Hello...i am 48 years old and have a condition which i need to take pain medications for....i do this in moderation and on an as needed basis....my problem is my sister has been "helping" me take all my pain meds every month....this morning she woke me up crying and asking for help...i will be there for her every step of the way...i just don't KNOW what to expect....

some days she would take 4 other days 15 ....drug is Vicodin 10mg.....i feel completely lost and helpless....i would appreciate ANY and ALL help i can get to be prepared for next week....we both have next week off for vacation and decided she would "kick" the drugs then...i just want to be well prepared for this....she is a sober alcoholic and has been sober for 10+ years....i feel horrible about her addiction to my pain pills and know i need to get all the information i can to help us get through the coming week...

thanks

jj

Hi There, First let me say that your sister is very lucky to have you there beside her to give her support and to help her. This is going to be a very difficult time for her. I know first hand, it is a very unpleasant experience.

Does she have a family doctor that she could go see and explain that she has an addiction and is going to stop taking the pills c/t? If so, that would be great if she could get in to see him/her this week then maybe the doctor could write her a couple of prescriptions for some medications to help get her through the w/d's next week. I really suggest and highly recommend that she does so, also, you will want to get some Immodium, multi-vitamins (if she doesnt take them already), some Ensure, Gatorade and some Ibuprophen or other type of over the counter pain reliever.

She is not going to feel well at all. She will feel like she has the flu and may last from 3 to 7 days. She may have vomiting, diahrea, hot/cold flashes with sweating, body aches and pains along with restless legs and/or arms or both. She will probably have alot of insomnia as well. Like i said, it isnt a very fun thing to go through....at all!!!!!!

Just be there for her and support her. The support you provide her wont just be needed during her w/d's but she is going to need alot of support for quite sometime to help her get through the cravings and getting her life back.

I am sure many others here will add there wisdom to what i have said. I am sure i have missed something, but they will catch it and be a tremendous help to you as well! lol ;)

Best of luck to you and your sister! ValleyGurl

P.S. She is making a very wise decision with quitting!

oohh goodness...thank you so much for your information i will stop at the market on the way home tonight to get the needed supplies....this has been going on for about a year...i think we should taper this week...and cold turkey next week?...and no she won't contact her Dr.....and if i contact mine he will know who i am talking about and that would put him in a very difficult spot.....sis was not a pretty alcoholic and she got through the withdrawls without any medications but she was in INPT treatment...she says knowing this is going to help her with the days to come...but i've never been through a treatment program and i'm afraid i will give into her...looks like i might be spending some time online again....that was my DOC...internet....additced fro 5 years...clean now...first message board posted on is today....thanks for your support...from both myself and my sister.....

jj

Hi, when I finally cried out for help......after trying to taper down which I could not do..........my wife took me to the ER.........they put me in lower unit for 3 days......let me back up a little.... I was taking 10-20 percocets or vicodin a day......so back to the ground unit.........they gave me all the right meds in there to make withdrawls as easy as possable I didn,t even get that sick..........I never had the runs I never barfed I never had leg pains........the hardest thing was sleeping.......but they did give me meds for that.............when they sent me home.....I went to IOP for 3 weeks.that helped alot.............I am clean now over 100 days so far so good
GOOD LUCK
JCS

Its not your fault! Its good your sister fessed up to this, good sign! She is going to be fine. She knows what its like to kick an addiction. Just be there for her, comfort her and give positive emotional support, she has a disease. Cook for her, keep her fluid intake up, give her over the counter meds for the discomfort, the key for me was the ability to get rest, sleep helps speed the process in my opinion. I was in worse shape than your sister. Symptoms may include but are not limited to: Insomnia (I took Tylenol PM and it helped alot), the runs (Immodium worked for that), aches and pains (Advil), stomach cramps/throwing up (not much you can do for that but make sure she stays hydrated lots of water and/or Gatorade), hot showers and baths, back muscle massages help, make sure she eats and give her a multiple vitamin every morning too. Good luck, you guys can do this together, its comforting to have someone there to help you through. Unfortunately I relapsed, had to get medical assistance, went through a taporing process, methadone for six months now on suboxone and feel clear headed with no cravings for opiates. If your sister can't hack it this time, consider getting medical help seriously.

JCS...thanks for your reply...going into the hospital isn't an option for my sister right now ohhh how i wish it was i would have her at the doors come Friday night.....i also have valium for when my condition makes it difficult for me to sleep....would having those for her to take over the next week help or would i just be jumping from one fire to another?

jj

i'm amazed and so very happy at all the support i'm getting here...i will print all of these messages to take home to sis after work....yep we both work....and do very well at our jobs all things considerered....and believe me if sis and i can't get through this alone next week i will insist on some type of treatment center either hospital or rehab....like you said sis knows what she has to look forward too...i'm the scared one...but i know we can make it ....compaired to her drinking this should be a walk in the park....again thanks for your advice and support

Hi There, It's me again! lol Is there anyway she can maybe go to see a doctor that she has never seen before? Once she is over this she wouldnt have to go back again. I was just thinking she could get some Clonidine prescribed and maybe something for the vomiting (just in case) as well as some valium.

