When you say “hooked” just what do you mean? I don’t take it in the AM if I don’t need it, nor at night if I don’t need it, even though the Rx is for 1 mg. AM and 1/2 mg. PM. What happens to make you think you’re “hooked?”
Abby

Hey folks, I agree with most of what has been said. The drug companies push new “improved”, drugs, which subsequently were under patent for 10 years, (which for those that may not know, means that the drug cannot be copied and/or sold generically). The doctors then prescribe them to their patients (often with little discussion as to the side effects, including potential addiction! Then with all of the deaths going on throughout North America, including cities & towns that often had never been heard of before! This prompted MEDIA attention to the issue..which included the addition of doctors either now denying drugs that they had previously prescribed to their patients (with most offering no support in terms of transition etc.) which left many of them seeking anything (more often than not it is heroin, as it is widely available and cheap) they could get their hands onto stave off of the withdrawl effects. Other more seedy doctors opened up pill pushing offices, which as you can guess, prescribed large amounts of the pills which had them making money not only from the pills themselves but also in billing the insurance companies for the “appointments”.
So to deduce the the above, you were either pulled off your pain medicine because your doctors were afraid to leave you on any of the types of pain medication, which they clearly did not know enough about! You do the illegal thing & may choose heroin as your substitute to rid yourself of pain. Or as a yet another alternative to this ( some may misinterpret the often deadly result of the illegal drugs or the misuse of legal drugs) What I am talking about is suicide. In Canada this prompted a group of experts in relation to pain (scientists, pain doctors, etc.) to get together & discuss this topic. It was ultimately decided that the regular every day GP (General Physician or in some cases Practitioner) needed to be better educated in the area of “PAIN”. That with some proper guidance they would feel more comfortable in prescribing it to their patients rather than just denying it all together!
The group & is known as the National OPIOD use Guideline Group or “NOUGG” (for the safe & effective use of OPIODS for Chronic Non-Cancer Patients (CNCP).
The problem as someone previously mentioned, was the Government’s MISuse of the Guidelines that NOUGG had written in order to provide a practical resource to doctors; with the best available information, research & consensus of opinion on this topic. The Guideline was/is NOT intended to be used as a Policy or Standard of Practice, but as a practical resource to provide physicians with the best available information, research & consensus of opinion on this topic.
My experience recently has shown that the insurance companies are also using the Guideline as their Policy as they reviewed my list of medications using the Guideline and DENIED me my meds based on this!!! It was only after escalating my case and telling them that I have no other options other than these medications to help control my pain. Denial of them would lead me to my final option ,,,,,,Suicide. They asked me for my records from the onset of my CRPS 8 years ago to ensure that I indeed had exhausted all other options for treatment of my CRPS.
In waiting for my records I offered up another option… the use of a pain pump which would not only be more effective, it would also use less medication due to this. However, they,( as too ) had my GP and previous pain doctor denied me as they ALL gave me the same response….”That is used for cancer patients only”. None of them could give me a response as to WHY??? Do I really have to be dying in order for you to care about how much pain I am in??
It’s kind of ironic in a way, since denial of or perhaps in the near future the ineffectiveness of my pain meds will most likely lead me to suicide as a result. But then it will be too late for the pain pump!!!
I thought we were in the age of progress and technology, however it seems that when it comes to the area of chronic pain & its meds both the Guidelines as well as, the use of pain pumps for use in cancer patients only is CARVED in STONE!!!!

P.S. Forgot to mention, that I received a call from my drugstore the other day and they advised me that as of October 1, I needed to save my used Fentanyl patches, as the government has implemented a new program that I will get all the details on shortly!!!!

Feeling good on medication sometimes is confusing to people that that is a sign to ween off of the medication. But with certain medications it a sign that it is working and a reason to stay on it. Please do not ween yourself off of a medication without talking to your doctor

Do not apologize for sharing your thoughts the more you share the more we know and together we make a bad situation that we all have one way or another bareable. Thank you

Remember that Coca-Cola emphasis on the cocoa. These drugs were used by natives for years for ritual and insight purposes Our government got involved drug wars because of politics. The ones that we should be concerned with are the synthetic ones from the labs. If government or our insurance companies do not let us a drug its because of either money or polities.

I can miss a few pills also but just try and completely wean yourself off from any Benzo and you’re going to have a hell of a time getting off from them. Go to Benzos.org it’s an eye opener.

Oh wow … I’ll have to look at that. I know withdrawal is awful, but I guess I was under the illusion that it was if you were on higher doses.
Thanks for the info.
Abby

I already take 450mg of Wellbutrin, which, I think, is the maximum. I haven’t discussed TMS with a doctor yet, and I’d be willing to do ECT if I could get it closer to home. I don’t know if I meet the criteria now, as depression has stabilized. Neuropathy is my current primary issue, and the longer the pain continues and worsens, the more it effects my depression level.

