
Deb

[wifestyles]

Justobe/Deb:

Justobe, hubands can be so nasty and unsupportive; when their wives have issues, especially with pills we wives become 'weak'...how in the world can girls let little pills control them, we should just 'deal with it and keep on keeping on', however as women our way of dealing with things it to talk to our husbands, look for their support...yes, during our weak times ESPECIALLY. But if its Thurs and Wed was beer-gettin' day, my husband has a fit. Quit smoking? Am I nuts??? But them boys ain't weak, nah. I flat out told my husband if he said anything that resembled a stuck up, better-than-thou attitude I would punch him and leave him, which sucks cause I didn't want to have to tell him to be supportive...and women constantly account for their husbands level of comfort. I just don't get it. If you need an email buddy, Justtobe, email me okay? I'm usually around the 'puter most of time, and I know what I needed most when I quit was somebody 'on call' 24/7...for whatever I deemed neccessary...

That is absolutely some of the best news I've ever heard about someone I don't know! Good for you Deb! I thought my dr was nuts for giving me 100 vicodin a month, but 180???? Good grief! Thats exactly where I was mentally when I decided I needed/had to quit...ya take so much and it doesn't work and I just couldn't afford a habit much less one that now required twice the $ and pills too- I have been narcotic free for 2 weeks now, I do take pain med for my knee but its not narcotics (which doesn't mean much, some of the more addicting ones aren't narcs), so I'm real proud of myself...I made a goal to stay AWAY from the medicines I knew I would have trouble with- Ultram mainly, and then vicodin when I ran out of those. This forum has been my counseling, and has been doing a pretty good job at it.

Deb, congratulations on regaining your new and old life again...once you get off pills you realize that its not as bad as you might have imagined it to be without them...I went thru a year of being on pills, couldn't stop, but KNEW in the back of my head that I had lived 25 years without them already, but I just couldn't stop wanting them. Somewhere in quitting, there is a moment of realization, and I'm so thankful for that, and feel so blessed to have realized this and fortunate to have the conscience to want to quit, in enough time to save myself.

[6PM]

Here's what's going on now.
I went off the painkillers for seven days, started to think clearly again, and realized that I was I was much happier emotionally. Only problem is, my chronic pain kept me in bed. I had to grab a Percocet and take it. I didn't want to, but I had to get out of bed. Now, my wife is supporting me and helping me monitor my dose. I'm taking it ONLY when I need it now, because I realized when I was off it, that I enjoyed the feeling of being OFF the meds rather than being ON them. I still get 120 per month but have only taken two pills in four days. I'm much happier now, and realize I can live without the pills. I'm also going to talk to my doctor about switching from Percocet to Ultracet.

[capitalbob]

Hi all, After 10 years of in and out abuse of various opiates - from vics to percs to oxys, I ordered an herbal supplement that I saw advertised in a local pennytrader magazine - it was advertised to "help stop narcotic withdrawl symptoms" it was only $50 - I ordered, tried everything else in the past. Surprisingly....it actually seems to help me, not just the physical symptons but it seems to take away my cravings to - well between taking that for the last 26 days, and support from reading others war stories on this message board and others i have been good - after writing i realize this sounds like an advertisement, but just honestly interested in helping others who have suffered the same - if you want to contact them there email is herbaltechnologies @ yahoo.com - if I find there website again, ill post it - thanks all

[wifestyles]

GREAT for you 6! Its a good feeling to feel like you control the pills, instead of vice versa... I bet that took a lot of willpower and a dang good ol' wife! Hee hee I know I had a good ol' husband of mine help me, and its a wonderful feeling knowing you have somebody supportive.

CapitalBob, if you get back onto forum anytime soon, whats in those herbal pills? I know I've thought about taking St. Johns Wort...wondering if its the same thing?

