Hi Folks:

I have been taking loritabs and tylenol 3 off and on for the past 4 months after not touching them for well over a year. Stupid, stupid, stupid. I recently moved from Ca to OK and met a friend here. My husband was really excited that I met a couple close to our age with two kiddos close to their age. She and I have a lot in common with her - we are both addicted she to diet pills and me to pain pills. They are really nice people, however, she smokes pot (something I have not done in years) and we have cocktails together on the weekends. Shortly after getting to know them - I was smoking pot with her and drinking 2-3 times a week. I recently quit drinking due to trading one for the other and my drinking got out of control slowly for the past two years. I do not drink as much now, but have been smoking pot up to a couple of weeks ago (I have not smoked any in a couple of weeks). We were hanging out one night and I had a bad headache - she offered loritab and not knowing my past with these stupid pills, I took it. Then she gave me more and more, which I traded her for diet pills, plus I was taking diet pills too hoping to lose a few pounds. I had a horse accident two months ago and the doctor prescribed me tylenol 3's. I started taking them and when I did not have any of those, my father in law would give me open access to his. Then, the doctor on my next visit prescribed me loritab - I did not say no and since have switched back and forth between T'3 and loritab. This is a new doctor and he is not aware of my past addiction. Recently, he prescribed me 60 pills and I took them within five days - I even threw up once while doing so, did that stop me - hell no. I need to regain control over these gripping pills. My husband had hand surgery during 3 weeks ago and I took some of his pills too. He was soooo pissed off stating that I have a problem and I need to take care of it. He is gone during the week working three hours away and home on the weekends - back home today. I am hoping that I can taper off of the vics and t3 with the last prescription that I have. Then I will go back to reading The Small Book and get a grip, plus posting here and at Sober Recovery - I will do my best once again to kick the habit. Damnit, I thought the first time I detoxed off these pills was enough for me (it was awful the first time around) and here I go again. My question is should I tell the doctor and ask that he help me regain control or go it on my own again?

Thanks for reading this post, it helps to put it out there in the open.

Hello,

In reading your post one thing struck a cord..well several things actually. All that follows is my humble opinion..take what you can use and leave the rest.

1) Diet pills, pot and alcohol sound like substitutions for the pain pills. During the year you were off the pain pills were you pretty much doing these other things consistently? If so....probably just substituted one addiction for another.

2) Telling your doctor will put the secret to rest. Secrets breed more secrets. If we don't tell our doctors & health providers our history are we leaving the door open for the future?

3) "I need to regain control" - we don't control the drugs..they control us. Think about it.

For me complete abstinence from all mood altering chemicals has been the only answer to continued recovery, lasting happiness and stability.

Good luck on your journey. I hope that you find your way. There are many excellent posts here with loads of advice on different ways to go about this. No one answer fits everyone. Usually it's a combination. One thing is for sure..there must be some bottom before you can start climbing back out of the pit.

Thank you for the response. Yep, I definitely traded alcohol for the pain pills and recently (4 months) the pot and diet pills. I did not like the diet pills they only made me feel anxious and the need to relax (which is why I smoked the pot and drank in the evenings). The only time I ever felt my best is when I was off of the pain pills, I remember a time that I did not even take an asprin for a headache and now I am being control by the pills. It is a constant battle and if you let your guard down - it can kick you straight in the butt. I need to stay possitive and just say no - again.

Should you tell your doctor? The answer would most likely be "yes". But I understand completely that that is MUCH easier said than done. But if you feel that you are not able to taper on your own or to go cold turkey on your own then you should definitely speak with your doctor about your concerns and they might be able to help you more than you would think. Like I said though, I realize that saying that is much easier than doing it. I have been worrying about my own dependence on pain pills that I take for a chronic pain condition.... But I have not told my doctor about my concerns because I am too afraid of going off the meds,then realizeing I truly need them for my pain and having my access cut off forever because the addiction would be on my record. So.... you are going to have to decide what YOU can handle. Some people have been able to successfully taper on their own. Peronally, this has not been working for me... but it is different for everyone! For others, the only way is to go cold turkey. Which might be what I have to do in order discover if I am truly taking these meds only for the pain... Good luck! And let us know what you decide to try and do!

I quit on my own from a five year addiction 20+ a day habit of Norco a little over a year ago. I just took hot baths and tried to hold on the best I could. I just phoned the doctors office and informed them that I needed an appt for Tuesday (I may call them back and tell them that I need one for today - he usually fits me in straight away). I informed them that I needed to speak to him about stopping the loritab and assistance with the w/d's. His receptionist is typically pretty good with me, but as soon as I told her why I needed to be seen - she clammed up and her bubbly tone went to cold. Oh well, not her problem - it is mine. The good thing is that I work from home, so I will not need to hide too much of this. The bad thing is my husband will be home this weekend and I am sure that he will be making statements like "I told you so - You shouldn't have even started taking that again." He yelled at me twice a week ago when I took some of his pills (he does not have a problem, he can take one and be fine - I am more like 2-3 every few hours and I am doing fine). Welp, I will just keep myself busy - I have plenty of work to do and I will just focus on that. Thanks again for the responses.

Good luck!!! Let us know how you are doing in your process. I am almost always around if you need to talk!

Me too. My husband had many percs around for a major surgery and barely took them. Then he just quit! He just doesn't understand addiction. But we do and are there to help you anyway we can. I am clean 33 days off vikes,Ambien and Ultracet. Post often and read, it helps.

Yours,
Vickyuser :angel: