OPANA detox / Kratom

[nickjackson]

I am moving to Knoxville from Michigan and I am addicted to Opana ER.  There is only one doctor in Knoxville who prescribes narcotics and Opana isn't helping with my chronic pain, anyway (I have had five back surgeries).  I tried detoxing by switching to Dilaudid, taking smaller and smaller doses... Then, an injury in Physical Therapy put me back on my full Opana dosage.  I've tried using Kratom for the pain and it keeps me awake.  Can the fast-acting Oxymorphone be cut in half?  I did pretty well with the Dilaudid, but it gave me such a rush that I don't want to develop a psychological addiction to it. I've tried cutting the Opana ER in half, but the blade in the cutter won't cut it.  Any advice out there?  Thanks.

[nickjackson]

A doctor Lakotosh (in Sevierville?) told me that just one physiatrist, a Doctor Fox, prescribes narcotics.  I am not getting satisfactory pain control with Opana and I am curious how I can handle it without narcotics.  If I can't, then I will seek out a doctor who prescribes.  I just know that my reflexes are not so good when I'm on painkillers and I don't feel comfortable driving.  I would like to be free of narcotics because of the slow thinking and because of the expense and hassle in getting them.  Thanks for writing.

[nickjackson]

Thanks for responding to my post.  I thought the Kratom would help with the pain and I've been using it when the pain was bad.  Haven't noticed that it helped much and I'll keep it in reserve if/when my withdrawal from Opana gets bad.  Maybe "rush" is not the right word to describe the sensation I get from Dilaudid.  Maybe "immediate relief" is better, as I have used it as a breakthrough pain-killer and it would provide much quicker relief than the Opana.  It also makes me a dangerous driver & I think I'm well off without it.  The reason I initially tried it as an alternative to Opana was because I could cut the pills in half and get a reduced dose - which I couldn't do with Opana.  

[dede2121]

Hi nick, I am from knoxville and I am quite sure there is more than one doctor. Are u looking for pain management or wanting to quit?

[EvolverU]

Hey! Thanks for posting. I'm sorry to hear about the 5 (!) back surgeries and that you're suffering. You're on some tricky meds there! The first thing I can tell you right off the bat is that no form of Kratom is going to help you w/ breakthrough pain unless you're opiate naive. It also won't be effective as a detox measure while Oxymorphone or Dilaudid is in your system. Also, Kratom is probably best used only while sick, in low doses to detox off opiates and then rapidly dropped, as tolerance builds quickly. Kratom, particularly at higher doses, can definitely keep you awake as it has some low level, secondary 'antagonist' properties which is probably what's happening with you with the other meds in your system as opposed to Kratoms stimulant properties. You mentioned you got a 'rush' from the Dilaudid. Were you injecting it or taking it orally? As to cutting up your tablets we're not really supposed to discuss pill-cutting or specific taper dosages on the forum. I would ask you if you have tried the Oxymorphone sustained release instead. Maybe you could ask your doctor to put you on a taper plan for the Oxym. Hope this helps a little. Best of luck w/ your detox!