April 18, 2007 - 2:37pm
Well as I said in my first post I have been visitin Pharmer for a very long time. However for most of this time I have been coming here to identify pills that I have gotten on the street in between the refills I get from my doctor. I have taken everything from percocets, OC, Norcos, valium, vikes, methadone sometimes mixing,most the time drinking with these pills. I have really taken it all and am ready to start my process of recovery. I am currently prescribed 80 5/500 mg of hydrocodone a month. When those run out after a week, I get it on the street. Something resulting in a back injury I had several years ago, that I still getting meds for. I started getting 30, the it rose to 50 and is now at 80. I do have ligitimate pain but I might as well be honest, 80 a month is a lot of pills. here is what I have been taking for the last few months regularly in between other things. 4 vikes in the AM 2 in the afternoon and 4-6 at night, every day, every night. I am severely addicted to these pills. I have quit cold turkey before but by the 4th day I was telling myself that I could obviously quit if I wanted to and so I went out again and got more. It is both embarrasing, frusterating and hard, as many of you know. I have been able to hide it from friends and family, and able to hold a steady job, however recently have been having some problems at work. I never did drugs before and am not sure how I got to the place where I am today. Scary thought wondering how it ever came to be such a intense adiction. I have put together a schedule for myself to try and wean off the pills, I do not want to quit cold turkey, nor do I think I can. Here is my schedule:
DAY 1(TODAY): 8 5/500 mg Vicodin: 4 AM, 4 PM
DAY 2: 7 5/500 3 AM, 4 PM
DAY 3: 6 5/500 3 AM 3 PM
DAY 4: 6 5/500 3 AM, 3 PM
DAY 5: 5 5/500 2 AM 3 PM
DAY 6: 5 5/500 2 AM 3 PM
DAY 7: 4 5/500 2 AM 2 PM
I am going to write about how it goes for me, if your interested, come back if not, have a great day. I am going to be very honest with everythings I do including drinking and other drugs. I will start with this morning. I waited until 11 o'clock to take the first four pills which was incredibly tough seeing I usually take them right when I wake up. Around 10:30 I started feeling short of breath and felt like I was going to puke, I felt like my saliva would not stay down and I got the chills. I dont even really get high any more, maybe for an hour or less, but the high is pretty much gone unless I drink with the pills. Took the pills and the pain went away. Normally I would take 2 more in the next 2 hours or so, but today I will wait until 3:00 PM when I work. I think I will try and wait until maybe 7 oclock to take then next 4. Well see if I can last. Again, i am going to be very honest here and hopefully in a week I can be down from 12 pills a day to 3 or 4. If this post offends anyone, I really apologize but its just a way for me to talk about how it feels with people that understand.
April 18, 2007 - 2:56pm
#2
I just dont want to be
I just dont want to be taking them for the rest of my life......
April 18, 2007 - 3:02pm
#3
I am only 24, So Like I
I am only 24, So Like I said I guess my problem is that I really just dont want it to go any further than it already has. Obviously I am not taking as much as many others but I still think my addiction is a bit out of control, and I cant stop so well see if this schedule can help.
April 18, 2007 - 3:18pm
#4
Believe me, I know how you
Believe me, I know how you feel. As others have suggested, one helpful tool would be to have a spouse, family member, or friend help hold onto your script for you and only give out what you are supposted to have. The fact that you have cronic pain is obviously why you can't stop taking them so now you have to find a way to deal with it. You can ask your doctor to recommend a more long term medication like oxycontin, although that is a much stronger drug so be careful. But there are different meds that are used for long term cronic pain that don't have as much stuff like tylenol. As I said before though, you should consult your dr.
April 18, 2007 - 3:42pm
#5
i know how u feel too
god bless you and more power to you!! hang in there, it'll be ok!! stick to your plan, which sounds great, and you'll cut back. i have. the post above suggests asking your doc for long term pain killers, that's what i did. i was up to at least 25 pills a day which is so frickin ridiculous, and i finally asked about methadone. that was the answer to my prayers. i take low doses (10 mg tabs) and only 4 a day. DO NOT BUY THESE ON THE STREET AS THEY CAN BE DANGEROUS. ask your doc what he/she thinks. mine backs it 100%. just a suggestion, i know it helped me alot. so think about it! good luck and i'll be thinking about you. 
