The Addiction Help .com

I have a horrible problem. I started taking opiate drugs (such as Vicodin and Percocets) about 4 years ago for pain. I always had legitimate prescriptions. I would take them on and off but always atleast a few weeks out of every month. I think at that point I was mentally addicted but not physically. I have horrible kidney stones and I am always passing them. I have pain constantly now. My doctor says that when a person passes so many kidney stones, that the pain receptor gets turned on and doesn't turn off again. Anyway, in September I was hosptalized for a surgery on my kidney. I was then put on all sorts of opiate drugs. I have been trying to taper off since then. It is the most horrible, painful thing that I have ever dealt with in my life. I think that it is worse than the kidney pain. Anyway, does anybody have any ideas of how I can beat this horrible addiction. I never imagined that I would be addicted to something..... I cry all the time and I am sad :(
I don't really want to go to a rehab. I was wondering about any home remedies...herbs?....anyway to get my opiate receptors back to normal so that I can have a natural high instead of only being happy when I am taking a pill? Please some help?

Ok... I don't tell you my entire story but you need to know that I'm 40, had a neuralgia that made doctors to prescribe me strong narcotics since I was 29.

So, I have taken morphine, hydromorphone for near 10 years constantly. Last year, a neurosurgery (cutting a branch of the trigeminal nerve) made me near-free of pain. But, I was physically and mentally addict to narcotics. 1-2 years ago, I need to inject (not IV, subcutaneous only) me 8-10 mg of Dilaudid (hydromorphone) a day. It's equivalent to near 500 mg of oral morphine a day.

My opinion ?

You could make it cold turkey (that was my first choice) BUT see a doctor that is competent first. It's not the question if your "a real tough guy" or if you can do it, it's you life... Yes, some can do it cold turkey, but some have heart failure too !!!

I was against taking methadone but a doctor that REALLY know how to treat with methadone convince me to try. It's not like in movies - you know, taking the methadone at the drugstore and PAF feel good for all the day. It's tough too. Adjusting the dose, then reducing constantly and slowly the dose. But I had not suffer from physical pain like when I tried cold turkey. But in this case, you have to decided solely to stop narcotics. Methadone don't do this for you...

And after +/- 1 year: methadone was stoped. Not taking it anymore, and no need to take other narcotics too. This time, there was a good ending. With the aid of methadone for me. Truly hope something will work for you !!!

And by the way, reducing the dose of my hydromorphone before trying to stop with methadone was desastrous. Maybe cold turkey, but not the "slowly stop" method. I think it's the "never stop" method !!!

2006-12-12 13:26:26 by trying~hard~to~quit

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Some of the symptoms I've experienced are a "creepy-crawly" sensation mostly in my legs, inability to sit still yet EXTREMELY lethargic, sweating, depression/anxiety, feeling of desperation, etc.... basically the worst feeling ever!

Is there any sort of (cheap!) non-prescription remedy for these sorts of symptoms?

You shouldn't attempt withdrawal from opiates on your own. A doctor or detox will help you withdraw safely

2008-02-16 18:01:08 by logicalperfection

Price: $2.99

I havnt been on one certain kind of opiate for a long period of time (1.5-2 weeks at max) but ive switched around from hydro codone to oxycodone to morphine to hydromorphone...

(I broke both bones in my leg pretty bad and had to get surgery, all are under prescriptions, not abusing, taking as needed but afraid i can develop addiction as is)

You need to understand the very importance difference between addiction and dependence. What you are at risk to develop is dependence, which is not much of a problem.

By the way, I am a physician with ten years experience prescribing opioids to both chronic pain and terminally ill patients, most of whom have the same concerns as you.

Addiction is a psychological problem that some people have (about 6% of the population) that is defined by a persistent, self-destructive, vice-seeking behavior. Such people can and do become addicted to drugs, sex, shopping, gambling and other potentially destructive behaviors. The have a drive or urge to do something that they would not do without that compulsion because of the harm and risk of harm that it brings to them, and they act on those urges to their own detriment. Addictive people are addictive in nature. Drugs are not addictive. People are. Addictive type people bring their problem to the meeting of drug and mind. The urge can be resisted, but as any alcoholic can tell you, it never goes away.

From http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Addiction

"An addiction is a recurring compulsion by an individual to engage in some specific activity, despite harmful consequences to the individual's health, mental state or social life. The term is often reserved for drug addictions but it is sometimes applied to other compulsions, such as problem gambling, and compulsive overeating. Factors that have been suggested as causes of addiction include genetic, biological/pharmacological and social factors."

Dependence has nothing to do with the mind or psychology. It is a purely physical problem that can happen even to an unconscious body. Dependence results from the body’s ability to adapt to changes like continuous exposure to opiates. After a time, the body has adapted to the presence of the drug, and responds to its abrupt withdrawal with about two to four days of a flu-like syndrome consisting of nausea, rapid heart, goose flesh, loose bowels and a generally blah feeling. There is no desire for drugs during or after this period. When it is over, you’re just like you were before you started the medications.

From http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Addiction#Physical_dependency

"Physical dependence on a substance is defined by the appearance of characteristic withdrawal symptoms when the substance is suddenly discontinued. Opioids, benzodiazepines, barbiturates, alcohol and nicotine induce physical dependence. On the other hand, some categories of substances share this property and are still not considered addictive: cortisone, beta-blockers and most antidepressants are examples"

The 94% of people who are not addictive never crave the drug. In fact, they usually dislike everything about it other than its ability to relieve pain. They would rather not be taking it if they could bear the pain. The addict doesn’t need pain to crave and seek the drug. The addict is characterized by drug-seeking behavior in the absence of pain. The non-addict is seeking only relief from pain and will not pursue the opioid once the pain is bearable without it. A non-addictive person cannot be made into an addict by any known means just as there is no known way to remove the addictive potential in the 6%. The most that they can do is control their behavior, not their urges. Non-addicts have no such urge.

Addicts also develop dependence and have physical withdrawal symptoms just like non-addicts. The difference is that when the drug withdrawal “flu” is over in a few days, the addict wants to look for more. The rest of us don’t.

If you are in the 94% and have pain that is severe enough to require opioids (narcotics like the drugs that you named) for long enough to develop dependence, take them and then withdraw when the time comes. It's a fair trade: weeks of excruciating pain traded for a few days of what is indistinguishable from a bad flu at worst. You already know whether you have addictive tendencies. I can tell from your question that you do not.

2007-12-18 01:41:43 by lbckirko

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Many countries sell tylenol w/codeine OTC, without a prescription. Of course this is not the case in the "land of the free" because of the horrible side effect of euphoria that they cause. So I am wondering, if one had a large addiction to opiate painkillers, would a move to the Bahamas complicate their life of would it make things easy. (

Probably not. Even in places that sell T3's OTC, heavier narcs are still restricted.

2007-03-02 19:58:15 by Tyler P

I know that this is used as a prescription medicine for those who are getting themselves treated for opiate addiction. However, will the people who aren't getting themselves treated be able to get methadone? I know that this can be addictive, so I was just wondering if non-addicts can gain access to this.

Methadone is not easily available. This is typically administered inside drug rehabs. There are only around 700 methadone clinics in the nation, which makes some patients drive for hundreds of miles before they can get their daily dosage. Physicians who want to prescribe methadone will also have to get approval from the FDA and the Drug Enforcement Agency. This makes it hard for opioid addicts to get their dose of methadone.

2007-08-02 01:36:35 by cheyanne lw