Am I a drug addict?

Hey guys,

I need opinions on something really personal.

I went to my GP today, I have recently been weened off my OxyContin pain killers per my own request but I have also been assessed by the pain clinic and they want me off the oxycontin as well but put onto methadone.

Well today I went to my gp, suffering real bad withdrawal symptoms from the OxyContin, Aching legs, feel like ripping my skin off, cramps in the arms and legs and hands, flu like symptoms, runny nose, weeping eyes.

Anyway, he recommends I start the methadone which I reluctantly agreed to, as well as start a course of clonidine, for the withdrawals, apparently both medications will help with the withdrawals, and the methadone will help with my pain.

But here is my dilemma, does taking methadone make me a drug addict? I have always associated methadone with drug addiction, luckily I dont have to go into the chemist each day, today I got a script for 80 tablets @ 10mg. 2x 10MG Morning, 2x 10MG Night. for the next 20 days and return and see how I am.

Is that stigma about methadone associated with me? I am put on it for pain reasons, I wanted off the OxyContin because I found it very addictive and it worried me, as I have had kidney and liver failure, as well as a host of other health problems which many of you know about, and I cannot afford to get addicted to something.

Also, the premis of the methadone is for a 6 month course, then weened off that, will I suffer withdrawal from that, if so as bad as the oxycontin withdrawals?

Cheers,

David Giles

 

Prescription meds can be very pernicious and habit forming,
I have been on such meds for a number of years and am not able to function without them but they do have a down side of addiction.

I have just spent 10 days in hospital for other medical problems and at my request got me off one of the stronger and more addictive of them,I had hallucinations cold sweats, the whole 9 yards but am now free of this particular medication (cymbalta)

The need for pain medication is foremost in my life as without it i would be a pile of S**t but it has to be tempered with amount needed to control the pain without going overboard.
If i was stopped by the police in a control i would without doubt fail a drugs test but that does not make me an addict it makes me a victim of my body.
So to answer your question "no you are not a drug addict" as long as it remains under control.

 

Thanks Bill,

I believe methadone does not have any "High" properties when used correctly, so that was my main worry but I just spent the last hour on the phone to my local chemist & spoke with In Lenght with the senior pharmacist, who put some of my concerns to rest, so I think I will give it a go.

Apparently taking methadone is the same as being on opiates, but diffirent, none of the "High" properties exist when taken orally, which was a big concern for me, I should have asked my GP all these questions, but its one of those days where your waiting in the waiting area to see your Doctor, working all these questions up in your head, but when you get your turn, it all flys out the window and you forget to ask the big question.

here in australia we also have a Australian Drug Foundation hotline for people that are on these types of medication, the line is for info for the consumer, but its also a councelling hotline, which I have found to be priceless in my situation, especially when it came to the OxyContin 40mg withdrawals, just talking sometimes helps, weird, but it worked for me, I haven't been myself lately, withdrawing and all that, but I feel better today, so hopefully tonight I can finally get some sleep, I haven't slept in the last 48 hours, dog tired.

Again, thanks for you info Bill.

Cheers,

David Giles

 

I'm not too knowledgable about this stuff really, but I will say , the term "Drug Addict" in my book is someone who takes a form of drug that they cannot do without when in actual fact they do not need it.
Oxy's and methadone are both chemically addictive and to my knowledge will give withdrawal symptoms when stopped, but there's a line between taking them for a real reason and just wanting them.
IMO you are an addict if you want/need them, if you take them because you actually need them because nothing else works then I don't see that as a "Drug addict"

So basically, a "Drug Addict" is someone who abuses the drug.

 

Strong pain meds can make you feel good,I'm not sure why its such a taboo thing for doctors or patients to talk about that but I've never heard a story of doctor talking about this side effect or giving advice on what to do they always warn of the negative side effects,that's why they are sold illegally.

I think if you get used to a medication and its effects and learn to live with it there can be things you like about it as well as dislike and its these things that there doesn't seem to be anyone to talk to for example people take tranquillisers or sleeping pills to help them sleep it start to look forward and actually enjoy being able to 'switch off' and the end of the day by just taking a pill.So I think if you start to look forward to taking whatever medication and you take it because you like the effect then you may have become psychologically addicted,as Nedlamar said if you abuse it,use it not for it's intended purpose.

As with all these threads I think you should talk more with your to doctor Exo:-D But be honest there's no point holding back,tell him if you would 'miss' your medication addiction isn't always physical or medical its psychological,you can can become addicted to anything even stupid things like ketchup.

