It's Official...

[Heather]

I'm addicted to my pain medicin. I've never taken more than prescribed in a day, and in fact I normally take less. However I've been on the stuff for more than a year. I didn't take any before bed time last night, and sure enough, I woke up with incredibly achey muscles and flu like symptoms. As soon as I took my meds, it all went away. I looked up the withdrawl symptoms and sure enough - that's it.

I'm not suprised. You can't be on something so strong for that long and not feel it when your body doesn't have it anymore.

I guess I never thought it would happen to me because I take so little. I've seen shows where "addicts" take anywhere from 20 to 40 pills a day just to survive, and I never thought I had enough in my system to cause withdrawl.

I'm scared ladies. I know that probably sounds silly, but just experiencing that little bit of withdrawl was awful. I have about 40 pills left, which should last me about 3 weeks, but I'm already starting to freak out that this is my last refill. I hope I don't become one of those people that starts buying it off the internet or going to the hospital just to get more.

Has anyone ever gone through something like this?

[Marge129]

The only time I went through withdrawl from a medication was when I went off of Effexor. I felt like I had the flu for about 2-3 days. I skipped my classes and called off of work. I stayed on the couch and slept until it went away. It was horrible. Sometimes I even felt like I was tripping on acid... very strange.

Are you taking the pain meds because you need them for the pain? Or is it now more because you can't go without them? Is there a way to take 3/4 of a pill, then 1/2 of a pill, then 1/4 of a pill to ween your way off of it? You will probably still show some withdrawl symptoms, but they shouldn't be as severe.

Good luck! We're here for you!

[CupieJen]

I agree with Margie, you should try to wean yourself off of them.
Have you talked to your dr. about this? I'm sure he could give you some advice. Maybe prescribe you something not so strong. What kinda of drugs are you on anyways?

[Marrying_the_Good_Husband]

That's scary, Heather. We've all heard about how pain medications can before a serious addiction. I would call your doctor about your concerns. Perhaps he would suggest weening you off it. Like a half a pill a day, then a quarter... I don't really know. I heard they do that in rehab clinics sometimes because your body would go into shock "cold turkey." Worried about you, girl. Hope your doctor has some good advice.

[Heather]

Thanks ladies. In my search I also read that you shouldn't just go cold turkey. I'm still taking them for the pain, as I've mentioned before, mornings are the worse. I don't normally wake up in the state I was in this morning, but the last time I took a half pill yesterday was about 5pm. Normally I take one pill and one muscle relaxer (MR) before bed to help with the spasms - I'm still getting the spasms or I probably wouldn't need the MR at all.

Cupie, I'm on hydrocodone, the generic to vicodin.

I have been weening myself off of them, but I was doing it because I haven't needed to take as much, not because I felt like I had to take them. Now I have it my head that I *have* to take them. I'm just not sure if I'm over-reacting, kwim? Maybe I just have a cold and when I take the strong meds, it wipes out my symptoms? I know that codone is used to treat bronchitis and things of that nature. (That's why there is codein in the cough medicin you're normally prescribed for it.)

Margie I have a feeling that's what is going to happen. I'm going to end up in bed for a couple of days just trying to get through it. I can handle the cold symptoms, it was the aches in my arm muscles that were driving me crazy, it was so painful.

ETA: Found a forum that hosts people recovering from codone addiction, and oxycotin. There are Rx's you can get that will help with the pain and the anxiety I'll probably face. These are Clonidine, Buprenex and Klonipin. Other suggestions were Ambien to help you sleep, chamomille tea, vitamins and L-ty-rosine, an amino acid.

I think I need to start this process now. Even if I still need it for pain, I have 800mg ibuprofen. It rips up my stomache but I think I would rather deal with that.

[Marge129]

Maybe try Tylenol or Advil for the aches and pains you have from the withdrawl??? It's not as strong so I doubt you'd become addicted to it.

[CupieJen]

I really think you need to talk to your doctor as soon as possible!
This isn't something that you can mess around with. I was on Vicodin for a few months after my jaw surgery, and man that stuff screws with your system. After I was off the vicodin the dr. put me on some less powerful drugs because I was still in major pain. I was able to wean myself off those and didn't even finish the initial prescription. Good luck girl. it'll suck thats for sure, but it's just something you have to do. You want to be healthy when your next surgery comes around.

[wynelle]

Heather- there is physical addiction and psychological addiction. If you are taking the medication because you are having pain, and you stop taking the medication, you will still have pain. And won't sleep well. And will wake up feeling achy, tired and in distress.

If you take the pills because you are jittery, jumpy, etc..and start counting how many pills you have left, and slef-increasing the dosage, etc..then you need to worry.

Your doctor will not "cold turkey" you, especially if you are still having pain. That said, you might (he might) try substituting a different medication and also go to a pain control center (usually covered by insurance) for alternate methods of pain control, including hypnosis and biofeedback.

At night, taking Ambian, with Valerian or Chamomile tea should allow you to decrease the amount of pain medication, but still allow you to sleep.

