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withdrawal from pain pills, depression?

i have been abusing pain medication for probably about a year now. i was never prescribed to them, they just kinda found their way into my life and before i knew it i was hooked. now i never actually took them for any reason other than the high (i usually crushed and snorted them). i am on day 8 after quitting cold turkey and as all of you already know the first 3-4 days were the physically the worst. i feel a lot better now except the psychological stuff i have to deal with. i feel severly depressed at times and i suffer strong cravings. back when i was using i wouldnt ever really touch them untill night/evening time so now my nights just seem extrmly boring and empty. everything i did when i was high i cant do anymore because im sober (read a book, watch tv, video games, write, music) nothing seems the same. i was just wandering how long im going to have to deal with this. how long does the depression last. i know that i need to start trying to fill the void in my life but it isnt easy to do right now. i fear a relapse coming if this continues much longer.............  also if for some reason i did relapse once 15-20 days from now and i only did it once, like a hydro/10 or 2, would i have 2 suffer the physical withdrawal all over????
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Avatar universal
I used lortab for many  more years than you and they became my personality so i am going to have to find myself so i know how you feel. i do not enjoy anything right now 3-days w/d. i just pray that we can find ourself, and not go back to using. tired of trying to "find" the pills and living a lie. with u i am. you are not alone!!
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Hi.  I am 31 days off vicodin.  Didn't really do other pills.  Didn't need them, like you I took them for the wonderful feeling and got hooked.  I don't have physical withdrawls anymore other than the depression and craving I still seem to feel.  I don't know how long it can last, but I dream about them.  Life kinda sucks right now and it would be so easy to slip back into them, but I refuse!  Life was no damn cup of tea doing them either, felt like **** when didn't have them, panic when I was close to running out, buying them, lying, using bill money, you name it.  So what the hell was so good about them - that is what I keep telling myself.  I know getting off of them cold turkey sucks, but you probably made it through the worst.  Now we all just need to get off our pity pot and get out of our houses back into the real world. Your energy level will come back too, mine is - slowly but surely!  Hang tough, please, don't give up because if you do you'll have to go through this all over again someday.  I'll be thinking about you both.
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Avatar universal
i have progressively been taking pain pills for almost 5 yrs now.  it started as taking 1 or 2 percs for fun.  now im taking 30-60 mg of roxy or oxycontin almost every day.  when i stop taking it for a day or two...i get withdrawals - sweats, anxiety, muscle cramps, diarrhea, and sometimes fever.  at first i thought it was the flu then i realized i was having withdrawals. im 24 yrs old.  its the only thing that makes me feel good but i know this is bad and want to stop.  have been diagnosed with depression since i was 15yrs old.....i want to stop but i dont think the antidepressants do anything for me... i had been taking 30mg of paxil since i was 15- tried to stop and get withdrawals from that too... i hate being dependant on a drug...sometimes its just so hard to get out of bed.  what can i do to feel normal w\o taking any drug? my father is also a manic -depressant and thinks i need to take something like he does..please help... sometimes life makes me feel like im in a coma, will stay in bed for days...like im paralyzed...please help me enjoy life again w\o the use of drugs....
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Avatar universal
i am going through the same thing right as we speak! i feel like dieing, i have been on hydro for about 2 years straight none stop, started out with a hurt back then i started buying them to feel good, i tell you what though i am coming off them and it sucks bad time, i found out i was pregnant and i was never the type to do drugs never! but its like herion they say, and i think about taking one to just stop this hell of a feeling but i have already came through alot of withdrawals just by cutting down and tonight is my first night without one at all, i took one 10 yesterday and for 4 days i have been so so sick, but i have to do this for my baby! and my other family also for myself i am right in the boat with all of you, damn the person who ever made these life sucking pills!!!! i hope we all do well i am trying so hard prayers are here goodluck all! wish me luck! no sleep tonight i know!!!!
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352798 tn?1399298154
Welcome to the forum. You should copy your post and start a new one. This is an old post and we will want to get to know you.
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472139 tn?1211332563
I Sympathise with you opiods are a great antidepressent at times, beats any ssri med ive tried in the past, that's what worrys me too about being free of opiods, Paws syndrome lingering on for a year would drive anyone nuts but what choice is there? hopefully it will pass have you tried exercise to raise them endorphines up? diet etc , i guess eventually you will feel normal again.
