[Prevenger]

I am addicted to Stadol NS. I have been for seven years. I wont go into the gory details of the hell I go through with use / withdrawal [V] , which I am sure that a lot of you are familiar with. Some months I had two bottles...some months I had four bottles. But a bottle only lasts about 3.5 days. Sometimes I made my life a living hell and it only lasted 2 days.

I suffer from migraines. On Oct 5, I had my usual monthly appt at the pain clinic. I had a a bottle of Stadol at the time and while I was there, they also gave me a shot of Nubain and a shot of Toradol for the current headache. Did I mention that most of those headaches were caused by my Stadol abuse. Kind of a catch 22... but I would take the Stadol for pleasure...get a horrible migraine...and have nothing to treat it!

Back to Oct 5. I volunteer at St Patricks on Wed's doing their bulletin (Oct 5 was a Wed). I was so stoned that I kept passing out in front of the computer. Blanking out, really. [xx(] I'm sure it didnt go unnoticed. I had had enough. I quit ALL of my meds the next day. Topamax, Cymbalta, Verelan, Lyrica.. I also decided to quit taking all pain-killers. In about a week, I had a lot of energy. But then a REAL migraine hit me. I wanted to ride it out with nothing. I couldnt sleep from the pain. It felt like an axe was hanging out of my head. And, my migraines last 72 hours. I woke my husband up. He was a bit irritated that I didnt have any meds on hand . Off we went to the ER. I am not a habitual ER patient. I have only done that 3 times ever. I am a patient addict who goes through hell waiting for my next script to be written.

My husband doesnt know about my addiction. I hide it well. Plus, he just never seems to notice that my eyes are rolling back in my head [xx(] when I am really stoned.

I was treated with an injection of Stadol. That killed the pain. I couldnt even walk! I dont count that Stadol treatment as "addiction"...for that is the true purpose of painkillers. To keep level 10 pain under control.

I have not had and painkillers since then, nor do I plan on making an appt with my headache doc to refill.

Wish me luck....though I know luck has nothing to do with it. Wish me willpower and no migraines! [8)]

ps...I didnt cold turkey quit the Topamx. It is a drug from hell. The tartration takes weeks and it takes months to a year to get used to the drug. I went off it in a week.

Meds-
Cymbalta - 60mg
Topamax - 200mg
Lyrica - 150mg
Stadol/ butorphanol (the monster) 2-3 bottles a month