[capitalbob]

Hi wifestyles, I am not certain of the exact mix of herbs in this product, it is advertised as being specifically formulated "for opiate narcotic withdrawl". I used a 30 day supply in 25 days, and honestly feel much better - noticeably after taking the product. As soon as the new bottle arrives I will post the exact herbs that are in their. It helped me with most of the common physical symptons, and I have been much better w/ cravings and anxiety, which to me are the 2 biggest issues. Actually it helped quell that whole crawling out of yoru skin feeling that comes with the first 4 or 5 days also. It is hard to pinpoint what is helping with what, but after 10 years off and on, so far this is the only noticeable form of relief that appears to kick in an hour after I take it. That could be just me. Have you tried St. John's Wort? What does that hep with? Thanks

[totolyozmtoo]

Hey again everybody I've read your posts, and am inspired by alot of you.

Jewelda: Your wife already has one HUGE thing going for her and thats YOU. You dont know what it means just to have family, especially a spouse, sympathize and support you. Don't ever condemn her and she will be open and honest with you and probably love you more than ever.

Wifestyles: Your advice and attention on this board is wonderful. Your an angel You're right my husband thought I was weak, and that I should just quit. It wasn't that easy, especially as bad off as I was. Your information is useful and you don't judge and are very open with your own life experiences. Thank you for taking the time to help people, including me. You are a strong woman and I look up to you

Justtobe: Whatever you do, don't beat yourself up. Your special and as good as ANYONE, including your husband. I respect you for seeing a problem and wanting to do something about it instead of following along with your coworkers. You are not doing too bad taking 6-7 a day. If you want to get off of them just cut down to 5-6 a day for several days, then 4-5 ect. and supplement with aleve or ibuprofen. There are also lots of support groups and call centers in my city that I called that had medical advice for me too. Believe me, I was ALOT worse than you, and your life can turn around. I used to beat myself up alot too and it makes the situation worse.

I'm so glad I found this forum. Thanks again everyone for your openness and advice, its priceless.
Deb

[Sunflower98422]