I finally started a discussion a few minutes ago.

Yes and as somebody else mentioned only wean yourself off from drugs with your doctor’s help. I’ve been on meds. for so many years that I’m an expert at weaning myself off from them. I weaned myself off Zoloft which I’d only been on for about a month. When I told my doctor she got very upset and asked me why did I need her. Anyway she dropped me as a patient!

Have an awesome day folks!

Hi all! I have been following this discussion with interest. My wife was on a cocktail of medications during her entire 14 year journey with her brain cancer, which was accompanied by chronic pain, sky-high anxiety, and a multitude of other symptoms. Drugs came and went in that regimen, Dosages went up and down. Combinations were attempted, used, and often discarded. With each person and their metabolism being unique it’s not always perfect, especially at first. Plus I learned it can take quite awhile for some drugs to achieve a therapeutic level in the blood stream. One of our sacrosanct rules was that we would never alter a dose of her medication without first talking with her doctors and nurses. Perhaps some of this was due to the complexity of her multiple drugs, perhaps some of it was due to her anxiety, but most definitely the vast majority was because we knew the doctors, as a team, were far more knowledgeable on her drugs, their interactions, etc. than we could ever hope to be. If we thought a dosage could be, or needed to be, adjusted we always asked first. Plus if we felt one of her docs was out of the loop or over their head, we queried all her other doctors and nurses for their opinions. We never, ever acted alone or as our own doctors. Plus we can study what we can about our drugs, but still, at least in my case, I know I am not an RN, NP, MD, or PharmD and I don’t have access to the same volume of information they do.

Someone mentioned pain pumps and I have to say I do not believe there is one chance in a hundred million billion anyone will ever give out pain pumps for basic home use. I saw them in action in many hospital settings over the years and they needed constant monitoring, incessant maintenance, adjustments, and at times were prone to failures of a variety or types.

As to the new regulations regarding opioids, the abuse numbers of just prescription opioids is astounding, affecting every corner of America, and not always the areas where you might think. It is truly an epidemic in our country and has led far too many onto a life of desperation and loss. No matter who we view as at fault, it is out of control so there are many avenues being pursued to attempt to get a handle on this. And it is not just deaths, but the gigantic increases in ER visits for Rx overdoses, family traumas, costs to our society in general, etc.

Whether we might view it as right or wrong, actions are being taken at points in the stream where chokeholds and reviews can be applied. Yes, they are a PITA at times. I know it was a real hassle when it changed so I could only get my wife’s opioid Rx’s when she was down to one day’s dose, but I understood why. That was actually one of the nicest benefits of home hospice that her Rx’s were delivered to us. Also Fentanyl is do dang powerful it is highly sought after for a lot of wrong reasons. Even when my wife was in home hospice I had to carefully account for each patch, pill, and dose and how I disposed of the used patches, oral syringes, etc. was dictated and very specific. There have been cases in our county of people sorting through hospital trash to find used Fentanyl patches to be licked! I was also instructed to be sure to remove every single piece of identifying information before I discarded any pill bottle, pharmacy bag, or bag tag into the garbage stream.

It is a different world out there now and Dr. Welby left the building a long time ago. Yes, much of this affects those of us dealing with chronic pain, but it unfortunately is our new reality.

Just my two cents plain.

OMG…….I recently weaned myself off of Zoloft (15yrs) and my doctor was very rude to me and told me I was the most difficult patient she has had to work with in doing so. I will never go back to her. I was beyond upset!

Jim,
Thank you for starting this important discussion. It is my hope that members here feel safe and welcome to share about their struggles with suicide.

@overwhelmed, you can find Jim’s new group here.

– I survived suicide attempts http://mayocl.in/2dw4ZJv

I have had many doctor experiences in my life time some I liked some I did not. As a child I had to go with the doctor that my parents picked. When I turned 18 I took control. I decided about what treatments I would take and the doctor had to talk to me directly even if my parents were there. 60 years later I still have surgeries and medication treatments. But before I do anything the doctor better convince me that the treatment he or she is prescribing is right for me if it is not than this doctor much change is treatment or give me options. It is not right at anytime for a doctor to mistreat you for any reason. You are the patient and a person. As am I if a doctor makes me feel comfortable and can assure me that they are looking for my best interest. Than I will be open for discussions. But I make the final decision. When I look for a doctor. I look for practices that have more than one doctor. So that if I choose to change my doctor I can and more importantly if I need to see a doctor without going to an emergency room I can. So far it works for me. I have gone to ER and allowed my doctor to admit me.. But again if I find out that the treatment was not necessary than it’s time to find a new doctor. I know for some people this is tough to do, but maybe with a friend or family and your desire to change you can make the change. My thought is always if it feels right it is or if it feels wrong it is. At least for you. And you are the most important person in this situation. Be strong!