If you can alternate the Hydrocodone with something like Darvocet or Ultram, and it works, then you aren't psychologically addicted. Don't stress over this or it will get worse.

[Jennifer]

I was on it too for pain for several months (I think about 8). I had memory loss and everything while on it. I HIGHLY suggest talking to your dr. Maybe he/she can give you smaller doses to help wean you off. I know I had a hard time when I stopped taking it. It seems easier to be addicted than to go through the headaches and withdrawl.

[Heather]

I don't think I'm psychologically addicted (yet), but I could probably easily talk myself into it. That sounds so ridiculous! The first time I've ever counted pills was today when I started thinking about all of this. The bottle I have now is 60 pills, and I've had it since early December (40 pills left). The prescription is for 8 days so I'm taking a lot less than the Rx states.

I think I need to calm down. I am still taking it for pain, so I have to remember that with what I had for surgery, it's a long healing process. I see my doc.surgeon in early Feb for a check-up and Xray to make sure all is going well. I'll talk about it with him at that point.

I really do think I'm just kind of freaking myself out. I read a lot of stories this morning about people going through this and some of it was just horrifying...

Wynelle, come stay with me for a week!

[fallbride]

Heather... I am soo sorry for what you are going thru. I am amazed that your Dr let you stay on pain meds for a long time. (I am not sure how long you have been on) I do know that Dr usually try to get you off of them and get you on something else so your body does not get addicted to them. I am sure with the surgery you had and everything that the pain that was unbearable so you had to have something to calm it down. I have never been thru what you are going thru, my body hates pain meds. If I take them, I get sick to my stomach and I get all stupid and I sleep alot. I know for my back they gave me muscle relaxers and I do nto take them as I should because they make me goofy too.

I sure hopr Dr can help you thru this. I think there is another drug that they can give you to help you get off the pain killers. My FBIL had knee surgery and got addicted to the meds, they put him on this other med to help him out. I hope all goes well with this. Kepp us posted.

For Heahter!

[Marge129]

Originally Posted by Heather

I think I need to calm down. I am still taking it for pain, so I have to remember that with what I had for surgery, it's a long healing process.

Exactly.

[Complicated Woman]

H, I would talk to your doctor, but don't freak yourself out. You DID have major surgery and had to take them for a long time, so I'm sure your dr was aware that this was a possibility. I'm sure he/she will be able to help you. In the meantime, we're here for you.

[555Ann555]

Heather I know what your going through. If you want some support when you're coming down from them just send me a message.

I've been on my pain meds for (trying to count...) must be about 6 yrs now. At first I really did need the strongest dose I was given & even that was only taking the edge off the pain, but after a while I just got so scared of being able to feel the pain that I kept taking the strong doses. So it went for a long time... Then about 3yrs ago I kind of woke up! I realised what I'd been doing wasn't good for my body but by that point I was hooked on my meds. I don't know what the brand names are over there but I was on co-codamol (its 30mg codine /500 paracetamol per tab) I was on eight of those a day plus 2x 150mg tramadol. I only got onto the tramadol because I went to see my doc when I was scared I was getting hooked and told him how I was feeling every time the pills started to wear off, he gave me the tramadol because it's slow release and stops the HIGH-low-HIGH-low cycle... But he didn't stop the cocodamol so I was on both at the same time.

I decided about 2yrs ago to get myself off them and gradually cut down on the co-codamol 1/2 tab at a time until I wasn't on them at all. I had tried cold turkey a couple of times before and that scared me a lot. If you'd seen me in withdrawal during cold turkey you'd have mistaken me for a heroin addict. It was awful. So I didn't want to face that again. I decided to try cutting them down before cutting them out and it worked for a while...

I got to the point where I was only on my tramadol and got the doc to give me a lower dose of those (100mgSR) so that I could ease them down too, but then I had a relapse with my Crohn's. The pain is unbearable when that happens so I didn't have a lot of choice but to take the meds again... So I was back on them again but refused to let myself have the old dose... at the moment I've gotten back down to a 1/2 tab every 6hrs or so (rather than 2 full tabs every 4hrs). My Crohn's seems to have settled down a bit again so it's about time to cut them out again. I'll have to stay on the slow release ones for the moment because I have varicose veins that need operated on and they stop me sleeping if I don't take the tramadol.

I know just how scarey if feels when you think something is so far out of your control, but you can get back off these Heather. It'll take some time and you'll have to be patient with your body, if you're still going to be in a lot of pain from your back then this may not be the right time to start trying to come down... but you will get there. Please don't be scared. You've got lots of support around you to get you throught this.

[Heather]

Ann, I want to respond properly but we're heading out for dinner plans. I just wanted to say thank you for posting. As I mentioned earlier, I think I just need to calm down about it, but that doesn't take away the fear at all.

I'll be back on later tonight or first thing in the morning.

Love you guys so much.

[feb-bride]

Heather, I'm sorry to hear what you're going through right now. Fortunately, you are smart enough to know what may end up happening, so you can take steps to correct things.