Well.. I am not sure how much help I may be for you on this subject but, I definitly know what your(friend)is going through.. If people could see and FEEL the affects of what pain killers can do to you if not taken properly. I bet the hydrocodone comany would fo out of bussiness.. Anyhow, I am a married 32yr old mother of 3.. I worked full time at a local hopital and was severely addicted to Vicodon.. I have been taking hydrocodone meds for approx. 8 years and was taking up to 40-50 ES pills a day.. I know longer was getting a high from them, I was just taking the sickness away.. My whole life revolved around these pills and my financial cituation has been another issue.. I spent thousands of dollars on these pills (this year alone, $15,000 approx.) You may wonder how so much in just a few months. (I have been pill free since June 2004)I had many ways of getting them but if all else failed, I took to the streets to buy them.. Sometimes I payed $10.00 a pill x 40 a day. Not only was I hurting my health by taking them, who knows where they were coming from or who had handled them.. Needless to say, I had a wake up call when I had to have a minor emergency surgery and the was nothing they could give me for the pain. The ER DR. had gave me Demoral, 5 shots of Morphine and I was still screaming of the pain.. My blood pressure was so low that he could not give me anymore pain meds.. Working at a hospital(None of the pills I ever had came from my job) in Radiology, I have seen people who are in such pain after they have a intervenus morphine pump and still screaming because of the pain.. I said to myself, either I am going to continue revolving my life (every, minute, hour etc) over these pills or I am going to do something about it. I was very suicidle at this point and it WAS the HARDEST thing I have ever gone through, I don't wish this addication on my worst enemy but I was not going to let my kids see me this way another day.. I was starting to get into other drugs at this point and I knew that this had to stop.. I went to see a counsilor and I hadn't had any pills in two days at this point. I was vomitting and my vital signs were showing it.. (Blood Pressure, Temp.etc.. ) I would not have made it to my appt. at this point if it weren't for my kids looking me in my eye saying mom please get help.. When I went there, I was very honest and open with him and when asked if I was using any other street drugs etc at this time, I said yes. Methamphetamines and Vics..That is heart attack poison etc.. My husband knew nothing about this particular drug at the time but here was my one chance to clean my life up..So, I layed it all on the line and admitted I had a severe problem. I had quit my job over this, lost a good physician and had been "red flagged" by every pharmacy in my city..I was reconized as a Narcotic Abuser or AKA Drug user. That's pretty embarrising alone and to top it off, my father was a Detective Sgt. for the County and uncle chief of police for a nearby town, I come from a long line of family memebers in law enforcement including my brother and step father.. This was not something I have grown up around so that made it even tougher.. But, I knew I had to do something before it was to late.. I was addmitted into a Detox Facility (I went 45 miles away from home town) and when being admitted they dropped a bombed on me and told me know contact with hubby or kids for like 7 days.. I freaked because this was my support and without them I didn't think I could do it. I was treated with meds for the vicodon addiction becasue that is more of a physical addication(withdraws are physicaly bad) and was treated for meth AKA. Speed, Crystal meth. ) Also.. That addiction was easier to treat because a couple days of sleep usually helps but that is more of a mind addiction.. Either way, It was bad. They gave me meds so I wasn't sick and I slept for 4 nights/days while I was there and I signed myself out on the sixth day (not recommended) due to a issue I had with them but I followed up with a outpt. counsilor.. 3 x week and I have been DRUG free for almost six months.. I kept this treatment and other things from alot of my family because it was my problem and I felt that some family members didn't have to know.. You have to be strong and willing to go through a couple tough days but it does get better and I do recommend that if at all possible admit yourself to a center because between the meds and just getting away from the atmosphere your in.. Your treatment will go alot smoother.. Otherwise, if the addiction is really bad and you treat it on your own. (only you know if that is possible) Plan on being pretty much bed ridden and probably sick for at least a couple of weeks.. I am not even close to being a Dr. This is just my opinion and either route is going to be hard but be determined and strong and you can do it.. Trust me you will feel so much better when you don't revolve your life anymore around that pill.. Think of your health and what if there ever came a time when you really needed pain meds.. And there was nothing they could do.. Because, your pain tolerence was so high that there wasn't strong enough meds to treat it.. I thought in my situation that there was something else they could give me but found out the hard way.. Anyhow, I hope that I may have helped in some way and if nothing else this was my story and I am proud of myself for doing it.. (It's not over yet but it's getting better everyday) Good luck.. And please remember that you don't have to explain to anyone that you don't want about what's going on. You are doing this to better your life and that is all that needs to be said.. I know that if I can do it.. You can to.. If you would like to chat sometime, feel free to e-mail me..
Good luck...
32, Muskegon, Michigan

Jenn

[Sunflower98422]

