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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 11 of 11. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Eggy on May 21, 2003, at 22:56:56
I have to have a root canal. My dentist gave me Lortab...then more then more. I accepted it. Ive already been through detox for Vicodon and Valium...now I am increasing my doses and times per day. How can I stop this addiction circle? I love the feeling of being "high". I know it's not good but I can't STOP! I want to so bad. I tried not taking any all day but I threw up and felt like crap all day so I took 15mg a few minutes ago. Whats my problem is there a drug to stop me from being addicted to drugs??
Posted by Caleb462 on May 21, 2003, at 23:19:34
In reply to Lortab...another addiction...drugs drugs drugs, posted by Eggy on May 21, 2003, at 22:56:56
> I have to have a root canal. My dentist gave me Lortab...then more then more. I accepted it. Ive already been through detox for Vicodon and Valium...now I am increasing my doses and times per day. How can I stop this addiction circle? I love the feeling of being "high". I know it's not good but I can't STOP! I want to so bad. I tried not taking any all day but I threw up and felt like crap all day so I took 15mg a few minutes ago. Whats my problem is there a drug to stop me from being addicted to drugs??
I know how it is with opiods... I've never been addicted in the physical sense (the longest I've ever gone using without stopping is 5 days), but I have a strong psychological pull towards hydrocodone. I'm a big fan of oxy, codeine, etc. as well - but hydro was my first love. But yeah, dependance sucks. So... let's see, how long have you been doing the Lortabs? If you're getting them from your dentist, it probably has only been a few weeks? And if your taking 15 mg regularly, well that's a relatively small dose... so detoxing off this habit shouldn't be too terribly hard. Are you on an anti-depressant? I've found that SSRIs and the like tend to decrease drug-craving to a fairly large degree. And of course... there's always methadone.
Posted by Eggy on May 22, 2003, at 12:57:13
In reply to Re: Lortab...another addiction...drugs drugs drugs, posted by Caleb462 on May 21, 2003, at 23:19:34
Thanks for your reply Caleb, I like your thread on the perfect anti depressant. I was reading it last night. When you make some can I be the first one to try it?
I have been on the Lortab for 6 weeks. Right now I am taking 15mg every 2 hours. Trying so hard not to. Yesterday I didn't take any until yesterday evening. I had to I was dying. Felt like it anyway. I haven't eaten any solids since the 14th. I drank some beef broth but it came up immediately. So I am living on Pepto and Lortab. Plus I take...Lamictal,Topomax,Restoril,Geodon,Synthroid and Zantac for ulcers.
I have lost 9 pounds not good for my 5'7" frame and my eyes look like Mike Tysons.
I dont want to tell my P-doc because I know he will suggest the lock up again. He has even threatened me that if I keep up using (I am also a drinker and smoker) that he may possibly drop me.I want to quit this on my own. While the dosage is low. I see the endodontist tomorrow, but just for a consultation. I have a heart problem so any medical problem patients have to have a consultation first. My actual appointment for tooth repair is Tuesday...which he will probably also put me on a pain killer. Hopefully I will not need it. But it is so tempting. And to have an excuse to take it doesn't help.
Is addiction a weakness on my part or an illness?
I love it and hate it at the same time. I have 3 small kids so I need to stop being so stupid.
Posted by paxvox on May 22, 2003, at 16:33:57
In reply to Re: Lortab...another addiction...drugs drugs drugs, posted by Eggy on May 22, 2003, at 12:57:13
Eggster, I would not be so worried about the hydrocodone as much as I would be about the acetamenaphen along with those 15mgs. ACP will KILL you a whole lot quicker than any opioid/opiate. Personally, I love them, and feel that they have a legitimate use as an antidepressant med. However, and it's a BIG however, the tendency for abuse is sooooo high that no one will really look at it seriously as an AD. I would ask what antidepressants you are currently taking. Maybe a dopaminergic like Wellburtin might be of use to you. I like to play with the lovely poppy flower and its man-made extract when available, so I understand your cravings. However, I would STRONGLY urge you to consider the possible PERMANENT liver damage you may face by taking 700+mg of ACP every 2 hours. That *WILL* kill you eventually. If you must take them chronically for pain, ask for Percalone or Oxcycodone that does not have any ACP. Good luck at getting it though. Also you may consider opiate/ibupro. compounds.
PAX
Posted by Caleb462 on May 22, 2003, at 22:16:42
In reply to Re: Lortab...another addiction...drugs drugs drugs, posted by Eggy on May 22, 2003, at 12:57:13
> Thanks for your reply Caleb, I like your thread on the perfect anti depressant. I was reading it last night. When you make some can I be the first one to try it?
>
> I have been on the Lortab for 6 weeks. Right now I am taking 15mg every 2 hours. Trying so hard not to. Yesterday I didn't take any until yesterday evening. I had to I was dying. Felt like it anyway. I haven't eaten any solids since the 14th. I drank some beef broth but it came up immediately. So I am living on Pepto and Lortab. Plus I take...Lamictal,Topomax,Restoril,Geodon,Synthroid and Zantac for ulcers.
> I have lost 9 pounds not good for my 5'7" frame and my eyes look like Mike Tysons.