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Avatar universal
Wow guys, I can so relate to eahc and every one of you. I am a stay at home mother of 3 and I have been taking Oxy for over a year for my back pain. Now I find myslef spending money I don't have or saving all my money up just to buy them. I hate that my money is gone all the time. I hate that I have to have these things to get up in the morning and to sleep at night. I have just moved on to liquid oxy. I stopped a few weeks ago, I layed in bed, in pain, sweaty, diahrea, couldn't sleep, didn't even want to go anywhere, I hate it. I wonder if there is something they can give you to help with the withdrawls? I was thinking maybe I needed an anti depressant, but from reading some of the posts, it looks like I could maybe get addicted to anti depressant. I really dont want to move on from one drug to another, I want to be done with this ****. Any suggestions. I am scared to tell my doctor, although I know that is probably who I need to talk to about some help. Please help!
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
hi all i'm a 29 yr old woman, i've been on pain pills for five yrs now. I really need to stop before i lose my husband and his family. they all have been there for me and have tried to help me get off them, but like some of you i dream about them, the pills is all i think about day in and day out. They help me deal with a lot of the pain i feel in my life. I've tried dealing with the pain without the pills, but i just can't seem to do it. When i don't have them i just feel like killing myself. i feel like the pills make me the person everyone expects me to be. i spend so much money on them on a daily bases. i take about 15 10's a day. I waitress at a steak house, i spend my tips all my tips on them everyday. My husband is going to leave if i don't stop someone please help me
Helpful - 0
401095 tn?1351391770
Posting a new post will help draw attn to ur post as u have posted on a very old post...lots of support here...can u post a new question?
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Avatar universal
You are doing the right thing by getting off NOW.  Whatever you do dont relapse,  it will get better.  I am only 4 days clean,  and I will not go back,  its been too long.  I really dont know what it feels like to not want them.  I guess i always will, but i just cnat and neither can you.  hang in there talk to your friends or here.  support is the best thing for you.  you are not in this alone.
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Avatar universal
This is to all who are experencing withdrawl symptoms. I (from a car accident) have been addicted to pain pills for 8 yrs. have tried to quit "seriously" twice. We cannot allow the sickness of withdrawls to control us to continue being a junkie. The aches and pains,cold sweats, anxiety and deppression we are feeling is our knowledge of knowing how really sick we are. Is a relapse worth it to not feel these symptoms? Is my sick liver better then withdrawl symptoms? How about a pill that controls your life...better then some symptoms? Being ashamed,embarresed,depressed, not liking myself ...over a pill? IVE BEEN THINKING ALOT THIS TIME INSTEAD OF BEING SCARED THIS IM GETTING ANGRY! GOOD LUCK TO US ALL IN GETTING OUR LIFES BACK!
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Avatar universal
I am 33 I work in a office and have 3 kids, a husband who hasnt worked in 7 months, and I take pain pills to make me fell better. I want to stop but I am scared of the withdrawal I will have to face... I can not afford to miss work and I can not afford to pay for the pills any longer.. I am scared and dont know what to do.... I really want to stop but caught myself calling yesterday looking for some... Didnt get any thank goodness, does anyone have any advice?
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Avatar universal
Now I've read a good amount of these comments and this is the first thread that completely relates to what I've been going through the past few days...I first started taking 30mg roxys approximately about 5 months ago and ever since the day I found them I consistently snorted at minimum 2 a day and 4 at most...I just quit cold turkey 4 days ago and ever since my back hurts, my legs are restless, I was catchin cold sweats, couldnt sleep and wen i did i instantly woke up and felt like i was delirious, i couldnt eat and constantly had the runs and on day 3 i was severely depressed the whole night...i am now on Day 4 of quitting cold turkey and am feeling much better than the first 3, my back still hurts and i still sweat but i know im almost there...i havent taken anything but half of a xanax to ease the pain but it only made me sleepy, i smoke weed but that wont have any effect on anything so im just gonna stay sober for the rest of the withdrawal stage...Im only here to share my experience for those who are wondering what symptoms you may have when you get addicted to these things and quit cold turkey, if youre reading this and currently take them i suggest you quit immediately, be a warrior and go cold turkey or find a way to slowly take smaller dosages to ease the pain...to whoever has unfortunately become addicted to these things i wish you all the best of luck whenever you decide to quit, i hope no1 has to suffer like i have the past few days but some of you eventually will...