Message Preview
Well.. I am not sure how much help I may be for you on this subject but, I definitly know what your going through.. If people could see and FEEL the affects of what pain killers can do to you if not taken properly. I bet the hydrocodone comany would fo out of bussiness.. Anyhow, I am a married 32yr old mother of 3.. I worked full time at a local hopital and was severely addicted to Vicodon.. I have been taking hydrocodone meds for approx. 8 years and was taking up to 40-50 ES pills a day.. I know longer was getting a high from them, I was just taking the sickness away.. My whole life revolved around these pills and my financial cituation has been another issue.. I spent thousands of dollars on these pills (this year alone, $15,000 approx.) You may wonder how so much in just a few months. (I have been pill free since June 2004)I had many ways of getting them but if all else failed, I took to the streets to buy them.. Sometimes I payed $10.00 a pill x 40 a day. Not only was I hurting my health by taking them, who knows where they were coming from or who had handled them.. Needless to say, I had a wake up call when I had to have a minor emergency surgery and the was nothing they could give me for the pain. The ER DR. had gave me Demoral, 5 shots of Morphine and I was still screaming of the pain.. My blood pressure was so low that he could not give me anymore pain meds.. Working at a hospital(None of the pills I ever had came from my job) in Radiology, I have seen people who are in such pain after they have a intervenus morphine pump and still screaming because of the pain.. I said to myself, either I am going to continue revolving my life (every, minute, hour etc) over these pills or I am going to do something about it. I was very suicidle at this point and it WAS the HARDEST thing I have ever gone through, I don't wish this addication on my worst enemy but I was not going to let my kids see me this way another day.. I was starting to get into other drugs at this point and I knew that this had to stop.. I went to see a counsilor and I hadn't had any pills in two days at this point. I was vomitting and my vital signs were showing it.. (Blood Pressure, Temp.etc.. ) I would not have made it to my appt. at this point if it weren't for my kids looking me in my eye saying mom please get help.. When I went there, I was very honest and open with him and when asked if I was using any other street drugs etc at this time, I said yes. Methamphetamines and Vics..That is heart attack poison etc.. My husband knew nothing about this particular drug at the time but here was my one chance to clean my life up..So, I layed it all on the line and admitted I had a severe problem. I had quit my job over this, lost a good physician and had been "red flagged" by every pharmacy in my city..I was reconized as a Narcotic Abuser or AKA Drug user. That's pretty embarrising alone and to top it off, my father was a Detective Sgt. for the County and uncle chief of police for a nearby town, I come from a long line of family memebers in law enforcement including my brother and step father.. This was not something I have grown up around so that made it even tougher.. But, I knew I had to do something before it was to late.. I was addmitted into a Detox Facility (I went 45 miles away from home town) and when being admitted they dropped a bombed on me and told me know contact with hubby or kids for like 7 days.. I freaked because this was my support and without them I didn't think I could do it. I was treated with meds for the vicodon addiction becasue that is more of a physical addication(withdraws are physicaly bad) and was treated for meth AKA. Speed, Crystal meth. ) Also.. That addiction was easier to treat because a couple days of sleep usually helps but that is more of a mind addiction.. Either way, It was bad. They gave me meds so I wasn't sick and I slept for 4 nights/days while I was there and I signed myself out on the sixth day (not recommended) due to a issue I had with them but I followed up with a outpt. counsilor.. 3 x week and I have been DRUG free for almost six months.. I kept this treatment and other things from alot of my family because it was my problem and I felt that some family members didn't have to know.. You have to be strong and willing to go through a couple tough days but it does get better and I do recommend that if at all possible admit yourself to a center because between the meds and just getting away from the atmosphere your in.. Your treatment will go alot smoother.. Otherwise, if the addiction is really bad and you treat it on your own. (only you know if that is possible) Plan on being pretty much bed ridden and probably sick for at least a couple of weeks.. I am not even close to being a Dr. This is just my opinion and either route is going to be hard but be determined and strong and you can do it.. Trust me you will feel so much better when you don't revolve your life anymore around that pill.. Think of your health and what if there ever came a time when you really needed pain meds.. And there was nothing they could do.. Because, your pain tolerence was so high that there wasn't strong enough meds to treat it.. I thought in my situation that there was something else they could give me but found out the hard way.. Anyhow, I hope that I may have helped in some way and if nothing else this was my story and I am proud of myself for doing it.. (It's not over yet but it's getting better everyday) Good luck.. And please remember that you don't have to explain to anyone that you don't want about what's going on. You are doing this to better your life and that is all that needs to be said.. I know that if I can do it.. You can to.. If you would like to chat sometime, feel free to e-mail me..
Good luck...
32, Muskegon, Michigan

Jenn


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Jenn

[wifestyles]

Ya damn skippy. Thats one of the most moving posts I have ever read, from start to finish. I totally believe people sharing their stories helps everybody, and a little example of how yours helped me:

In my own horrible self-judgement of my habit (and this will never change), my pill addiction was THE worst and intense addiction ever, worse than anyone elses. And sunflower, not to degrade you or make you feel horrible, but reading your post and what you have been through made me feel not so bad about my own problems, if you can understand that and why I am saying this??? We all have our own degrees of judging ourselves; some people smoke crack daily and don't have an issue with it and are proud of it, whereas some people are in the same room with it, don't touch it and have a nervous breakdown because somehow their lack of good judgement allowed themselves to be in the same room with 'crack smokers'...

