The Addiction Help .com

I am a 38 year old man that has ( had ) everything going for him. My whole life I totaly ignored and stayed away from everyone that did any kind of drugs no matter what they where. Over the last 2 years I started using pain meds for back pain then it became an addiction. I currently have taken 160mg of oxycodone 4 to 5 times a day. I will take anything I can get my hands on to stop the pain. Yes I started it for back pain then the high, Now 2 years later I want off !!! Because 1 - I am loosing everything, 2 - I am spending over a $100.00 a day like nothing "Street Value". And the first thing on my mind is, do I have enough and i will only concentrate on getting it before anything else. Food, Etc..I have reduced my dose to about 90 mg 3 times a day. I take it so I dont have withdraws. I try to stop but it hurts so bad, I cant sleep, eat, think, walk, I have restless legs and arms. I am a total jerk to everyone, I dont want to do anything without it. I WANT TO STOP !!!! I went to the emergancy room and they did all the tests blood work etc.. After all said and done they tell me I cant go back there again and make me sign a paper stating so. They also said I need to go to west care,????? I have heard some pritty bad storys about west care. That they dont give you anything and your in a room so you can quit cold turky. I cant stop cold turkey. The emergancy room said because of my high doses I take and how often I could have a heart attack and or die if I try to quit cold turkey. I dont know what to do, I have tried several doctors and they keep telling me the samething. To Stop !!!! If they only new. I heard suboxon is great and Methadone, I also was told that, As ridiculous as this may sound, To do "SPEED" that it will take all the pain and side affects away. I am so serious about quitting but like i said the withdraws and pain are very, very, very BAD!!!! I used to bad mouth drug heads and I am now paying the price. P.S>. Please dont reply to this post if you dont know what you are talking about and / or never experianced what I am talking about because anyone that has, understands what I am saying, so please keep your comments to yourself or it will come back to you 10 times fold CARMA IS A MOTHER F- - CKER!!! I know. Can someone please help me?????

Call this West Care place. You can get information on a treatment plan before you sign up. You cannot do this on your own! Whoever told you to take speed is an idiot. I believe you have heard bad things about this place because rehab is not summer camp and you have to be real about the fact that YOU NEED THIS. Also, if you are hearing these bad things from other drug addicted people, it is because they don't want you to get better. Misery loves company. Even practitioners in state run facilities are not going to risk their license to practice by knowingly risking your health. If several physicians have told you that you need meds to get off of these drugs then I am sure that the specialists in this rehab know that. Please be brave and get yourself the help you need.

2009-01-26 19:10:18 by Why Me

www.dragresti.com ~ (561) 842-9550 Dr. Mark Agresti, West Palm Beach Drug amp; Alcohol Detox Specialist -- Psychiatrist, explains normal steps of ...

i have always had trouble sleeping but it is even worse now that i am trying to get clean. the lack of sleep is making it very hard for me to stay clean and it is very frustrating!! i know doctors dont like to give people like me sleep aids but i fear if i dont get something to help me i am going to falter. if anyone knows of a non-habit forming sleep aid i would love to know about it. nothing seems to work!

This is a question I have answered many times in my practice as an addiction counselor, but the sad part is, the best method varies with each individual.
First, I want to tell you that seeking help through ANY source is a positive step, and I commend you for trying to cope with these stressors that you have identified as relapse triggers.
Here's how I break it down:
1. Understand that your brain chemistry is changing, trying to return to normal. Abstinence from ALL mood altering chemicals, including caffeine and nicotine, will speed that process. (Sorry, benadryl is a mood altering chemical.)
2. Be patient with your body and brain. You've put them through hell. They WILL recover, but in their own time.
3. Exercise is good, in moderation. Google Search "John Ratey, M.D." He recently published a book called "Spark" that has an excellent chapter on addiction. Follow his advice to wear out your body and have it ready for sleep when time comes.
4. Melatonin has worked well for some of my clients, but remember, everyone's results will vary, and it usually takes at least two weeks of taking the supplement daily before it begins to take effect.
5. If you have access to health care, ask your doctor about Trazodone. I've seen recovering alcoholics use it as a sleep aid before, but I AM NOT A DOCTOR. Again, ask your physician. Trazodone is available by prescription only.
6. Meditation can, if practiced consistently, reduce anxiety, increase focus, and make sleeping easier. I have seen the Zen tradition known as Vipassina change lives, including my own.
The last and, in my opinion best advice I can give, is to find a 12-Step group. Narcotics Anonymous has web sites for most major metropolitan areas, and their sites all have lists of meetings.
I hope this helps.

2008-06-04 09:14:42 by sleepy

I was in a wreck recently and because I don't have insurance and my shoulder was sore I asked my mom for some of her perkoset. Needless to say the pain is gone now but I can not stop taking the painkillers, which has now become a heafty dose of oxicodone.
I have panic disorder and generalized anxiety disorder, and I think that is the main reason I freak out when I'm not taking them.
I don't think I can go through the withdraws on my own, because I get to the point where I am crying hysterically, and having crazy hopeless thoughts.
Should I try and fight this on my own, or will they be able to help me, and what should I expect?

I don't mean to scare you, but a lot of doctors are unsympathetic towards opiate addiction, which is a shame. And I'm not saying all are, but if you find one who is, just try and find another. Most will prescribe you something called clonidine, which can help with the muscle aches during withdrawal. They may also prescribe a benzodiazapam, such as Xanax, but be careful with those as they are addictive as well. You should really have someone who can help you get through it as well, at least someone to talk to. I would also recommend Imodium AD if you stop taking them, as it can help with the intestinal problems, and some people swear it eases withdrawal in general.

If you have any questions feel free to email me, click on my name and then the email tab.

2008-02-08 12:24:03 by fancycutie05

Wouldn't this be like fighting fire with fire? I don't get it. Please enlighten me.

Methadone is used to treat heroin addiction because it has been proven to be safe and effective. When methadone is properly prescribed, it is not intoxicating or sedating. Its effects also do not interfere with normal activities. Methadone is taken orally and prevents withdrawal symptoms for 24 to 36 hours. Most noteworthy would be the fact that when methadone is taken, it relieves the individual's craving for heroin, the craving that happens to be the cause for relapse. Methadone is also medically safe, so people could still use it even for ten years straight. Coupled with therapy and counseling, methadone can help bring people back to their stable, productive lives.

2007-05-31 01:35:07 by aisha t

I am currently coming off of a drug addiction to painkillers and opiates. My biggest fight is the depression. I cannot afford a doctor, so I was wondering what are some ways to deal with my depression and lethargic feelings?

You can look up the beyond blue.com.au web site this can help also there are help lines that you can ring at your local hospital under the mental health system and that will only cost you a phone call.GOODLUCK my thoughts are with you

2008-03-15 05:56:44 by liz21283