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Tylenol 1 Addiction / Sense of Hopelessness

Hello, I'm new here... I'm 31, married, and the father of two.  I'm also addicted to tylenol 1's.  On average I take 15 pills at a time, 3 times a day.  There have been times when I have taken 20 per dose.  About half hour after I take them I get the high I want, but it doesn't last long, then I feel sick.  By the end of the day (after eating 45 to 60 pills) I feel horrible, I'm pale, bloated, and have difficulty going to the bathroom.  I know what I'm doing is wrong, but I don't really care.  I've been struggling with depression nearly all my life as well.  I look at myself as "damaged goods".  I feel that I'm broken and can never be fixed. I'm taking a lot of medication for the depression (Effexor 75mg x 3,Effexor 37.5mg, and Prozac 20mg, all that once a day)I like to drink almost every weekend, I smoke cigarettes like others breathe air, and I take tylenol.  I know that the tylenol is doing damage to my body, they must be by now - I've been taking pills like this for almost 2 years pretty much every day.
I'm not even sure what to do anymore...
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Avatar universal
Hey I've had a problem with T1s as well. I'm 26 now and have been taking them on and off since I was around 19. Usually around 10-12 (sometimes more) at a time, 2-3 times a day.

I'm off them now (cold turkey) and while the first few days are kinda crappy it only gets better from there. I will admit I did take Xanax (prescribed by doctor) during the first week or so and that made it much easier to stop as well. I wouldn't really suggest that though, if you can do without the tranqs it's probably for the best. I also took Advil (4 twice a day) for a few days and then slowly stopped taking that as well. It's been aprox 3 weeks since I've taken any T1s, about two weeks since daily Advil. »

Major symptoms from cold turkey withdrawal : Soreness in extremities. Going to the bathroom more often (numero 2 =p). Possible headaches. Trouble sleeping. I`ll take those things for a few days over continuing to mess my organs up personally ;).

I also have problems with depression and anxiety like many others here. Although I feel like T1 use (and likely Opiate use in general) just makes depression problems worse. I've also stopped smoking marijuana and while my anxiety is sometimes through the roof I`m slowly learning to deal with it instead of masking it. I still take Xanax occasionally but am also avoiding daily use of that as well.

Since I've stopped taking T1s my urine is much more healthy looking (near clear if I'm drinking adequate water) and I can go poop daily. Last part is something unheard of when I was taking pills!

Going for blood and urine tests this week and just hoping everything will be fine. Also had a chest x-ray yesterday. These tests are for going back to school but I figure it`ll also help ease my mind. I don`t really feel like anything is wrong with me physically but I`m sure my anxiety will be lessened after (hopefully good) results come in.

Up next : weight loss!

I just need to remember what I want. A long life with the people I love or a severely shortened one fueled by drug use. Easy answer. I'm lucky to have a very supportive wife and family. If I was her I would of left me years ago.
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Avatar universal
I was sure I was the only person who whold get hooked on T1's, as any other drug user I know uses coke, weed, extacy etc...  I just stopped cold turkey about a day and a half ago...what a pain in the ***.  I felt like crap on them and now I feel like crap off them.  I quit cigarettes and alcohol no problem (don't drink at all) but this is hard like I never expected.  I have stopped before, but always went back.  The with withdrawls are brutal, and I have to keep thinkin of why I shouldn't take them (my kids are the big reason, not so much for me).  It's also hard to kick and still go to work and get paid... I'm just saying I have the flu, and people say I look like ****, so its a good cover, so far.
I  started due to migraines and have been using opiates for about 20 years and will take about any opiate in high doses when my head hurts.  I was taking about 100 every four or five days and had to rotate through several pharmacies to not raise their suspicions.  Anyway, here's hpoin' I can stay off this crap for a while and maybe stay alive a while longer...I know this is gonna kill me if I keep it up.  As sad as it is that we are all in the boat, it's good to know I'm not the only one.
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Avatar universal
Brooklyn
if you are still reading this post.....write back. Im also in Calgary and have the same addiction to T1. Maybe we can help each other.
anthony
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Hello everyone-
    Ive been taking them for 21 yrs Im 49 yrs old! it used to be 11 at a time then passed out told my therapist what happened and tried to quit she was naturally quite concerned but confidentiality is a part of their practice so no one knows. I started for all the same reasons low energy headaches depression (tho Im not on anything for it) I read the one persons letter with all the damaged organs and  symptoms and it scared the crap out of me --I have some of those symptoms and know the others will come if I dont stop.  I tried real hard to cut back got down to 5 pills 3 x a day --seems we all seem to take a certain number 3 x a day.  I have remained at 6 pills 3 x a day but know that is not enough it must be stopped but I also realize if I can stay at 6 from 11 then why not 3 or 4 then 1or 2 until it stops but we all know relapse is almost a certainty...Im scared too very scared but other times I think I dont care but I wouldnt be typing this if I didnt I want to live and dont want to die from liver shutdown etc...I am ever so lucky to be alive my god it likely would have killled other ppl what I have taken --obviously my liver is strong but it wont be for long god I need help...my husband knows but he just looks the other way he sees me take them and buys them for me...He loves me ppl but he likely feels I will freak out or get them anyway --no one else knows I am ashamed and feel ridculous and a fake I am a nurse and take care of ppl I never take pills from narc cupboard ever of course as I can get my own pills --small concession I guess...I need to quit I must quit
    for thise who did the cold turkey thing how did you feel after? and how long before you werent climbing the walls??/
I hope and feel for everyone on here it is a nasty little secret we all keep but it s going to kill us all if we dont stop!
Helpful - 0
495284 tn?1333894042
COMMUNITY LEADER
This is a very dangerous thing to do.......Please rethink this.  
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
i have not tryed water extraction yet but will it takes out the stuff that kills your liver and leaves the rest in the water, i saw a video on utube under water extraction.
Helpful - 0
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495284 tn?1333894042
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