I was "addicted" to my 800mg Motrin pills for awhile. I fell at a skating rink a couple of years ago, and my back's never been the same. I've been to the doctor several times for it, but she tells me that there's nothing they can do (she keeps telling me it's soft tissue damage that should correct itself, but two years later, I'm still dealing with the pain).

I was taking the motrin 3x everyday for months. It got to the point where I wouldn't even wait for the pain to return; I'd just take it as soon as I woke up, as soon as I got home from work, and right before bed.

When I got to my last refill, that's when I realized that I needed to do something. So, I started only taking it when I felt real pain. Now, I only take one or two every couple of weeks, when I'm REALLY hurting.

I'm not saying that this will work for you, but I just wanted to share my experience with "stronger" medication. I know mine was a psychological addiction because my body did not go through any physical withdrawals.

Keep us posted. We care about you and want to know that you're doing okay!

[Heather]

I'll take any experiences anyone wants to share - gratefully.

I want to post more but I'm SO tired! Long day/night for me today.

See ya'll with my morning coffee.

[ljeagle]

I'm sorry Heather I was hooked on hydrocodone a few years ago when I hurt my back in a car wreck. The doc changed me to 800mg motrin and i got off the hydrocodone but just changed it to motrin. I had to have it and I new I didn't need it. I still have to watch what I take and it's been over 2 years. I still have back problems and the doc still gives me motrin when I go see him. I don't take it to get high just easy the pain. I have to make my self only take it for a few days and put the rest up till I really need it. I even give them to my mother some times so I won't take them and she keeps them up for me. I'm sorry it hard to get off something like this. I had a friend in a car wreck one time and she got so bad on them they ended up having to send her to a meth clinic. I don't like those places I think it is just subbing your problem with another problem. Stay strong and it's good u know u could have a problem with this. We are here for you girl...

[bebe]

Hey H, I don't have any advice for this other than talking to your doctor, just wanted to send a virtual hug and support for you! You'll get it under control.

[Heather]

I can't sleep so here I am again. Did I also mention I have nightmares and sleep paralysis at least three times a week? LOL - I'm turning into a WRECK ladies!

What is it about Motrin that makes you feel like it's somewhat of a substitute for codone? Is it just a pain reliever? Did it help with the withdrawl symptoms?

I do plan to talk with my doc about it, but before I had surgery, I belonged to a pain management group where many people talked about the double-edged sword of pain relief. Many doctors simply won't prescribe anything strong for pain, and those who suffer are left feeling like drug-addicts when they ask for something stronger. I don't want to feel that way. Did you know that if you ask your doctor for a specific medication by name (like codone for example) because it makes you feel better, you will be red-flagged. There is a long list of other things that will red-flag you, but that one kind of freaked me out. You can't even ask for what you know works.

I hope all of this won't be an issue for me as I heal more from surgery of course, but it's scary thinking that I may need something for pain, and no one will give it to me. It's exactly where I was in January of last year. I wanted to die because I could not live with the chronic pain any longer. I thanked god for my surgeon, and most of ya'll know how I feel about god, lol.

Anyway, I can't tell you how glad I am that some of you have been through something like this. Of course I wish it didn't happen to you, but for me it's comforting to know that if I rant and rave for a while - you'll "get me".

What I plan to do is simply take my meds as I have been when I need it for pain. Unfortunately that is still everyday. If at the end of this prescription I feel I still need it for pain, I'll talk to my doc and see what he recommends. I'll tell him that I am afraid I may be addicted, physical or otherwise, and ask for his help in making that transition less painful.

I've talked about it with Mike, and he's just as supportive as all of you. He knows it may be a rough couple of days, and he said he'll stay home from work with me if it comes to that.

However I am going to try to ween myself even more starting tomorrow. I'm going to take what I need in the morning to actually move and then if I need "something", I'll take a muscle relaxer & an 800mg Ibuprofren to see if that helps to ease the pain. If I start to feel the same symptoms I did this morning after going about 20 hours without the codone, then I'll know that I'm really physically addicted. I can move on from there.

Hell, I've been suffering from three herniated discs and severe sciatica for three years, I think I can suck it up and get through it. We'll see.

Bebe, thank you for the hug sista!

[cru5h]

Wow. That's kind of scary. You're not becomming immune to them though right? That would suck even more I think.

[Marge129]

Good luck, H. We're here with you every step of the way.

[Heather]

Originally Posted by cru5h

Wow. That's kind of scary. You're not becomming immune to them though right? That would suck even more I think.

I'm not immune to them, they really do help with the pain. What I did notice is that I don't get "high" on them anymore. When I first started taking them, just one would make me loopy. I'm not sure how many it would take for me to feel that again (I don't like that feeling) but for me, if it takes care of the pain I'm good.

[allison]

I don't have any stories to share or any real advice, Heather. I just wanted you to know that, like all the other ladies here, I love and support you. We're here for you any way you need us!

[Heather]

Thank you Allison!