All my opinion not to be considered medical advice:cool

Some links to read through for some REAL advice

http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/Drug-misuse/Pages/Introduction.aspx

 

http://www.beatingaddictions.co.uk/

http://www.beatingaddictions.co.uk/BeatingAddictionDrugs.html

 

I totally agree with Tim and others in the thread,if its just the stigma that's attached to what you take then that's just silly,don't worry about it.

 

Thanks Guys,

Got some damn good points, its good to get other point of views, and I need to agree with all of them, I am too worried about what other people think, mainly my wife, but she knows why I am on them and what the pain I go through each day, so she fully understands, I am too wrapped up in what others think and need to stop it, thanks again guys for the input, and the links were invaluable...

 

I'll put it simply, it seems to me you are given meds and don't really want to take them but the need is there for legitimate reasons, you have problems when your doctor wont prescribe them and you are looking to buy them or when you are going through more than your doctor says you need (I don't mean 1 or 2 more but like a months worth in a week)

As has been said, I think you're reading waaaay too much into this and the mere fact you started this thread says to me that you don't have any such problems.

 

I merely needed to just check, put it all out their and see if I was in that class, I haven't taken any of the methadone yet, but I will after breakfast as I am in some pain, but I was also worried about that stigma related to methadone, but as TimW said, it doesn't matter what anyone else thinks, its what I think.

And I never thought about it that way before, so thanks guys for all the input, has cleared it up for me, and has me in a better frame of mind.

 

Glad you're feeling better about it

 

Sweet I'm glad your minds at rest, I posted the links just in case you thought you may have a problem and needed help,its hard to tell sometimes as one of the behaviours of addiction is to seek reassurance from people around you that your not addicted and don't have a problem,it puts the responsibility in the hands of the people making the judgement so a person in question feels justified in pursuing addictive behaviours and doesn't have to face up to the fact they have a problem

e.g Two guys in a bar "I'm not an alcoholic am I?I just drink socially and I can quit whenever I want." "Ofcourse your not an alcoholic,they drink anything and you only drink beer."

I've heard that one loads of times in various forms.

 

Well I only take my medication strictly as prescribed, always have, always will, at the end of the day if I stray from the guidelines, it will be me at the end of the day that suffers from the consequences, and I have read alot about methadone in the last 24 hours and have made myself very aware of how it works and all the pro's and cons, and realise that essentially my body will become dependant on the medication after a few weeks, but I should only be on methadone for roughtly 6 months, then weened from it, which I eagerly look forward to, one less medication is all the better. I eventually want weened from all my medications, ie Olanzepine (Zyprexa), Mirtazepine, Omeprazole (Stomach Ulcer Meds, Ulcer has healed up and fine now) only taking Omeprazole as a caution as I have had an ulcer that bleed in the past.

But my health is improving, I actually got told my liver function has actually got better, so I am very happy about that, but I still have a fair way to go before I can honestly say I am all good.

Again, thanks guys for all you input and diffirent point of views, I feel better about the situation than I did yesterday, so cheers.

Kindest Regards,

David Giles

 

Emma you are perfectly right that you are never in total control of drugs (i have only had Meth for a very short period) I have been on heavy meds for years now and needed help to get of one of the more addictive ones.

No one judges here but we all have our experiences and views which we voice to give insight to our particular problems.

 

Judgement? .... did I miss something?

You seem to be the one judging and quite obviously assuming that all us guys here live straight laced lives in our mums basement with a PC and big TV, hate to burst your bubble but most of us have lived life and played lifes little games.

Just because we are on a "geek" forum doesn't mean we have not delt with our fair share of lifes harsh problems.

 

2Quick points before I continue.

1:

No, this is the internet, America is only a small part of it.

2: I'm still waiting for you to point out where anyone other than you, said anything judgemental towards the OP.

3: Don't come in here telling other people to respect something you have no respect for yourself.

Anyway, your original post was informative, not sure what you have based your knowledge on, but your theory about addiction level is a welll talked about but very weak theory. Whether something is chemically or mentally addictive matters not,

is something I agree with. But... it can still be a problem, I smoke, I know the nicotine addiction will be gone in a week, but the habbit addiction will last a lifetime, ask anyone who's quit smoking.
I know someone who was addicted to gambling... no chemicals involved there.

The advice Kestral gave was sound advice from her own experience, most likely different in many ways to other peoples experience. But thats my point, you can't just discount someones opinion when it's based on experience.

Any kind of presciption drug can be dangerous if you let it, as Bill said, it's not difficult to become a slave to drugs, especially those like methadone or Oxy's etc.

If they wer'nt highly addictive and sort after then why do so many people sell them illegally?

It's been agreed and reassured to the OP that his initial concerns are void. How he takes this info is not up to us.
You are offering up medical advice. Thats a dangerous ground to walk on unless you really do know either through education or experience.