April 18, 2007 - 4:24pm
#6
Youre making me feel
Youre making me feel like an addict for being prescribed 180 percocet 10/325 (90 q 2 weeks) a month for b/t meds on top of my 60 20mg oxycontin (60/month 2/day regularly) I get as a long term med and the 180 (90 q 2 weeks) 5mg valium I get a month as a muscle relaxant/tension releiver. I am only 23 and also have chronic back pain but realize that my life is better and I function better taking the meds than I would without. I know my body is physically dependant but I dont think I'm addicted as I havnt been buying them off the street and usually have plenty left each time I get a refill so I didnt even need one for the last 2 weeks. I hate having to rely on taking meds and having an ever escalating dose but it is better than being in constant pain all the time. I also utilize non-medication techniques such as PT, accupuncture, chiropractioc, and yoga to help with the pain. I try to keep my dose for escalating by trying to cut down on my meds for a few days once a month but the human body and tolerance make it nearly impossiblr to not increase your dose at some point to maintain adequete pain relief. To be honest, I was thinking of asking my pain doc to switch me from the percocet 10/325 to 15mg IR oxycodone for my b/t meds as he currently has me on 1-2 10 mg up to 3 x a day for b/t and this way I dont have to worry about apap content or splitting pills and if I need apap, I can just take it on my own. Sorry to ramble, just letting you know that your dose of 80 5/500 vicodin a month is really not all that high. (I know people that get 60 lortab or norco 10mg a week which would be 480 5mg pills a month) so don't feel like you are outta control. I would definitely not advocate drinking with these pills, especially with the apap content, and I would suggest talking with your doc about switching to a norco 10/325 (or5/325) or even a med with no apap at all so youre not destryoing your liver. Also, if you really want to taper your dose down, remember you will obviously have increaed pain, but also I would suggest letting your doc know about your plans. That way he might have additional suggestions and might want to prescribe a valium type medicine or possibly clonidine or hydroxyzine to help with the tapering process and increase the odds of you being successful. I wouldnt tell your doc. that you are buying stuff off the street, just that you want to get your dose back down to a "reasonable level" which is different for everyone depeding on many different variables. Best of luck and feel free to send me a private msg. if you want to talk in more detail or if you have a question you are uncomfortable discussing on the forum.
PDX
April 18, 2007 - 4:51pm
#7
Good for you!
Please keep us updated. You've started a very interesting page, and most likely have a bunch of cyberfans by now. Let us know how you progress.
April 18, 2007 - 6:48pm
#8
Twenty two days ago today I
Twenty two days ago today I gave up the endless search for pain pills. I haven't taken a pain pill since. I know it isn't a long time but, i feel GREAT! I am on Suboxone. You should check out the website. www.suboxone.com I believe it has just saved my life. let me know how it works out for you if you try it out. at least just visit the website. It explains everything on how it works.
April 19, 2007 - 1:02am
#9
Heres the update: I am
Heres the update:
I am not taking the medication for chronic pain..... I started in that way..... I am addicted to pain killers and that is the bottom line. If there is any pain it is because I am am withdrawling. when I say I get 80 pills a month I am talking about what I get from my doctor for the month, usually gone within a week. I couldn't make it tonight just taking what I scheduled myself for. At 5 PM I had to take 4 5/500 pills, had to, took two more at 8:30, thinking about taking 2 more to go to sleep. Mad for breaking the plan. Drank a bottle of wine after work. drinking a 22 of BUD now. Tomorrow I try again. Well see how I feel in the morning. Now I feel tired, but also feel bad because I know I need to quit. I am going to try and continue the plan tomorrow and take 4 in the AM when I wake up and 4 in the PM. Walked into work today and a chef showed me his pills for a root canal that he got. Everyone knows I take them..... this is a very hard thing and feeling messed up just makes it worse. 4 @11 AM, 4 @5PM, 2 @ 8:30, 2 more now...........see you tomorrow
(edited by TeamPharmer)
April 19, 2007 - 1:09am
#10
cant wait
can't wait to take my first four in the AM, just being honest.
