Prescription drugs

24 Jan 2008

can i just add on to accidental overdoses on over the counter medication .... true about the lockets btw fabio .... if you have a cold and take paracetamol for your aches and pains and then have a lemsip ... this also contains paracetamol, this will lead on to an overdose and if not treated can result in the horrific and painful death.
all i can say is please please please read what you take carefully and if you have not read it in a while (because you take it regulary or have taken the product before) take a few moments to read the enclosed leaflet

24 Jan 2008

Quote by Missy
Is alcoholism more in the genes tho? Because not everyone does become addicted. But then there is the physical addiction, when you see an alcoholic coming down from it, you can see the physical withdrawal effects :shock: Or can anyone become an alcoholic? From my experiences of both alcohol and knowing alcoholics, it seems to be in the genes :dunno:

I'd like to pop a word or two in here if I may?
The words may not make any sence, as the person speaking/typing them rarely has a clue what on earth he's blethering on about in the first place... however, bear with him, his intentions are good... even his... errm... point is missed... where was I?
Oh yes, this alcoholism business;
that'll be me then.
and it's physically addictive nature... me too.
I became, over a period of time, completely and wholey physically addicted to alcohol... not just needing a top-up, or a touch of dutch-courage on more than the average occassion.
I agree that there may be a propensity towards alcoholism/addictive nature in certain individuals, however, looking back on my own history I see my use of alcohol in much the same way as other folk may use a painkiller, or other prescription drug that suits theier needs at given times. All goes well, and everything works for a very long time, and never would one consider any problem with the use of something that appears to be doing so much good, and actively improving many elements of our lives....
until that is... well... one's left without whatever the hit is that's needed... and you'll do anything at all to go get it.
and potentially follow that road wherever it leads no matter the consequences, as nothing, nothing at all outside the need to fill the hollow makes sence however hard you try to explain the confusion, pain and anger that you are left feeling inside... at yourself... but knowing it is only harming those around you... a perfect recipe for reaching for, stealing, begging for the next drink.
And there was I thinking I was a nice bloke too... never could understand why everyone was running/shying away.. funny that innit?
I've just typed such an awfull amount of bollox I'm not quite sure where to take it from here, but please excuse me a little moment of catharsis...
drink... it's all good, enjoy it, and believe me, Im not against it... just not for me any more.
and as an aside... I know I quoted you here Missy, but please please dont think any of the tosh Ive typed is directed against you, or any of the other posters in this excellant thread.
jeez I have a headache now... anyone got a paracetamol?
lp

24 Jan 2008

Quote by easy
You're (for whatever reason) a heavy drinker, or something happens and you go on a drinking binge...
You know your supposed to take your meds at 10pm so you take 2 and have a few drink... then think "Have I taken my meds?" and take 2 more...and have a few drinks and think.... Sounds unreasonable, but I have known people do this and some medication is highly toxic and easily overdosed.

This scenario happens all too often, people drink and dont know if they have taken their medication, so they take it again, and the effects of the drink and the tablets impact on the senses, so another tablet is taken, or possibly another litre of vodka, and before you know it, someone finds them dead the following day.
Prescription drugs can be leathal, especially if they are accidentily (or intentionally) mixed with alcohol.
Missy, worship

thank you for this thread :love:

24 Jan 2008

Quote by splendid_
arghhh I am just going to be quiet now.

if only I'd seen that
lp

24 Jan 2008

Quote by LondonPlaything

Is alcoholism more in the genes tho? Because not everyone does become addicted. But then there is the physical addiction, when you see an alcoholic coming down from it, you can see the physical withdrawal effects :shock: Or can anyone become an alcoholic? From my experiences of both alcohol and knowing alcoholics, it seems to be in the genes :dunno:

I'd like to pop a word or two in here if I may?
The words may not make any sence, as the person speaking/typing them rarely has a clue what on earth he's blethering on about in the first place... however, bear with him, his intentions are good... even his... errm... point is missed... where was I?
Oh yes, this alcoholism business;
that'll be me then.
and it's physically addictive nature... me too.
I became, over a period of time, completely and wholey physically addicted to alcohol... not just needing a top-up, or a touch of dutch-courage on more than the average occassion.
I agree that there may be a propensity towards alcoholism/addictive nature in certain individuals, however, looking back on my own history I see my use of alcohol in much the same way as other folk may use a painkiller, or other prescription drug that suits theier needs at given times. All goes well, and everything works for a very long time, and never would one consider any problem with the use of something that appears to be doing so much good, and actively improving many elements of our lives....
until that is... well... one's left without whatever the hit is that's needed... and you'll do anything at all to go get it.
and potentially follow that road wherever it leads no matter the consequences, as nothing, nothing at all outside the need to fill the hollow makes sence however hard you try to explain the confusion, pain and anger that you are left feeling inside... at yourself... but knowing it is only harming those around you... a perfect recipe for reaching for, stealing, begging for the next drink.
And there was I thinking I was a nice bloke too... never could understand why everyone was running/shying away.. funny that innit?
I've just typed such an awfull amount of bollox I'm not quite sure where to take it from here, but please excuse me a little moment of catharsis...
drink... it's all good, enjoy it, and believe me, Im not against it... just not for me any more.
and as an aside... I know I quoted you here Missy, but please please dont think any of the tosh Ive typed is directed against you, or any of the other posters in this excellant thread.
jeez I have a headache now... anyone got a paracetamol?
lp
LP worship

