Prescription Drug Dependence and Withdrawal ?

Barmeyoldbat

I have been ,to a pain clinic as well, near to useless didn’t tell me anything I wasn’t already doing and physio was still by zoom.

My visit wasn't pleasant, but I was prescribed medication, which actually worked.
All our experiences are different.
My main point was that is is not advisable to try and reduce medication ourselves.

*'are' not 'a''

I too took a mix of painkillers/anti-inflammatory medications, when I had a slipped disc, to control the resulting sciatica. I was on Oramorph, Naproxen and Amitriptyline for nearly 2 years.

Please do take care and consult your doctor before changing your routine. They are very aware of the addictive nature of some of these drugs and can guide you if you a determined to cut down on taking them. As others have said, there is no shame in having to take them - that's what they are there for! You know that I am taking the same route as you with my anti-depressants and everyone on here has been so helpful and supportive to me so keep us in the loop, we will be there for you if you need support, but your GP and medical profession should give you all the professional advice you need .

Good luck!

I have been ,to a pain clinic as well, near to useless didn’t tell me anything I wasn’t already doing and physio was still by zoom.

Fanny, I meant to say, after trying jusy about every prescription painkiller under the sun, I was referred to a pain clinic.
I got a right telling off from the consultant (he wasn't a pleasant man) , saying trying to manage my pain and pain relief on my own, was not advisable. It needs the expertise of a doctor.
So I hope you will get on the phone today, you cannot do this on your own.

Thinking definitely gives you headaches

Well done Fanny happy to hear you are getting there.

And thank you to everyone for your support and kind words

Hello, especially to Jane and Mary
As suggested by a poster, I didn’t ask for an appropriate yesterday, a) because it would be busy and b) because I had to get one for DH to see the nurse.
And then I overslept this morning, I shall definitely call them tomorrow.

So this is my progress:
Saturday night, I didn’t get to sleep at all until 7am, and then slept till 3pm.
Yesterday was pretty normal, albeit with a dreadful headache. I took one Tramodol.
Last night I didn’t sleep great, and fell upon the idea of taking an anti inflammatory (naproxen - I am prescribed these for OA, but don’t take them that often)
That seemed to do the trick, so when I felt a headache coming on an hour ago, I took another one.
The headaches seem to be worsened by any degree of thinking, so I’m trying to do as little thinking as possible…

Wondering how you are today, Fanny.

Hopefully you managed to speak to someone today. I am incredibly sensitive to medication, I even get withdrawal after taking codeine 'occasionally' for migraines. You really are nothing unusual Fanny and the GP wont be fazed at all by this, I assure you

Good to see you plan to speak to your doctor FannyC. You won’t be the first asking for this kind of help. I’m sure they’ll welcome yiu taking the initiative
Getting older isn’t a doddle is it x

I was taking tramadol and it made me feel sick all the time so decided to come off it.
I went cold turkey and even though I'd only been taking it for 3 months max, I had terrible cold sweats and insomnia.
It worked though and Im glad to see the back of it.
It's a horrible drug.
It might not be a good idea to do what I did if you've been on it longer.
Hope the doc helps you!

Just a thought ... Mondays are not the day to get on to the GP first thing for a situation that has been going on for a while and could be left to the next day or even later in the week...

I absolutely agree that this is for the GP to deal with. Good luck!

I agree contact your doctor ... many many years ago I took mild tranquillisers, doctor told me how to cut down, me I did it much too quick instead of cutting down slowly, thought I knew better ... made me worse, may take a few weeks , months or who knows a year, but with medical supervision I am sure you will be fine ... also personally I didn't give up ...

Fanny, you cannot do this on your own, you need the expertise of your GP.
People on here are well meaning, but only your doctor knows your medical history and it's not wise to do it on your own.

I can sympathise with what you are experiencing, I wear a Fentanyl patch ( highly addictive) and if I am late changing it, the withdrawal symptoms are awful.

Get on that phone this morning and don't take No for an answer.

Over the last 34 years I have tried various tablets and then had to go through withdrawal when they don't work and each time it was brutal.

People worry about becoming addicted to long term use of tablets. All tablets are addictive one person can become addicted within a month others take longer it depends on your body.

I know on am addicted to the tablets I take and accept it as they help me.

A friend of mine has severe arthritis in her hands and knees . After my nagging she finally saw her GP to get some antiinflammatories . After a month I asked her if they where helping and found she hadn't taken them because she read they can become addictive. I told her off and glad to say she started to take them and isn't suffering like she was.

I know some long term use of tablets can cause serious harm it happened to me in 2017. I was on 2100mg sodium valporate and 800mg carbamazpine for decades they gave me jaundice and was told when I was discharged from my gastrologist I could have died.

But I don't blame the consultant who put me on them as he did what he thought would help me . This was in 1992. After all the tests available at the time he couldn't give me a diagnosis but only treat my syptoms . He was the top consultant at the time in the country.

This year finally got diagnosed. And no wonder all the tests I have done over the years showed nothing. It was only by genetic blood tests that I could be diagnosed. And I was born with a mutant gene. Now on a tablet to stop my limb jerks and seizures. I know I am addicted to it but I would rather addiction than what I have been going through.

It's not just prescription drugs people can become addicted to but vitamin and mineral tablets after a while taking them our bodies get used to them and your body craves them.

But all this is just my opinion and experience. Others will disagree .

I had a rough time coming off Pregabalin even with the dose being gradually reduced. I hope you get some good advice on how how best deal with the side effects. It will get better.

Be honest with your doctor fanny. Your symptoms may not all be about the medication, perhaps anxiety is making them worse. You’ve got nothing to be ashamed of - after all you didn’t prescribe them. Good luck. Please let us know how you get on.

Tramadol is notorious for dependency. A friend of mine was waiting for a knee replacement and, just as it was in sight, he had a heart attack. This meant the operation had to be delayed and he spent an extra year on Tramadol. He got off them in the end but it took a while.

Definitely go to the doctors and get help. Withdrawing is not an easy process. Good luck

Good luck in the morning Fanny. Explain to your GP that you want to see if you can manage on a lower dose but if you can't would you be able to go up to the original dose again. My friend did that after a hip replacement her GP listened and was very helpful.

Good luck in the queue tomorrow Fanny! My DH had dreadful pain before 1st hip replacement so you wouldn't have had much choice about taking strong painkillers. Sorry I don't have a lot to offer--but Co-Codamol brought headaches for me. I hope you can get sorted. I think splitting tablets is a good idea to come off gently.

Fanny I sm in a similar position with pain but I now take morphine, after taking tramodole for a while but stopped because it gave me terrible headaches and I found I couldn’t think straight. It was paramedics who suggested morphine and asked my dr to prescribe it. I can go days without taking but then have a flare up, like now, and end up having two doses a day. It might sound strange but the best thing I find that helps is gentle exercise in the fresh air and I cycle, sometimes just a mile or two, as it’s none weight bearing and so doesn’t cause pain in my joints. I hope you find a way that helps with pain.

Thank you everyone, I really appreciate it.
I’m definitely phoning tomorrow first thing (the usual 8am fastest finger first madness ?)