> I dont want to tell my P-doc because I know he will suggest the lock up again. He has even threatened me that if I keep up using (I am also a drinker and smoker) that he may possibly drop me.
>
> I want to quit this on my own. While the dosage is low. I see the endodontist tomorrow, but just for a consultation. I have a heart problem so any medical problem patients have to have a consultation first. My actual appointment for tooth repair is Tuesday...which he will probably also put me on a pain killer. Hopefully I will not need it. But it is so tempting. And to have an excuse to take it doesn't help.
>
> Is addiction a weakness on my part or an illness?
>
> I love it and hate it at the same time. I have 3 small kids so I need to stop being so stupid.Addiction is not a weakness. It is an illness in and of itself, and people with mental/emotional problems seem to be especially succeptible to it. I know I am, though I'm lucky enough that I haven't a found a regular source, and by now... my cravings have subsided greatly - so I don't want to find one.
It is definitely a good thing that you want to get out now. It will certainly be easier to quit now, when your habit is relatively small, than later, when it is much bigger. I would suggest you try tapering off. Start spacing out the doses... say 15 mg every 4-6 hours rather than every two hours. Then start dropping the dose, 10 mg every 6 hours for a week or so, then go down to 5 mg for a week or so, and then 2.5 mg... and you could even chop it into an amount around 1.25 mg if you needed to. This should be much easier than going cold turkey. Granted, I'm no expert... but I've talked to a few junkies before, and this should be a good plan. You also might wanna look into finding a counselor who deals with substance abuse/addiction, etc. They may be able to help you quit and help you stay off.
Good luck!
Posted by Eggy on May 22, 2003, at 22:55:43
In reply to Re: Lortab...another addiction...drugs drugs drugs, posted by Caleb462 on May 22, 2003, at 22:16:42
Thanks to both of you. easier said than done. No one is even trying to take it away and im hiding this stuff everywhere for backup. I am going to cut back like you said Caleb. My teeth still hurt. I am doing searches on Amalgam fillings and pain. I am going to have these suckers yanked out. I have perfect teeth except for the top back molars and they hurt like Hell. Forget the root canals. Whats the best non-addictive pain releiver? And don't say baby aspirin!
Posted by Caleb462 on May 22, 2003, at 23:41:16
In reply to Re: Lortab...Caleb and Paxvox, posted by Eggy on May 22, 2003, at 22:55:43
> Thanks to both of you. easier said than done. No one is even trying to take it away and im hiding this stuff everywhere for backup. I am going to cut back like you said Caleb. My teeth still hurt. I am doing searches on Amalgam fillings and pain. I am going to have these suckers yanked out. I have perfect teeth except for the top back molars and they hurt like Hell. Forget the root canals. Whats the best non-addictive pain releiver? And don't say baby aspirin!
As far as OTC stuff, either generic Ibuprofen or plain old aspirin works best for me. Acetaminophen is weak in my experience, and naproxen sodium upsets my stomach. As far prescription stuff... I'm not too sure. I think there are strong formulations of Ibuprofen (800 mg tabs!) and naproxen (called naprosyn).
There's also Vioxx. Don't know anything about it though. And Ultram is touted as being "non-addictive"... but it's a dirty lie.
Posted by littie on May 24, 2003, at 17:05:24
In reply to Lortab...another addiction...drugs drugs drugs, posted by Eggy on May 21, 2003, at 22:56:56
There are better ways of getting off of narcotics than going cold turkey. Clonidine is a big help in dealing with withdrawal symptoms, also, a brief course of a drug such as Darvon may help. If it is a continuing problem, AA or NA is always there. Cutting pills in half just prolongs the agony.
Posted by Eggy on May 25, 2003, at 23:35:05
In reply to Re: Lortab...another addiction...drugs drugs drugs, posted by littie on May 24, 2003, at 17:05:24
I'm on Clonidine. What does that do and how does that help?
Posted by littie on May 26, 2003, at 17:06:30
In reply to Re: Lortab...another addiction...drugs drugs drugs, posted by Eggy on May 25, 2003, at 23:35:05
Clonidine is the same thing as Catapres, a blood pressure medication. If I recall correctly it's an alpha-1 agonist. It's centrally acting and seems to smooth over most withdrawal symptoms, maybe because of a blunting of the sympathetic response. I know that it works--it's used in rehab centers. It's also supposed to reduce cravings. Not a controlled substance, either.
Posted by Eggy on May 27, 2003, at 23:26:31
In reply to Re: Lortab...another addiction...drugs drugs drugs, posted by littie on May 26, 2003, at 17:06:30
Just a little note to end this thread. I had that dang tooth pulled today. Luckily it's the back molar so no one can tell. They gave me Lortab 10 the other day and more today.Not to mention the 7.5 I already had tons of. Of course I accepted it. I made an appointment for Thursday with my Pdoc for some professional help before it gets out of hand again. I am still eating the Lortab like candy. It seems by a glance I have over 100 pills left. 3 bottle full and pills hid all through the house. Malpractice insurance in West Virginia is running out all our Dr's and we wonder why???? Between two dentist I have enough Lortab to heal Zimbabwe of all pain and suffering. Just for a tooth ache!!! And I have a history of addiction! It's my fault I know know but GEEZ!
This is the end of the thread.
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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
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