April 19, 2007 - 2:55am
#11
no more high
It's good that you're honest, that's the first step to realizing there's a problem (do I sound like AA?) just as long as it's not too much info for TeamPharmer. you have to watch what you say because there is alot you can't say on here when it comes to illegal use. One of the most important things I have learned on here that alot of people dont realize is that to quit or even be able to lower and taper yourself on pills is that you have to not expect that high anymore. When you taper it is solely to keep from having the sickness of withdrawal. It is only to feed your body what it needs and to slowly starve it off. You can't keep wanting that buzz or it will not work.
I have to say you sound alot like me, or how I was and that is the first thing to keep in mind. Alot of people think they will taper so they can still feel something and that is where they end up failing. Find something else to do with your mind instead of depending on that feeling. Let me know if you need any more help, or private message if you want.
April 19, 2007 - 9:13am
#12
I AM NOT A DOCTOR OR
I AM NOT A DOCTOR OR PHARMACIST. I HAVE GAINED MY KNOWLEDGE THRU EXPERIENCE AND/OR RESEARCH.
April 19, 2007 - 9:16am
#13
sorry about last post!
pillhead: interesting choice of names.....Anyway, when you got your first script and enjoyed it for more than pain mgmt., You joined a club that is for life. You can try and stop it, but if u make it u will few of many. Good luck, but the "Club" doesnt give up members very easy, metaphorically speaking.
Doc
I AM NOT A DOCTOR OR PHARMACIST. I HAVE GAINED MY KNOWLEDGE THRU EXPERIENCE AND/OR RESEARCH.
April 19, 2007 - 11:31am
#14
last post
Sorry about last post being kind of a downer. Weird reading it when I wake up in the morning... Anyways, i will try and edit what I am saying and keep it a little more proffesional. I know a lot about AA NA, through both family and experience but ( Addicts are going to love this) I don't want to admit that it has gotten to that point, where I need to go in. Anyways, today is another day. DOC MASON: Your last post was pretty intense to think about, pretty scary..... 1st 4. How did it ever get this far, and how do I get these bags under my eyes to go away???? finished the 22 and another one. To anyone reading this who is considering taking pills for recreation, DONT. I think the weird thing about pills is that it is so easy to continue your life while taking them. Continue work, continue school, continue.....while taking pills. I guess thats one of the reasons it is so easy to become addicted....thanks to everyone who is contributing.
April 19, 2007 - 11:41am
#15
Sorry if I was a downer, as
Sorry if I was a downer, as you so eloquently put it, but I am also a "realist"
Doc
I AM NOT A DOCTOR OR PHARMACIST. I HAVE GAINED MY KNOWLEDGE THRU EXPERIENCE AND/OR RESEARCH.
April 19, 2007 - 11:43am
#16
Pillhead, I hope you
Pillhead,
I hope you reach the sobriety you are after. However, do you really think you are going about it the right way? You are trying to eliminate opiates by drinking beer. One of these times, you might not be lucky enough to wake up after downing your pain pills with alcohol. Why not check an opiate addiction/recovery based website called OpiateDetoxRecovery.com for support. I'm not trying to sound negative regarding your latest attempts, but to say you are trying to get clean by chugging beer with opiates is a little extreme.
I'm not a doctor, and have no first hand knowledge on addictions/withdrawals. However; I can say with relative certainty that using alcohol in conjunction with opiates is only steering you further down the wrong path.
Gtrplayer
April 19, 2007 - 12:11pm
#17
DOC- I was talking about the
DOC- I was talking about the last post that I wrote, not yours. What you said is very truthfull and important. Thanks GTR, beleive me I know that this is a stupid thing to do, and I am not trying to glorify it by any means. Dont know how to respond
April 19, 2007 - 12:11pm
#18
Have been spending a lot of
Have been spending a lot of time on that site GTR, very helpfull and really hits where I'm coming from. Thanks
April 19, 2007 - 12:15pm
#19
I can sense the desperation
I can sense the desperation in your post, which is why I went about it as nicely as possible. Thankfully, I have never had to deal with this situation, so I can not offer you any first hand advice. I hate to see that you are drinking beer with your medicine, it scares me that we might lose a member of the site to something that could have been prevented. I feel for you, and wish I could help you with better advice, but I just do not have any firsthand knowledge on the subject.
