Opiate Addiction - quick question

[Samharley]

Hi guys,

Ive been through Tramadol and Codeine withdrawal time after time after time - I cant seem to stay away from the stuff. I used to have major problems with it, but I'm a bad habit, recreational user now - (for social situations as I'm a bpd and bipolar sufferer - I have cut down now!)

I used to be able to keep w/d to a minimum by having a 2 week binge and then not touch it for a while for a month; this seemed to keep the withdrawal at bay but I could still get my 'fix' as such. I have slight breaks to make sure I havent got to the 'addiction stage'. Ive found recently that it doesn't take as long for withdrawal to start - I used to be able to take 200mg a day for 2 weeks, and stop with no withdrawal. Now I don't seem to be able to take it longer than 3 or 4 days before I get withdrawal if I stop.

I hope this makes sense, my heads not in the game enough to word things properly today haha! I know your tolerance for certain medications increases the more you take, but I didn't realize that withdrawal started quicker.

[Samharley]

I'm not sure a church group would be for me - I respect that it worked for you, and usually I'm willing to try anything. I think a lot of me if trying to hold onto the addiction part of my brain. I suppose its not nice to accept I'm an addict of anything.
Thanks for the responses guys, appreciated.

[gnarly_1]

Hi SAM  welcome to the forum  I to agree with Weaver  as for addiction if your asking yourself if I am one you probable are.... our disease will lye to you and if left to our self we will self distruct the first chance that life throws you a curve  you will give in you got a track record show us that  you are a addict  any time one abuses like running out early or not following doctors orders you have the behavior....for me I tried a substance abuse counselor church groups an I abstained.... now for help I trued to the rooms of N/A I was able to find recovery I still got to 4 meetings a week it works if you work it also this forum can help but it does not replace one addict helping another please consider this  ''you never have to pick up again'' this simple program can arrest the addiction then recovery is possible give it a try you will be welcome with a hug by people that care good luck and God bless.........................Gnarly.......................
ms o

[weaver71]

I would suggest talking to your most trusted therapist about addiction,, like knowing it's progressive, there is a lot of knowledge that helps a lot. I would also alert your prescribing doctor and pharmacy that you are an addict. You can digest that awhile, telling people is hard, but having no accountability is worse in the long run. Set yourself up to succeed, leave no bridges unburned that lead back to opiates. We think we are stronger than those drugs, but man has grown and consumed opiates for over 5000 years. We still can't figure out how to sell them and not end up with a bunch of addicts. Drs, actors, CEO's, day laborers, gangsters, nobody is immune, it is not so etching to hide.

[Samharley]

Thanks for the response. I used to have huge problems with the tramadol as I was hospitalized for months at a time with Addisons Disease - so to begin with it was accidental addiction. Now I cant help myself. Ive swapped doctors numerous times to get my hands on it again, which with BP2 and BPD doesnt help. I'm having DBT, CBT and psychotherapy with anti-anxiety meds.
I didn't realize your body picks addiction back up. So I really am messing it all up then - I thought I was just cleaning the slate and starting again. Whoops.