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Norco addiction
This is the first time I have asked for help. I have fibromyalgia and am on up to 6 Norco a day. I have been taking them for over 2 years. Started with 1 or 2 a day then gradually went up. I know I am addicted but am not sure how to deal with the pain from the fibro if I stop taking the Norco. I can feel slight withdrawl symptoms of anxiety when I am nearing 9 hours with out. I take 2 about every 6-8 hrs during the day.
My question is how to tell if the pain is also part of the withdrawl or if I really need the Norco for the pain. Nothing else seemed to help so the doc just keeps renewing the script. She does make a point of saying we really need to find something else, but at this point I have tryed all the normal Fibro meds, and many other pain meds. Norco is the only one that does not make me sleepy, tired, or goofy and just takes the edge off the pain.
Any recomendations???
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks from Sandy
My question is how to tell if the pain is also part of the withdrawl or if I really need the Norco for the pain. Nothing else seemed to help so the doc just keeps renewing the script. She does make a point of saying we really need to find something else, but at this point I have tryed all the normal Fibro meds, and many other pain meds. Norco is the only one that does not make me sleepy, tired, or goofy and just takes the edge off the pain.
Any recomendations???
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks from Sandy
Are you running out early? Are you taking them to get high? If not, you may be physically dependent versus addicted...there is a difference...Time for some technical talk... One of the things which increases "dependence" is a spike in drug blood plasma levels. Addicts do this on purpose to get a "high". They do it by Snorting (Very fast delivery), IV Injections, Chewing up meds and taking on an empty stomach.
The above all produce the most amount of drug in the blood in an attempt to get a buzz. These spikes are one of the reasons we addicts get hooked faster than a COMPLIANT Chronic Pain Patient.
Being compliant means they take only as directed. The goal of compliance is to maintain an even blood plasma at the minimum amount to treat PAIN and NOT to produce euphoria (a high).
Since the blood plasma levels are lower, the levels of dopamine at the synaptic cleft do not spike so the receptor sites do not downregulate or decrease in number in response to the initially MUCH higher level of dopamine released as a result of spiking.
Addictive dosing behaviors, the large doses associated to Spike the blood plasma level, vs the lower low dosing and more often which is the KEY factor to the physical changes the brain makes which cause dependency.
Dependency is the actual physical changes to your body which cause withdrawal. Addiction is the BEHAVIOR of taking the drugs to get high, not as prescribed, and when not needed for clinical reasons. It is the un-manageable behaviors associated with lack of control.
Anyway, just wanted you to have more information to help you with your quest.......I don't know if you are dependent or addicted...only you can answer that. It is normal to need larger and larger doses over time, even if you are compliant. Tolerance is part of the game...
Greatgreebo
The above all produce the most amount of drug in the blood in an attempt to get a buzz. These spikes are one of the reasons we addicts get hooked faster than a COMPLIANT Chronic Pain Patient.
Being compliant means they take only as directed. The goal of compliance is to maintain an even blood plasma at the minimum amount to treat PAIN and NOT to produce euphoria (a high).
Since the blood plasma levels are lower, the levels of dopamine at the synaptic cleft do not spike so the receptor sites do not downregulate or decrease in number in response to the initially MUCH higher level of dopamine released as a result of spiking.
Addictive dosing behaviors, the large doses associated to Spike the blood plasma level, vs the lower low dosing and more often which is the KEY factor to the physical changes the brain makes which cause dependency.
Dependency is the actual physical changes to your body which cause withdrawal. Addiction is the BEHAVIOR of taking the drugs to get high, not as prescribed, and when not needed for clinical reasons. It is the un-manageable behaviors associated with lack of control.
Anyway, just wanted you to have more information to help you with your quest.......I don't know if you are dependent or addicted...only you can answer that. It is normal to need larger and larger doses over time, even if you are compliant. Tolerance is part of the game...
Greatgreebo
hi,yeah your need to find something else for that pain are you planning on not taken the norcos any more ? or are bringing them down ?the w/d you will no the difference you will feel flu like symptoms when they start wearing off ,are you doing this cold turkey?
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