Have you tried all other methods of detoxing at home? I don't know if it works or not, but many people swear by the Thomas Recipe. Just run a quick search on the site's search function, and you'll see a thread containing it's information. If you would just stop drinking the beer with your medicine, it would be a great start. I hate to think that you are trading one habit in for two.
Gtrplayer
April 19, 2007 - 1:44pm
#20
Hey
Hey, Im New to this website and the first thing I clicked on was a Blob from Pillhead and thought I reading something about me. I am in the Same Boat as you. I am 24 I get prescribed 30 every Week. They are usually gone with in 4 or 5 days. I have Tired to ween myself off of them as well. So im here for ya buddy if ya need anything.
April 19, 2007 - 2:23pm
#21
just my insight
It will be great for you to pick any one of the methods for detoxing, or even just lowering your daily intake. But you WILL NOT be able to do any of these until you first realize why it is so hard to give up the pills. The physical addiction is not what is so bad, it is the mental addiction that is killing you.
Think of it like doc said first, then think that right now the pills are your friend, at this point your best friend. You are in an addictive relationship that you are going to have to let go of. Just as the case is whenever you lost someone you will go through a period of grief. This has been your way of life for so long and its hard to let that go, you don't know how to go one without it, right?
If you had an abusive mate that spent all your money, took up all your time and kept you from friends, and also put you mentally and physically in harm (say for example they were drugging you and you found out), would you not leave them? It may take a couple times of leaving and going back but at some point you will finally make that decision to give them up, even though you know it will be hard for you and it will hurt. You've been with them for so long that you don't know what to do without them. But you know your life will be better after you get over the grief from loosing them. Of course you mourn the loss but you find a way to deal with the grief.
THIS IS YOUR LIFE WITH PILLS; IT IS THE SAME.
Come to the hard decision that they are not helping but only hurting you. You must let go of your friend and find something better in life. Realize that you will not be able to get that high anymore from pills but you will have more opportunities for those highs in life from other venues. What better could you do with the time, money, or effort that you have been using up on pills?
When a system is not working you pinpoint the problem and fix it; you've now pinpointed yours, so what are you going to do? Now you have to stop making excuses for why you'll take them for just one more day and decide today it the day.
April 19, 2007 - 4:25pm
#22
Vicodin Withdrawal
good luck in your kicking the habit! as for me, like many ppl here i've been a hydrocodone/vicodin/opiate addict for MANY years and i got addicted in the course of treating my chronic pain.... i have to tell you that 80 of the 5mg a month sounds like a minor habit, but i guess that depends on the person and your history... as for me, i guess i've "Cut down" now that i only am prescribed 100 of the 7.5mg hydrocodone/vicodin tabs a month and i USE TO be on 360 of the 10mg/325mg Norco hydros a month from about 1999 to just this last December of 2006! so i was MAJORLY addicted and know where you're coming from... i've never bought dope of the street or even doctor shopped... its just that my pain management doctor gave me 180 pills a month and my primary doc gives me 120! and BOTH knew how much each other was giving me!! o O~! i guess the figured better me being on vicodin than the Oxycontin i was on and Dilaudid... i used to take up to 12mg of Dilaudid a day in the late 90's and then up to 160mg of Oxycontin at one point.... now i'm just on 100 7.5mg of hydrocodone/vicodin now and it controls my pain and maintains my addiction... so i guess what im saying in a round about way is, it would be fairly simple for you to stop since you're not on too high a dose... the thing is get into a Narcotics Anonymous program or you'll keep failing! Thats my experience and my two cents! Once again! GOOD LUCK! XD
P.S.- I'VE FOUND THAT CUTTING DOWN SLOWLY, SAY 8 PILLS A DAY THEN, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, 1/2 FIRST THEN TAKING IMMODIUM WITH ROBITUSSIN COUGH GELS AFTER YOU KICK IT COMPLETELY GIVES YOU A SEMI-DECENT ALMOST SYMPTOM-FREE WAY TO WITHDRAW... IF YOU'RE GOING TO QUIT, MAKE IT AS PAINFREE AS POSSIBLE... IF POSSIBLE LET YOUR DOCTOR KNOW, SOMETIMES THEY CAN HELP YOU BY DOING THE "REDUCTION METHOD" PLUS THEY CAN GIVE YOU KLONOPIN, VALIUM OR SOMETHING TO HELP WITH YOU!