I hate to hear that you went thru that, and believe me I know it wasn't intentional especially with you having babies- but after reading it I feel so proud of myself, just speaking of my personal battle know, and my God granted ability to just quit, without seeking rehab or other medicinal treatment. So from a somewhat selfish perspective, thank you. Thank you for your story and genuine honesty, and allowing me to feel better about myself, by reading your experience of hell.

And to illustrate a further 'ripple effect'- I wish I would've had your story about a week ago...we had a local guy overdose on Oxycontin, trying to get the pain pill buzz and it KILLED him. He didn't have a chance to go to rehab. No chance for medical treatment of his problem, or detox. He's dead. More than likely your story wouldn't have affected him at all, cause I know how it is with pills, ya don't want to hear people whining at you. But WHAT IF? And there's no telling now. So Sunflower, your story very well could stand between a choice of quitting or death for some people, even with the description of the hell you've been through. I don't think people realize the so lack of regard for ourselves that we pill heads have- is it gonna be just another 1/2 pill that kills us? (in a literal sense, and descriptive sense) Or a whole one? And so often, we just say 'oh we'll see'...cause we want that buzz. We get that buzz, know we can handle that extra pill and then somehow we're up to a BIG # of pills a day.

I've gotta get off here now,

thanks to all of you who post here, and that come out of this sickness with the want to help others with the same sickness...I know for damn sure, I never thought a website would be helping me, much less people I didn't know!

And Sunflower, congratulations on beating the pills, and staying on top of things!

[rich7501]

[font=Arial][/font=[8]]
I am a single white male,58, who has had a series of 7 hip operations to my right hip.Its a long story and the operations stem from an accident I had at work in 1999. As a result, I now have a chronic pain situation which over time is becoming progressively worse. Needless to say I now longer work and live on social security disability. In addition I am a recovering alcoholic and have been clean and sober now for three years.
It became evident early on that in order to get the required pain medication I would have to get sober and maintain sobriety.I should have done that anyway but having the medication to deal with the relentless pain became a priority.It took me many years to find a doctor that would be willing to work with me.I now have a somewhat normal life and have made AA my new life.So, I do know the pain of being addicted to a substance and have been reading your posts with interest.I just felt the need to share that I know your pain and suffering.
I am on a large dose of OxyContin and other things to deal with the break thru pain.I know its a slippery slope but feel little lattitude to do anything different.Thanks for letting me share.

Richard Sams

[wifestyles]

quote:Originally posted by capitalbob

Hi wifestyles, I am not certain of the exact mix of herbs in this product, it is advertised as being specifically formulated "for opiate narcotic withdrawl". I used a 30 day supply in 25 days, and honestly feel much better - noticeably after taking the product. As soon as the new bottle arrives I will post the exact herbs that are in their. It helped me with most of the common physical symptons, and I have been much better w/ cravings and anxiety, which to me are the 2 biggest issues. Actually it helped quell that whole crawling out of yoru skin feeling that comes with the first 4 or 5 days also. It is hard to pinpoint what is helping with what, but after 10 years off and on, so far this is the only noticeable form of relief that appears to kick in an hour after I take it. That could be just me. Have you tried St. John's Wort? What does that hep with? Thanks

Hey there- What I tried taking was a St Johns Wort complex (with Ginseng and some vitamin) thats supposed to nutritionally support a 'positive mood'...Let me tell ya, it made me feel weird. I've never been able to take Ginseng, my dad has used it and he says he feels energized and okay...I felt MAD at everybody. Instead of feeling energized, I felt like I had just ran a marathon and was out of breath.