You lovely man you passionkiss

You've not said anything that I can either take umbrage to, or even disagree with kiss

That said, I don't want anyone to think that I think bad of them because they're alcoholics/drug addicts/prescription addicts/whatever addicts. Far from it. From my experiences, it's deffo not the people that I have anger for, it's the substances that have taken over and ruined their lives.
When an addiction does come up on someone, it takes extremely strong person to begin to fight against it. Anyone that's gone through an addiction and fought it, should be seriously applauded :worship: It's such a complete tragedy when substances do eventually kill, leaving in their wake so many 'what ifs' and 'if onlys'.
So when people use substances as a crutch, where the hell do you begin to come off? :shock: Having to face the reason why you became addicted in the first place, like going back to square 1, but dealing with it in a different manner....... where do you get help? AA or NA meetings for instance - they help you to stay off stuff, but do they help you deal with the core reason for being on it? Where do you start looking for help? There are so many reasons why people need help, and when you want help, you need help for your specific reason, where do you find specific reason help? :dunno:
It really is bluddy scary - as Sara_2006 said up there, let this thread also be a strong reminder to people to thoroughly read and adhere to instructions on all medication :thumbup:

24 Jan 2008

Lp......

for your frankness, and bravery in posting that.
And this passionkiss

is just for the eyes. Both of them, they'll need to share. wink

24 Jan 2008

Quote by LondonPlaything

Is alcoholism more in the genes tho? Because not everyone does become addicted. But then there is the physical addiction, when you see an alcoholic coming down from it, you can see the physical withdrawal effects :shock: Or can anyone become an alcoholic? From my experiences of both alcohol and knowing alcoholics, it seems to be in the genes :dunno:

I'd like to pop a word or two in here if I may?
The words may not make any sence, as the person speaking/typing them rarely has a clue what on earth he's blethering on about in the first place... however, bear with him, his intentions are good... even his... errm... point is missed... where was I?
Oh yes, this alcoholism business;
that'll be me then.
and it's physically addictive nature... me too.
I became, over a period of time, completely and wholey physically addicted to alcohol... not just needing a top-up, or a touch of dutch-courage on more than the average occassion.
I agree that there may be a propensity towards alcoholism/addictive nature in certain individuals, however, looking back on my own history I see my use of alcohol in much the same way as other folk may use a painkiller, or other prescription drug that suits theier needs at given times. All goes well, and everything works for a very long time, and never would one consider any problem with the use of something that appears to be doing so much good, and actively improving many elements of our lives....
until that is... well... one's left without whatever the hit is that's needed... and you'll do anything at all to go get it.
and potentially follow that road wherever it leads no matter the consequences, as nothing, nothing at all outside the need to fill the hollow makes sence however hard you try to explain the confusion, pain and anger that you are left feeling inside... at yourself... but knowing it is only harming those around you... a perfect recipe for reaching for, stealing, begging for the next drink.
And there was I thinking I was a nice bloke too... never could understand why everyone was running/shying away.. funny that innit?
I've just typed such an awfull amount of bollox I'm not quite sure where to take it from here, but please excuse me a little moment of catharsis...
drink... it's all good, enjoy it, and believe me, Im not against it... just not for me any more.
and as an aside... I know I quoted you here Missy, but please please dont think any of the tosh Ive typed is directed against you, or any of the other posters in this excellant thread.
jeez I have a headache now... anyone got a paracetamol?
lp
No LP not Tosh, just honesty kiss

I'm scared to death that I might have to watch my son do this mistake and there doesnt seem to be a damn thing that can be done about it unless the person wakes up and does it for him/herself.
His father is an alcoholic and I left him when my son was 2 so it is doubly sad that I have to fear this as I thought I'd taken him away from that life :cry:

24 Jan 2008

LP,

24 Jan 2008

Quote by winchwench
Lp...... for your frankness, and bravery in posting that.
And this is just for the eyes. Both of them, they'll need to share.