~Painkiller10mg~
April 19, 2007 - 5:59pm
#23
no offense to you
no offense to you painkiller10mg, but if you read further into pillhead69's posts, he later said that his habit went further than just the #80 5's he was prescribed, but also got more off the street (I think it was like 200 in a month). This is a significantly LARGE amount of pills compared to what he was taking from the dr. It also isn't simple for anyone addicted to a narcotic to quit the habit when they are on a constant regimen. No matter if you're taking 50 a month or 200, it is a hard thing to let go of.
April 19, 2007 - 7:41pm
#24
past 2 posts
Yeah thanks for both of the posts guys. I guess if I were only at 80 a month, I wouldn't feel so bad. The 2 times I've "reloaded" in the past month is whats troublesome to me. The 80 my doctor gives me is usually gone within a week. When I'm getting on the street, I get 100. This is not dirty level street drugs either here. You wouldn'r be able to tell by looking at this guy that he had pills. Regardless, Did well so far today, took 4 in the AM and made until now 5:35. Granted I was sleeping, but that still counts right??? I can say thanks enough to everyone here who has responded, it really blows me away to see people respond. I guess something that keep being said that I hadn't realized is that by tapering down, I am still looking for that high instead of just controling my withdrawls. This is something I need to pay attention to. From what other people here have said, tapering should not be getting you high, but rather just a way to control the withdrawls. Anyways, I guess I just never thought about it that way...... Peace
April 19, 2007 - 8:33pm
#25
Yeah, it a hard thing to
Yeah, its a hard thing to realize, but I think that is where alot of people fall off the wagon. Some don't really know what they are in for or what they're expecting. I think for an addict that is whats really the hardest part, not the withdrawal symptoms.
April 19, 2007 - 9:26pm
#26
vicodin addiction
I currently get prescribed Norco (hydrocodone 10/325) 180 month, xanax 2mg 120 month, soma 350mg 120 month and secanol 100mg.
While I used to take these same type of drugs just to feel good, sleep and other things, I now take them because I need them.
I hate the look on the Pharmacist faces when I go to get these filled. They look at me and treat me as if I am a junkie or something.
What is sooo bad about getting the medicine that you need????
KNIGHTMETAL
April 20, 2007 - 12:45am
#27
probably wasnt a good idea
probably wasnt a good idea for me to start doing this program right around the weekend. I guess I will try to start again on Monday.
April 20, 2007 - 7:21am
#28
First of all, your liver is
First of all, your liver is going to suffer due to the high concentration of acetiminophen you are taking. 2nd, the drug soma or carisoprodol is been recently re-classed to sched 2 because they have found it doesn't even work on smooth muscle as a "relaxant". Before it ever gets to your brain, it it transformed chemically to another medication, not unlike Quualude. It puts(soma) you into a deep sleep allowing youre muscles to relax, but it is a secondary action.
And Nsaids are not safe either. Your output of urine is slowed, relaxing the kidneys and eventually shutting them down, resulting in renal failure. That means dialysis or death, and I choose None of the above.
Hope this wasnt too complicated as I tried to simplify.
Stop the soma!
