Aa
Help me
I have horrible migraine headaches and have since I was a teenager ( I am now 33). I have taken numerous blood pressure meds and other preventative meds. They just don't make a difference. I have had two MRIs in the past 10 years just to rule out the obvious. About 3 years ago my doctor prescribed maxalt and hydrocodone. At first I only took it when I had a headache. Now I take about 3-4 a day. The hydrocodone...not the maxalt. I take only half of a 7.5 but it wears off quickly or doesn't work at all so I soon take the other half and then it goes downhill from there. My 30 day prescription is out in 10 or so days and I'm stuck waiting another 20 to refill. I asked him to stop giving them to me and let me try tramadol, which he did, but it didn't even touch the pain. So, I'm back on the hydro and take the tramadol in between refills. Like most here, I never thought I would be dependent on these. I want to quit taking them entirely but I am so scared of the pain. Plus, if I go one day without either of them, I feel major withdrawal symptoms. Today I haven't had anything and it's 3 a.m and I have to be up at 6:00. Can't sleep! Help me know that I can get through this and am not alone please....
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
So welcome.
Thank you so much! I quit taking antidepressants when I became pregnant with my first child 11 years ago and the withdrawals from that were much the same as these! I had a will to do it for my child. I will try to find that same will this time, if it doesn't work, I will do everything you suggested. Thank you again for helping and being kind about it:)
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Recognizing that you have a problem is a very courageous first step in solving it. Unfortunately, as you well know, there are no magic tricks and instant formulas to resolve a situation that took years to create.
It is very common for addiction to start as a simple prescription for an acute pain such as kidney stone. A life long diagnosis such as a migraine should never be treated with narcotics for ant length of time. There are proven prophylactic medications that, if taken on daily basis, prevent or minimize occurrence of migraines. And if they do occur, there are much better, non narcotic medications that are migraine specific that work faster and are non addictive. For that you need to talk to a Neurologist who will gladly evaluate you and treat you and if you already had been evaluated, you need a second opinion.
In the meantime we need to address your addiction and physical dependency on opiates and what are your options of treatment. I will gladly give you some suggestions, but you may have to go and see a doctor anyway and will shortly see why: there are just some medications that are incredibly helpful in withdrawals and only a physician can prescribe them for you.
There is really no easy way of detoxing from home. I have dealt with hundreds of addicts who have all told me horror stories of doing it by themselves. I would only guess that if are successful in doing it at home you don't end up in my clinic.
Just in case you are curious, it takes us three to four days to detox a patient and get him/her back home drug free and feeling well on Naltrexone therapy (no opiates).
At home, the basic technique is to space out the pills you take on a consistent manner until you take only one at night, then half at night, than every other night and then none. See if your doctor can write you a prescription for some Requip for restlessness, Neurontin for anxiety and malaise, some Flexeril or Soma for a few weeks for muscle spasms and maybe some Seroquel low dose, for sleep. and Clonidine for the creepy-crawly feeling and control of blood pressure variations. It will make your withdrawals easier. Valerian and Magnesium is sometimes helpful remedies over the counter.
The residual symptoms of insomnia and depression can last another few months. Thus, it is not easy, but it gets better and better over time and you can look forward to a drug free healthy energetic you in the future. When you take opiates for a long time like you have, your body's physiology has been altered. Your central nervous system has created a multitude of opioid receptors that all are screaming for endorphins (opiates) to fill them, but your body has now forgotten how to make them by itself. It will take time - two to four weeks at least, for your receptors to down-regulate (for the brain begin to heal) and to start making its own endorphins. Brain heals pretty slowly, so it may take you as long as a couple of months to get rid of feelings of sluggishness, restlessness and depression. The best thing you can do is take good care of yourself, eat healthy food, stay hydrated, keep active and busy. Stay away from sugar, soda, and simple carbs. Do not consume caffeine at least 6 hours prior to bedtime.
Take a look at my blogs about options for detox and recovery. You may also take a look at my clinic website where I also have my blogs and a lot of other info about drug addiction and recovery. Look especially into the blog and the info on Naltrexone therapy after getting clean. It really improves your chances of staying clean for good by cutting down your physical cravings. Look into my clinic website as well. All this can be done by clicking on my name in blue.
There is a injectable form available now that is covered by all major medical insurances called Vivitrol that you would need to get only once monthly to stay clean. Just keep it in mind for the future. As to whether opiates will kill you in the future once you get off of them, no, they will not. However, you will need to be very careful not to get addicted again, since you know that you have that predisposition, which is likely genetic. Good luck to you and my best wishes.
It is very common for addiction to start as a simple prescription for an acute pain such as kidney stone. A life long diagnosis such as a migraine should never be treated with narcotics for ant length of time. There are proven prophylactic medications that, if taken on daily basis, prevent or minimize occurrence of migraines. And if they do occur, there are much better, non narcotic medications that are migraine specific that work faster and are non addictive. For that you need to talk to a Neurologist who will gladly evaluate you and treat you and if you already had been evaluated, you need a second opinion.
In the meantime we need to address your addiction and physical dependency on opiates and what are your options of treatment. I will gladly give you some suggestions, but you may have to go and see a doctor anyway and will shortly see why: there are just some medications that are incredibly helpful in withdrawals and only a physician can prescribe them for you.
There is really no easy way of detoxing from home. I have dealt with hundreds of addicts who have all told me horror stories of doing it by themselves. I would only guess that if are successful in doing it at home you don't end up in my clinic.
Just in case you are curious, it takes us three to four days to detox a patient and get him/her back home drug free and feeling well on Naltrexone therapy (no opiates).
At home, the basic technique is to space out the pills you take on a consistent manner until you take only one at night, then half at night, than every other night and then none. See if your doctor can write you a prescription for some Requip for restlessness, Neurontin for anxiety and malaise, some Flexeril or Soma for a few weeks for muscle spasms and maybe some Seroquel low dose, for sleep. and Clonidine for the creepy-crawly feeling and control of blood pressure variations. It will make your withdrawals easier. Valerian and Magnesium is sometimes helpful remedies over the counter.
The residual symptoms of insomnia and depression can last another few months. Thus, it is not easy, but it gets better and better over time and you can look forward to a drug free healthy energetic you in the future. When you take opiates for a long time like you have, your body's physiology has been altered. Your central nervous system has created a multitude of opioid receptors that all are screaming for endorphins (opiates) to fill them, but your body has now forgotten how to make them by itself. It will take time - two to four weeks at least, for your receptors to down-regulate (for the brain begin to heal) and to start making its own endorphins. Brain heals pretty slowly, so it may take you as long as a couple of months to get rid of feelings of sluggishness, restlessness and depression. The best thing you can do is take good care of yourself, eat healthy food, stay hydrated, keep active and busy. Stay away from sugar, soda, and simple carbs. Do not consume caffeine at least 6 hours prior to bedtime.
Take a look at my blogs about options for detox and recovery. You may also take a look at my clinic website where I also have my blogs and a lot of other info about drug addiction and recovery. Look especially into the blog and the info on Naltrexone therapy after getting clean. It really improves your chances of staying clean for good by cutting down your physical cravings. Look into my clinic website as well. All this can be done by clicking on my name in blue.
There is a injectable form available now that is covered by all major medical insurances called Vivitrol that you would need to get only once monthly to stay clean. Just keep it in mind for the future. As to whether opiates will kill you in the future once you get off of them, no, they will not. However, you will need to be very careful not to get addicted again, since you know that you have that predisposition, which is likely genetic. Good luck to you and my best wishes.
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