For the St Johns part, it says you need to give it about a month to 6 weeks to notice any affect, but all I had bought was the complex mix, so I chunked it and haven't tried it since. I'm not one for waiting 6 weeks for anything to kick in...It has to happen NOW!! ha ha

[highwayshore]

quote:Originally posted by Felicity

Hi, I have a question. My husband is addicted to pain pills and I'm trying to find a clinic in our area that will give him suboxin, can anyone tell me how to go about finding one? I would really appreciate it. Thanks

Anne Denning

[sfc420]

I guess reading everyones honest ass posts made me wanna be completely honest for this one so here goes:

I'm addicted to pretty much any pills I can get my hands on. I cant gauge how many i take a day cuz theyre not prescribed, theyre just gotten where they can be gotten. I've been trying to get them prescribed lately and now I feel like I'm crossing the line. It started when my mom had some serious back pains and they gave her a series of pain killers from Norcos down to Darvocets, and everything inbetween (with refills... yes that means lortabs, percosets, extra strengths, vicodins)... She couldn't handle anything but the vic, so she left the rest in a drawer and forgot about them. About a thousand pills later I was totally hooked on hydrocodone and oxycodone, and with no refills left, i resorted to OC. It started with a buddy of mine who's mom had always been known as a druggy. She had valium back in the day, and I called him lookin for some when he offered up Oxycontin. since there is such a suttle difference in the name and percosets, he knew nothing about the difference in strength or the price, Although I had done my homework. for about a month i got 15 or 16 40 mg Oyxcontins sold to me for 2 dollars a pill. imagine my facial expressions!
When he realized the value of the pills he raised the price to 15, and i couldn't afford it, it became hard for me to do OCs again. I slowed down the usage, and finally (it wasn't easy, but i didnt suffer from ANY of the withdrawal that some people have described from hydrocodone... no throwing up, crying or depressing rants - just bitter cold sweaty nights ) quit. I quit OC's by using vicodin and pretty much anything else I could get my hands on, and thats when I found all the various types of benzos and msucle relaxants that are available. I realized my mom had temazepam and started taking those, to the point that i would take them even during the day just to get high. Now my doc is prescribin me lorazepam .5mg for sleeping and zoloft, even though my goal was to get xanax.
I wanna just take xanax as prescribed, drop the other meds and live without the anxiety that my life brings (and trust me, you dont want me to get started.) Does anyone know if i can chill on a low dose of xanax and get over this expensive habit?

[wifestyles]

Hey sfc, I'm pretty sure you can use the Xanax to get over any mental craving symptoms for other pills, but if I had to put myself in that hypothetical situation I'd say it'd be awful hard to keep yourself at a low dose, and 'regulate' the xanax doses to just keep off other pills. Xanax give off a pretty good buzz...

I would say tho, that in comparison the xanax would potentially help you far more, with anxiety/mental addiction than feeding that addiciton with what you don't need- pain pills. Do whatever seems best for you, and talk with your doctor or a friend...Personally, I think pain pills are the most messed up drugs there are, simply for the mind screw I ended up having.

Good for you for wanting to get off them! I hope all goes well and lemme know how it goes- it all sucks for awhile...hee hee

Merry Christmas everybody!

[dizzybear]

I am replying to SFC420. I had been reading everyones messages and it seemed no one had a problem w/ OC's. Im an 18 f and I have been taking pain pills for about 2yrs now. It started out w/ percocet the 10/650 up to 12 a day. Then whatever was available Morphine, Vicoden,(really do nothing now) you know whatever i could get. Then i found oxycontin. Long story short i take about 4 40mgs aday and somtimes w/ a few percocet. In your message you talk about going to a Dr. Im really afraid to, I dont want him to ask me a bunch of Q's about it. I looked into the methadone clinic $$$$. I cant go on like this, sometimes withdrawls are so bad i have to call off work. You said you weened yourself off w/ vicoden and muscle relaxers.Maybe i will try that. Its my New Years Resolution to quit taking pills. Can you give me some advice about how to go to a DR. Thanks

[teddybear4383]

quote:Originally posted by Doggy

I have a really good friend who is addicted to the pain killer Hydrocodone. Anyhow she wants to stop but everytime she does she gets really bad withdrawals such as sweating and shaking, can't sleep, etc. I was wondering if anyone out there has been through this on their own without going to a treatment center. If so please tell me what to do for her and how long it took for the withdrawals to go away!!!! HELP!!!!