Doc
April 20, 2007 - 8:38am
#29
I hope this works for
I hope this works for you. I have been through many professional detox's and also times myself. Remember that it won't be easy at all no matter what you do. Keep that bottom line goal your focus. We are all different, but for me, a slow taper keeping it in my system rather than just cutting down the times or amount of pills per day works better. Again, its tough no matter what. Before surgery my doc. set a schedule for me useing 120 percocets. It took 2 weeks, and the firt few days were rough because he cut the dose immediately in half, then tapered me off slow. During the hard times, I not only focused on the goal (my surgeon wouldn't operate unless I got down to hydro), but I remembered the pain and what I went through other times. I knew it could be worse. After the first 3 days maybe, it was the easyest detox I ever had. (Not that it was pleasent). After 2 weeks was down to 1 5/325 percocet every 6 hours..then down to 1 vicodin ES every 6 hours. It worked. I was taking 12 10/325 percocet a day. Good luck.
April 20, 2007 - 10:03am
#30
Carisoprodol
I agree with Doc Mason regarding the potential side effects of ingesting too much acetaminophen or NSAIDs.
But I have to disagree with the statements about Soma (carisoprodol).
Soma = carisoprodol, a skeletal muscle relaxant. Soma's active metabolite is meprobamate, not methaqualone.
Quaalude = methaqualone, a sedative drug that has effects similar to the barbiturates.
Now that we know what these drugs are, here are the scheduling facts:
Soma (carisoprodol) is not scheduled at the federal level. It's possible it will eventually be scheduled, probably to CIV along with the benzodiazepines.
Some info about carisoprodol from the DEA:
Request for Information - Carisoprodol (Soma®)
Carisoprodol (Soma®) is the recommended international nonproprietary name of a drug prescribed for the relief of pain, muscle spasm and limited mobility associated with painful musculoskeletal conditions. It is used as an adjunct to rest, physical therapy and other measures. It is currently not controlled under the U.S. Controlled Substance Act (CSA), and is available for therapeutic use by prescription. Carisoprodol is both structurally and pharmacologically related to Schedule IV substances, namely meprobamate and mebutamate. Carisoprodol shares some similarities with barbiturates or alcohol in its pharmacological effects.
Reports from medical professionals, state authorities and law enforcement personnel indicate the significant diversion, trafficking, and abuse of carisoprodol. According to the National Forensic Laboratory Information System (NFLIS), federal, state, and local forensic laboratories analyzed 1,992 carisoprodol drug samples in 2004. According to the Drug Abuse Warning Network (DAWN), there were 10,094 emergency department mentions for carisoprodol in 2002. Carisoprodol abuse has resulted in injury (seizures, coma) and death. Carisoprodol has often been abused in combination with products containing narcotic analgesics and/or benzodiazepines. Because of these concerns, some states have controlled carisoprodol.
Methaqualone is a Schedule I drug in the United States, meaning it has no recognized medical value.
Some info about methaqualone from the DEA:
Glutethimide & Methaqualone
Glutethimide (Doriden®) was introduced in 1954 and methaqualone ("Quaalude" Sopor®) in 1965 as safe barbiturate substitutes. Experience demonstrated, however; that their addiction liability and the severity of withdrawal symptoms were similar to those of barbiturates. By 1972, "luding out," taking methaqualone with wine, was a popular college pastime. Excessive use leads to tolerance, dependence, and withdrawal symptoms similar to those of barbiturates. In the United States, the marketing of methaqualone pharmaceutical products stopped in 1984, and methaqualone was transferred to Schedule I of the CSA. In 1991, glutethimide was transferred into Schedule II in response to an upsurge in the prevalence of diversion, abuse, and overdose deaths. Today, there is little medical use of glutethimide in the United States.
Hope this helps.
April 20, 2007 - 11:10am
#31
Thread is Locked
We were willing to see where this post was going, but there is no helpful information in regards to vicodin withdrawal.
And since the original poster is taking 'a holiday' from abstinence over the weekend, a 'diary of progess' for addiction, tapering and withdrawal is not necessary at this time.
It is a hard struggle to go through. Just remember that other people have done it, in even harder situations, so it is possible. Don't think either that you are a big addict that will never stop. Even know I am prescribed #180 10/325 a month, and still have to get more. I am in the same boat as you are and have cronic pain so I can't just stop taking them all together, I just want to get to a reasonable amount. Good luck, it will be hard but you can do it, you sound very determined. Even when it gets hard, make sure you stick to it.