                                                   God Bless and Sincerely,
                                                                  
                                                                         Gaw Finesse
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Avatar universal
I have been on pain pills for the last 15 years up till 7 days ago i took 25-30 norco 10 and 10-15 oxys just to get by the day .I have F...k up my life.I lost my house ,cars,and my wife . I have nothing left cause all i wanted was pills .The withdrawals are so evil when i didnt have them i did not stop till i got some and i always found a way to get them. That was my life every day. NO MORE !!! It's been 7 days and i feel good . Here is how i did it. I went from norco and oxys to hydros 7.5 i took one in the morning one an noon and one at night for one week. The next week i did the same but with hydros 5 . after that i took one a day for three days . I still got sick but not as bad. Talk to a friend or a family member have them hold on to them i know its hard as hell to just take one but you can do it its a mind game to .After the 5th day clean make your self get up go for a walk. and drink water . Remember we put this evil pill into your body for many years we cant expect it to go away in a few days its going to take work. I will not go back i am going forward and beat this BITSH!
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Avatar universal
I am a 24 year old mother of 2. I have been addicted to pain pills for 6 years. You name it I took it. Well in my case if you put them in front of me I probably would still take them. I stopped using when I got pregnant w/my son 3 years ago. I didn't have any withdrawls I just knew that I couldn't take them anymore. I had to have a c-section, & after was on pain meds again. Got hooked again. I have to stop taking them they are ruining my life. I lie, steal, cheat, anything I need to do to get them. I've lost a home a car, & several relationships over a stupid pill. Today is my second day w/o them & it ***** really bad. I can't sleep & when I do all I dream about is getting high, I can't eat, my body aches, my teeth hurt, & so so depressed. I've shed so many tears over this drug, I'm literally grieving. I know things will get better, everybody says they will, but how long does it take? How long will I feel like I'm dying? How long will I ruin my life & my families?
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
In school, we had studied ashtanga yoga which led greatly to all-round development. But I had no clue that when faced with the real pitfalls of life, yoga would cure my ‘severe and recurring clinical depression’ — for good!

Relationship woes

I’ve always been an outwardly happy person, but crushing blows from repeated failed relationships had left me feeling churned inside out. At 22, I was definitely sinking, compounded by the pain and lack of comprehension at how things had turned out. I’d spend hours weeping; I would want to get home, just to lock myself in the bedroom and sob, hoping my broken heart would heal. As years passed, my general levels of clarity went down drastically, something my family noticed but couldn’t figure out exactly why.


Soon, I started regressing into someone totally unreliable. I found every task unbelievably tedious — even a trip to a shop down the road seemed challenging. People my age were finding jobs and signing up for courses, my years were slipping by. I finally took up a job, only to quit within a fortnight claiming I wasn’t in the ‘right frame of mind’ to work. Truth was, I was simply not capable of handling responsibilities. Yet I felt I would be out of this ‘phase’.

Meanwhile, the weeping got worse and I became emotionally fragile; I could no longer make any new friendships. Physical conditions included a desire to sleep all the time and ‘twitching’ or sudden muscular jerks frequently.

Help at hand

Fortunately when things just seemed to go out of hand (thoughts of death were clogging my mind), I approached a wonderful counsellor, who suspected I was suffering from clinical depression —  something even cognitive tests confirmed. Depression had occurred, she explained, as continuous grieving had changed the natural production of serotonin, the happy chemical in the brain. I needed a course of anti-depressants called SSRIs (Selective Sorotonin Reuptake Inhibitors) to remedy it. The word ‘anti-depressants’ worried me, especially its side-effects, but it was a relief to get diagnosed since it meant I understood what I was going through and could find a cure! I started with the medication.

Square one

The results were immediate. Within four days I started feeling ‘normal’ — I hadn’t been myself for eons; it felt like getting a new life! Two months later I was back, with a steady job and was going from strength to strength.

