anyone have advice for older lady?

[olderlady]

I am a 70 year old addicted to pain meds for 3 years, specifically Percocet 10/325. I'm trying to wean myself off and have had intermittent success. Any advice?

[nic374]

Well I dont really know what to say I guess at 70 you have real aches and pains If I were you I really wouldnt worry about to much Maybe try switch to regular vicodin you might find that you hate that and want to stop all together I would not stress or push myself to much the benefits could out weight the risk.  You can always look at it as at least you made it to 67 yrsold with out a pain killer addiction.  Good Luck

[addictednomore]

Hi Olderlady

Try weaning by 15% each week.  This is the method recomended by the site myselfrecovery  I did it that way and was sucessful by also doing some work to get to the root of my addiction.  As for the chronic pain.  OTC's help.  Also try reading a book by Dr John Sarno called the divided mind.  Dr Sarno is an MD who has spent his entire career studying chronic pain.  His insights are amazing, you will be surprised at how much control you have over it.

Best of luck to you.

[Girl_Interupted618vygyx]

Hi there, I use perc 10/325's too. i have had to quit many times and I do have some advice. I have quit cold turkey and have tapered. Its hard to taper with the perc because its so strong but if  you can get some vicodin or darvocett to taper with you may have more success. It takes alot of self control but is doable. if you want to talk about it any more just send me a message. Good Luck!!!

[daystrom]

Hey there, heck yeah, if I was 70 I wouldn't bother putting yourself through the torture of WD.  You have lived a long life doll, paid your dues I am sure.  Why do you want to kick?  Is the medication causing many side effects?  I recall reading that opioids are more prone to result in confusion as we get older.  That would be a pain.  If it is just the fact that you have become physically dependent on the medication (note that I use the term physically dependent and not "addicted" here because I assume that you had a perfectly legitimate reason for taking the percs) then I would say stay on them.  Opioids in and of themselves are harmless for you to be taking.  If you find that because of tolerance, which is perfectly normal while on long term opioid therapy, that you are taking a lot of them during the day, then you may wish to talk to your doctor about an unadulterated formula of oxycodone so as to go easier on your liver (OxyContin IR for example).  Whatever you decide, I wish you well.  take care!  ray

[flmagi]

Hi Olderlady!  Do you currently have pain issues that a doctor is prescribing you pain pills for?   Do you feel you can deal with these pain issues with over-the-counter pain meds (Advil etc)?  How is your general health?
Now I wouldn't elect you for President (lol) but if your health is good, then there is no reason to think you won't live many, many more years. Being addicted to pain pills for the rest of your life is probably not something you want to do. Stick with your tapering and be strict with yourself. You have to really want to get off these things. Take it slow, so you don't experience a lot of discomfort. Also read in the health pages to the right about the Thomas Recipe and the Amino Acid Protocol, some of those things may help you in the transition.
Good luck to you and keep posting on the forum. Everyone here will help you or answer any questions you may have.
Magi

[avisg]

day,
she is not saying she is dependent she is saying she is addicted. Regardless whether one has a legatment pain problem if one is an addict then they can not take there meds without abusing them.

[daystrom]

avisg,  Yeah, she is saying "addicted" but she may be misusing the term.  Sorry, I will ask for clarification.  Do you mean to say that when you stop taking your medications that you become sick?  Is this why you say you are addicted?  Or are you perhaps taking your meds for the wrong reasons, i.e. not as directed, for stress and not pain, that sort of thing.  Do you feel that you are abusing the medications?  What I meant was that if it is just a matter that you need the medication or else you get sick and nothing else, then I would posit that you are not addicted, but just physically dependent.  Sorry, I didn't mean to make any assumptions.

ray

[daystrom]

and just to be clear, I have always taken addiction to be a behavioral issue, whereas physical dependence is a physiological response (stop opes, get sick).  I recall from some sort of NA (or similar literature), that addiction was defined as continuing a course of action which has negative consequences, in spite of those negative consequences, so yeah, a behavioral issue, not a simple physiological one (stop taking your meds and you get sick).

[avisg]

There are many on pain meds for cronic pain issues that are only that dependant .They take there pain meds as prescribed for there pian .If they were for some reason to not be able to take there med they would go into withdrawl but there not running out because there is any abuse .

Then there is like me people that suffer with cronic pain but we cant take them as prescribed we abuse them .I so wish I could take them without abusing them but I cant so I have found alternative ways to deal with my pain .There are many in the same boat here

[olderlady]

When I say addicted, I mean physically addicted. When I started taking the Percocet, I was in pain but quickly became physically dependent on them and continued to take them even when the pain issue was pretty much resolved. The prescribing MD never knew the difference. I never took more than what was prescribed. was even able to cut the dosage in half a few months ago. I was experiencing dullness and dizziness when taking 2 at a time so I cut the dosage in half. In a few weeks I was able to break the 10/325's in half and take a half tablet every 3 hours and control the discomfort of withdrawal. I want to be completely off the darn things but do have severe craving, diarrhea, sweats, chills, etc. when I don't take them. My local MD is not very understanding and will not be supportive in prescribing Valium or other drugs to support me during withdrawal and I won't be seeing the prescribing MD until December. With very careful management, I can probably get by on what I have on hand until then, but I'm very sick of counting pills and juggling whether I have enough to last and just dealing with this whole mess I've gotten into. I really don't know if I can taper any lower than 1/2 of a 10/325 every 3-4 hours and a whole tablet at bedtime to help me sleep. I just thought I might find some help and support here.

Just because I'm 70 doesn't mean I'm not still active and alert and able to function well in this world (even thought I am addicted to pain med)!

[Girl_Interupted618vygyx]

Hmmmm. I understand what your saying.... whether your "Addicted" or just physically " "Dependant" You want to break free. Can you just take the 1/2 until you see your MD again, and then ask for something not as strong? Then Taper a little more with the 'Something that is not as strong" I have experimented alot with tapering and have found that if you taper with a less stronger drug it is possible that the W/D is not as bad. you may still have some discomfort but ......... may have better success.

[worried878]

i see ur point...70 aint all that old these days anyway!  i could help u with a taper...u want to live the rest of ur life outside this fog and control the meds have over u?  the thomas recipe is great...read it and go stock up..there is a taper article also in the health pagesgreat to read...u can do this...and we can help!