I have never taken the valium during w/d (just because i didnt have any) but i know lots of people use it while withdrawing. If you and your sister choose to use the valium just only use it for the first 2 or 3 days and definately in moderation.

I wish you both luck and i will definately be thinking of you both!!!!!

ValleyGurl

Valleygurl....mmmm thats amazing...cause i have colodine....and valium....i promised her we could try without a Dr....but if she can't handle it we will see someone like you said even if its a Dr she never has to see again....as the day has progressed i've gotten more scared for her....but i am determined we will get through this together....and survive to laugh about it down the road....or cry....which ever it may be....is there anyway that maybe if she needs help she could call and talk to you....from one person who has been through it to another...like i said i'm willing to do anything and everything i can....but i'm not sure i will have the right words to say....

Valleygurl....mmmm thats amazing...cause i have colodine....and valium....i promised her we could try without a Dr....but if she can't handle it we will see someone like you said even if its a Dr she never has to see again....as the day has progressed i've gotten more scared for her....but i am determined we will get through this together....and survive to laugh about it down the road....or cry....which ever it may be....is there anyway that maybe if she needs help she could call and talk to you....from one person who has been through it to another...like i said i'm willing to do anything and everything i can....but i'm not sure i will have the right words to say....

Hey that is awesome that you already have the meds she would or may need already on hand!!!!!!! I dont know what strength your clonidine is or how it is prescribed for you, however..... I can tell you that when the doctor prescribed it for me for withdrawal it is as follows...... Clonidine 0.2 mgs. take 1 pill twice dailey. I am assuming ?????? that the dose and taking it twice a day is pretty standard when it is prescribed for withdrawal. Seeing it is a blood pressure lowering medication you wouldnt want to give her anymore than that, you dont want her blood pressure to bottom out. It will most definately make her sleepy, but that will be a good thing. Sleep during w/d is the absolute best thing.

I have withdrawn from Vicodin, percocet, Tramadol, and the ever so horrible Fentanyl. I have been sufferring with chronic pain over the last 3 to 4 years so my doctor has basically prescribed just about every type of pain killer available. I had 2 herniated discs in my neck and last year on April 5th i went in and had surgery, big mistake!!!! The pain is worse now than before the darn surgery. My Neurosurgeon just didnt want to hear tell of it that i was still in pain because all he could keep saying is how he has a 100% success rate!!!!! So in January i finally talked him into doing more tests to find out why i was still in so much pain, that is when i found out that in the area where i had the surgery i now have Arthritis and 2 bone spurs along with another pinched nerve. The Neurosurgeon doesnt want to do surgery again, so he tells me to just do some form of pain management and to deal with it the rest of my life! I just turned 36, so i have a long road ahead of me. But anyway, when i herniated the discs in my neck, that is when the love affair with the pills started! Before that i had NEVER even touched a pain pill!!!!

Anyway, you came here for some help and advice.... not to hear my boo hoo story!!!!! lol I'll tell ya, I truely understand how your sister got into this mess with the pills, it is sooooooo easy to do! Please tell her she is not alone. There is sooooooo many people out there who is inor was in the same boat that she is right now. It is truely a growing epidemic in America. Many are your average "run of the mill" suburban housewives that no one in a million years would ever even suspect are popping these pills like M&M's !!!!!

Well, I have surely babbled on way to much! Sorry!

Wendy

jj,

I don't have much to add, Valleygurl has been wonderful with her advice (and she is so right about everything she has suggested!)~ I just wanted to add my support to you and your sis. I know she can do this...and she is SO lucky to have you in your life. It's not going to be a fun week for her, but she will get through it (I've had my fair share of C/T withdrawals). The most important thing to monitor is her blood pressure..that is really the only "major" complication with withdrawals. Of course, she will need to stay hydrated because she will most likely suffer from diarrhea and possibly vomiting, but the blood pressure issue is the most important. The clonidine is going to be a life saver for her (not only to keep her blood pressure under control, but to help her feel a little more comfortable, too)! Please keep us updated on her progress, and let her know that she has all of us "backing" her. I'll keep you both in my prayers!


P.S.~ Hey Valleygurl (Wendy), how are you?!?!?! I miss you, girl! I don't want to "hijack" this thread, but I do hope to hear back from you. You are always on my mind. I tried to call you out the other day in a seperate post, but the post is gone (??). Did you see it? Anyway, I have been thinking of you and hope to hear from you soon! Love ya!

It is a shame that your sister has changed addictions...the positive is that you are there for her. Do all of the things that have been listed here and just support her. She kicked alcohol, she can do this, too. It is hard as we as addicts sometimes can relapse so fast. It is hard but it can be done safely with the right meds and a lot of love......Prayers......Kahlia