Unfortunately, this wasn’t the end of my demons. Over a year later a stressful phase triggered the old symptoms. When I consulted my counsellor, the horror of my depression struck me. Since it was ‘severe and recurring’, it meant I was prone to it and it had re-occurred. Meaning, recourse to anti-depressants whenever it occurred since it was a life-long ailment. However, I was convinced that there had to be a permanent solution to this.
Miracles do occur

Finally, I found an answer to my stress — a column by Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev in the Speaking Tree Column of the Times of India where he spoke about a technique to create a ‘favourable Inner Climate’ through yoga, so that no matter what was happening externally, internally you would be peaceful. After all, as he said, unless you are happy, you cannot be of use to the world. I signed up for the Inner Engineering programme and from then there’s been no looking back.

Through a process of simple asanas, pranayams and AUM chanting called the Shambhavi Maha Mudra I learnt to leave my problems far behind.

Now, depression is a distant memory that I recall only when I read about people committing suicide. If only everyone could do the right form of yoga  there would be no more depression, no more suicide.

I believe that those who are facing personal battles, like me, need not feel ashamed; help is out there. Use this tool that has shielded me from external situations along my path.

Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I feel all of yall's pain.  I have been on pain killers off and on for about four years now.  And that is all I want to do is takem.  No matter what it is hydro, oxy, perc.  If it is avalible I will buy it.  I am in a relationship with a great man we have been togather for 5yrs. at first we used togather mostly at night. But he decided he wanted to quit and stop wasting money.  So he will only do them every now and again. Me I do them everyday. As long as I can find some.  And I lie alot, steal, and have even cheated to getem. Our realtionship is going down the drain because of me. I have to quit.  But I dont like the w/d feelings so i always try to find just a couple, and that leads to more and more, I want to stop before I loose my man he is my best friend, but he doesnt understand addiction, he says just stop but it is not that easy.  
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
from reading these post i feel that i am not alone i have been using for just over a year every single day all but today i have 2 left so i had not taken them and i feel like crap and it has only been 7 hours my legs feel sure and week i feel like getting sick sweating and then i'm cold and i feel this tingling feeling all through my body and it's driving me crazy all i been doing is crying should i be feeling like this in just 6 to 7 hours and i to have a boyfriend of 10 years and he don't understand he says just stop i feel like i had no one here to help me get through this tough time but on this site is there anyway that i can step off this slowly i forgot to say what i take well they are vicks
percs,and narcs that's it i hate that i have put my self through this i have 2 kids that i want to see grow up but i know that if i keep taking these evil things i wont live to see them grow up i take anywhere between 8 to 13 a day plz what are some of the things ppl take or do to help them
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I have been using 4 like 4 years now,My girl friend had a tummy tuck 5 years ago she got addicted 2 them an begged me 2 take one.Were both addicted 2 pain pills only percs. but ive been off 4 a week now and fill better, she still take them. if u are serious about stoping tell your doc and let him give u tramadol. its  like pain pills but not really a narcodict. take 2 a day at the same time, in the morning and it fills like what ever pain pill you are taking , the effect last all day. then in 2 week take 1 in the morning,for 1 week. then the 4th week stop cold turkey. you wont have any symptoms. only mild cravings. Now if your doc wont give them 2 u (REMEMBER  BIG COMPANYS MAKE ALOT OF MONEY OFF U BEING ON PILLS SO THE LAST THING THEY WONT U TO DO IS STOP TAKING THEM) get them the same way u get your other pills.Tramadol is the samething they give 2 herorin addicts 2 help them stop. U can do it . no 1 told me about that it was someting i did by myself. its amazing what u can think of an do when your sick an tierd of being sick an tired..MAY THE  GODS BLESS U ALL
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Avatar universal
I know what you are going through!  Congrats on quitting! Have you considered going to NA or Celebrate Recovery or some form of support group to help you deal with your cravings?  I quit OC and methadone in July and I have not touched either since.  It was the hardest thing I had ever done but I am soooooo glad I did.  I felt I couldn't go to any public support group but did have one trustworthy person that helped me through a lot of the crazy psychological issues.  I had things bubbling up from my past that I had not dealt with or thought of in years.  I am going through the depression still!  I feel like I was better when I was using!  I know that sounds ridiculous but its true.  I could focus, make decisions and just enjoy life while I was high and I can't seem to do anything now that I am sober.  Have you tried getting on anti-depressants?  I hope you hang in there and please don't just pop a pill in a couple of weeks because we all know that one pill turns into a million pills and all of the suffering you are enduring will be in vain!  Even with this depression I would never want go back to being addicted to pain killers.  You can do it!  