As i read this, i was wondering what is yur friend taken this for? pain?and where? If she is suffer from choric pain, this is all difference in the world. I speak from experience myself, and i know first hand what it is like to go through withdraw, it is no other words to describe it was terrible. i have choric pain and there is not a pill i have taken that will take it away.I have just learn to take one day at a time.

[JessicaX0]

I was searching online for some information I could use for a college assignment and I was brought here. I took the time and read through some of these amazing heart wrenching stories written on these pages. Who knew something like a pain pill could turn someones life upside down. My heart goes out to people who have had to struggle with what seems like a horrible addiction. I was thinking for a second, trying to put myself in the shoes of an addict and some question I would ask myself "Do I quit cold turkey and have withdrawls? or do I take that pill and risk ruining my body?" It seems like a question someone who is trying to overcome this addiction would ask themselves. I would like to wish all of you, who have a problem and want to quit, the best of luck possible. It's amazing you have been able to come this far by addressing the problem and voicing that you want to quit. Again, I wish you the best of luck.. Stay strong, you will thank yourself...
Happy Holiday

[SotaWorks]

Dizzy Bear, I was also addicted to Oxycontin also in the past and still somewhat struggle with it.....Your really good choice would be to go with the new drug Suboxone....It does not get you high but relieves your body of all withdrawal symptoms and you feel normal....Its was very expensive for me while I was seeing my doctor...It cost me $150 a week to see her because she did not accept insurance So try that out and it will work.... www.suboxone.com

[nomoremeds]

Hello everyone. I finally came to the realization that I am addicted to darvocet. I have a herniated disk in my back from a few years ago and started with darvocet. After realizing the high i would get i could not stop taking these horrible things. Now I have moved to another state and am out of meds. I went to a doctor and I think she saw right through me only prescribing 20 pills and referring me to pain managment. I can go 2 days without these pills and then it happens, 1 pill leads to 5 ot 6 a day and i am back to square one again. This is imbarresing to me because i have never been adicted to anything, never have taken recreational drugs or have even had a drink in 7 years. Now that I am out of pills I will just deal with the sweats and other symptoms and be done with this mess.. isnt there some kind of natural meds that will calm your nerves to deal with these withdrawl symptoms.

[Mer1971]

[font=Comic Sans MS]I have been taking pain killers Norco for many years on and off I have withdrawled at home and it was hell it was easier to just take the pill! I have many disabilties is why i take them but I have been without them and have felt fine but mentally it's hard the yelling crying etc... I noticed when I take them the pain is worse then when I don't take them[?]It's like I can't function without them and I am not one to tolerate pain, I am taking my last dose today and am scared once again back over the hill, any words of encouragement would really help right now is there hope for me? Anyone suffering from Degenerative Disk Disease and if so what do you do for it besides taking pain killers[?][V]

Marian

[carly]

quote:Originally posted by Doggy

I have a really good friend who is addicted to the pain killer Hydrocodone. Anyhow she wants to stop but everytime she does she gets really bad withdrawals such as sweating and shaking, can't sleep, etc. I was wondering if anyone out there has been through this on their own without going to a treatment center. If so please tell me what to do for her and how long it took for the withdrawals to go away!!!! HELP!!!!

A lot of things could go wrong with your friend going cold turkey. If she were in the right treatment center she would most likey be treated with diazepam, muscle relaxers, and possibly something for seizures, but then again it really depends on how long your friend has been taking the drugs, and how much of a tolerence she now has. Don't let any one fool you it usually takes, anywhere from 7 to 14 days to really get through it. The best advice I can give you is plz do alot of praying, and have faith, because it is his,or her faith that will see her through, and when you do get through it thank GOD each and every day that you got through it.