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
DO NOT listen to the guy talked about getting on tramadol folks!  It Is a terrible drug with more prolonged w/ds than vikes or percs due to the antidepressant qualities. It is touted as "non-narcotic which is crap. Read Emily Post and u will learn. I have been down both roads and I can tell you that regular short acting opiates are easier to get off of (can't speak for methadone). Please check it out before ever taking tramadol. I beg you. Good luck to everyone!  There is a better life out there and don't let the "just one" mentality get you when you feel free because that is what always gets me. This is a life long battle for true addicts. Peace- gettnclean
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Avatar universal
If you're still around.  And, hopefully you're not.  You're right where I am.  Two days sober after a 2-week taper.  Over two years of usage.  No oxys, just lortab, etc.  Up to 120 mgs. a day.  I even tried the Suboxone route, but it didn't take.  This has been pure WILLPOWER.  I'm maintaining with Clonidine, which is something I seriously recommend for w/drawal symptoms.  A doc can prescribe over the phone.  The prescription was only $4.  Feeling a little woozy, but no w/drawal symptoms.  However, I am seriously afraid of what comes next.  No energy, everything seems bland, no joy, or desire for anything.  At this point, this is my real concern.  What is Paws syndrome?  I saw that term in one of the postings.  Sounds serious.  About the best I can say is that from time to time, when I am engaged in something constructive, I forget about the damn pills.  I must believe that day-by-day, I will forget more and more.  My best to all of you.  This community has really helped me.
Helpful - 0
1228191 tn?1267338952
I am a 21 year old female. I have been addicted to opiates for the last 6 years; since my junior year of highschool. I started out only taking 5-10mg(1-2 pills) a day, then moved up to 10-15mg a day(3-4), then to 35mg a day(7.5+half of a 7.5 up to 3 times a day), and most recently I've gone up to 45-50mg a day(10mg+5mg 3-4 times a day). My pill bottle was getting really low a few days ago, but I kept telling myself that I would find a place to get more. Once I got down to about 9, thats when I started freaking out. Yesterday morning, I found someone to give me 3 10's. I took my last ones last night before bed. I haven't had any all day and I'm already starting to feel the withdrawal. I have RLS(restless leg syndrome) already, so I can only imagine how bad its going to be tonight. I've been reading about the best thing to do to help you through withdrawals(drinking water, hot showers, walking, exercise) but how the hell are you even suppost to get out of bed to do any of those things without a pain pill motivating you?! I take opiates for the 'feel good' high, which in my case, usually only lasts about 5-7 minutes. My husband doesn't understand how bad they can pull you in and when you don't have them, the actual aches and pains you feel. He tried to compare it to quitting smoking, which he is in the process of doing. I have 2 small children and I feel like I can't even get out of bed in the morning to be a mom without my pills. I want to be done with them, but then again, thats a lie. If someone came over and gave me a pain pill right now, I know I would take it, and I wouldn't even feel guilty because I would have a false sense of happiness for those 5-7 minutes, and then I would just go right back to wondering where I was going to get my next ones. I just feel like they make me a better, happier person. And when I know I have them there, I have something to look forward to. I have a prescription to be filled on Monday, and I am counting down the hours, minutes, seconds... until I have them In my hands.. How pathetic is that?!
Helpful - 0
205558 tn?1264715699
Girl, you are not pathetic, your just dependent. It's no crime to have something to look forward to. The best thing about being clean and away from these little devils, is not having to build my whole day, week, month, around having my pills. I'm free! Before you quit for good, some good things to start 2 weeks prior is to get Vitamin b12 or even better, a vitamin B complex that contains all the B's. Get you C vitamins, and I started L-tyrosine for depression. All this stuff u can find at a healthfood store. Your really cheating yourself out of the joy of your children and your husband and just plain ole life. It is great to be clean but getting too that point does suck, but you won't die from withdrawals, but you could die from taking too many pain meds. Were all friends here, and been where you are, so make up your mind and lets get you clean!!!!
Helpful - 0
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