[carly]

quote:Originally posted by mellenfan

Yes Emily it helps BUT let me fill you in a little more about bthe extent of my problem . I called my prescribing doctor the other day and asked for help and I admitted to him my problem and I even asked him if he could prescribe Methadone . So he called me in a prescription of Darvocet N 100 tabs 100 of them . Plus I still have 2 refills of Hydrocodone (Lortabs) 7.5 mg 100 of them also at a different pharmacy from same doctor . i had them filled on the 12 th of sept i called pharmacy today and they refilled them for me this is only the 22nd and they are a 25 day supply . Now I dont understand why the doctor wont help when i came right out and asked but when it is this easy for me to feed my habit why suffer thru the withdrawals ?? I would rather die than go thru withdrawals !! Plus when i have them I feel like I can do anything Conquer the world so to speak !! Pretty bad huh ?? Plus I see another doctor who prescribes me 100 lortab 10/500 mg per month and these doctors both know about each other . I do suffer from migraine headaches !! But Treatment centers are not an option for me for I will lose my job . So I fell stuck in this web of Deceiet . I really dont know what to do even though I am this conscince of my problem I will go in a little while and pick up my script that is waiting for me and I will feel fine for about 5 days thats how long 100 pills will last me UNLESS somehow I can control it and Ween myself a little at a time . Thanks for your help Emily . Gerald

[?] Mellenfan I don't know what state you live in, but the last time I checked it was not legal to call in nar pain pills anymore. You must have the prescripiton wrote out on paper, but then again things change everyday, so maybe it is legal where you live.....

[help13]

hi i started cold turkey new years day and it hasn't been anyfun,i took 10 to 12 hyrdrocodone's a day for 2 years.but it has been 3 days now and i am still alive,it sucks really i have never expirienced anything like this before i guess i did screw sum things up because my body and mind is going into overdrive to kick this habit out.so for those of us out there please try your hardest and we will get thru.ANTHONY

[nomoremeds]

ok guys i know nobody is responding to me but I am going to the doc on monday to get some help getting off darvocet. any advice would be helpfull..

[Desperate in Bmore]

[quote]Originally posted by nomoremeds

ok guys i know nobody is responding to me but I am going to the doc on monday to get some help getting off darvocet. any advice would be helpfull..

I have been listeneing to everyone in here for a couple of months now and I just posted my first one tonight. I TOO have an appt at the Dr.'s office on mon. to try the whole suboxone thing or whatever it's called. I KNOW it's long but read my post under painkiller addiction or whatever it is. I'm "Desperate in Bmore". I scared about mon too, and I'm looking for someone int the same situation or one of the vets in here to shed some light. Good luck, maybe we can help each other through the next few days, since we're doing the same thing at the same time. Let's get our lives back!! I'll wait up for a little while to see if you get this or respond. Sorry the post I told you to read from me is so long, it's just that this is my first time. Thanks bro'- PJ (Desperate in Bmore"

[becky2]

hi there..my name is Becky and i am hoping somebody here can help me. i have been reading all of your posts for the last couple of months and am going in on monday for suboxone.I can't tell you how much i appreciate all of you and your honesty...i am a married mother of 2 beautiful amazing boys and have a dream husband. i have been addicted to hydrocodone for about the last year and have just recently gotten worse,taking up to 12-14 a day.Nobody in my life would ev er understand how I could be here!I have it all as they say...i just so enjoyed the feeling that i got from them,like others have said that "i can do anything" feeling!!i tend to have anxiety and w/ 2 small children,this just seemed to help. Now i feel like a disgusting failure!!!if anybody has any advice for me on monday i would so apptreciate it )!!what do i expect?I have to tell my hubby on Sunday when he gets back in town and am so ********************ping my pants (.He is so sweet and i know he'll be supportive,but i just feel like he is going to be so sad.I just can't live this way anymore,I feel like i have just been floating thru life DEAD lately.My little boys are so sweet and i just look at them and think I wish they had a better mom.I am unsure of this suboxone thing,but so many of you here have suggested it,I just have to make it work. I refuse to waste another year of my life!!!it started that the pills made me feel so good,now i just feel DURRED out all the time!My motivation is not what it used to be,and i feel like i look so tired all the time!thank you all again for being here and sharing,I am so happy for you who have kicked this...it's so hard.any suggestions would be greatly appreciated )...sorry for the rambling )