LP.
Ohhhh, the eyes :swoons:

24 Jan 2008

now then all you nice people, enough already!
I'm just an old drunk after all... but thankyou x
so... about this business of seeking help, or knowing what to do/how to help those close to you whom may be having problems of their own.
I think with any addiction/dependance and its attendant problems, everybody does have to follow thier own path, as difficult as it can be for those close.
Support is always a good thing of course... though even that can have a negative effect of prolonging the suufering of all concerned... sometimes the junkie/drunk/addict simply has to be cut loose to find their own level, the rock bottom as some may call it.
(if I'm using any language here that you, the reader finds offencive, please do not take it as personal against you or yours, I'm simply using the words I have, and do apply to myself... and am only relating what I know and understand from personal experience, or as an interpretation of the experinces of people I have known with similar problems... whether they 'made it' through to the other side or not)
Missy, up there mentions the AA and NA... all good resources for those who may have questions of thier own, and they are generally very accepting people, prepared to help and listen to those who come along simply to see if they *relate* to the 'condition'
I used the AA for a long time... a good source of biscuits and a cuppa when the cupboards were bare!
Also I could sit shivering and shaking, cursing and blinding and no-one would punch me in the face as a consequence... not bad at all.
many people attend such self help groups... and perhaps buddy up with a sponsor, take a look at a 'step programme', that sort of thing... as simple as it sounds, it's hard work... all boiling down to the fact that you can talk your way out of addiction, if you're lucky, honest with yourself, and have fully come to terms with the fact that you may have a problem in the first place.
i could accept my problem, but my own journey took a few years of struggle from there... and then a move on to a treatment centre/rehab whatever you chose to call it... everybodies story and everybodies situation is different. There are no rules.
of course, my focus here has been predominantly alcohol based... though mentioned earlier..Ive know and still know those addicted to painkillers etc, and other prescribed or illegal drugs to help them cope with physical or emotional conditions.
I truely believe that for those who believe that they may have the beginnings of a slight problem, taking a look around for a group of similar folk to talk to, with whom you feel you can be honest ... and doing just that: talking... will go a hell of a long way to helping understand where you can go from there.
Fire, watching son number 2 may be incredably dificult and painful for you at the moment.. and I do feel for you, having seen the effects from 'the other side' as it were... but lets hope that he is following his own course... and will reach a destination or staging point at which he'll be able to 'step off'.
(also, nothing is carved in stone... no matter what his father may have been...) x
don't let me in this thread again.
I have a sandwich to make
lp

24 Jan 2008

Quote by Jags
I just wanted to add this link to an article I remember reading recently about a woman who died after being addicted to ibuprofen (generic name for Nurofen).
Click here for the link

Quote by Garfield1
I have just had a look at the like's of ibuprofen in the BNF and one thing that stikes me is in the side effects it never mentions addiction

it's a proper scare story right enough, but I *think* that the woman who died of an 'alleged' Ibuprofen overdose was actually taking an Ibuprofen / Codeine combination, along the lines of Nurofen Plus? confused

if so, it wasn't the Ibuprofen that killed her, though the article is a tad vague on actual causes of death? it looks like respiratory failure?

Quote by TheDailyBleedin'MailOnSunday
She was taken to hospital after complaining of feeling weak and breathless

absolutely classic opiate addict cause of death. :? it was the Codeine addiction and subsequent overdose that killed her. reading that article, it's classic Opiate addict behaviour, and it has nowt whatsoever to do with Ibuprofen? ;)

Quote by Missy
Do they mean something like morphine or heroine or whatever, because on occasion they are given on prescription, that they can call them prescription drugs. Do they use them for recreation use, which I'm getting more and more suspect about. Is it just the mere mortals that die of 'drug' overdoses, because maybe celebrity PRs think that's too seedy for their celebs to die of??

Missy, prescription drugs, in a Hollywood stylee, generally means Vicodin and Oxycontin. they are synthetic Opiates, freely prescribed. if you've got a reasonable need, like backache, or a demanding filming schedule, or a record company demanding you get back down to size zero please Britney, or whatever, and a few dollars to hand, well knock yaself out? :? if not, they're freely available with a quick jaunt just over the Mexican border and back. it strikes me as somewhat odd that the very same US government should have quite so much to say on our doctors' ability to prescribe Opiates, but hey! ;)
it's Heroin addiction by any other name, just the Hollywood types who succumb aren't quite so stigmatised as the Amy Winehouse's and Pete Docherty's of this world. so long as it comes in pill form from yer pharmacist . . . . ? :? ;)
n x x x ;)
p.s. no proof this is true in Heath Ledger's case, but it does seem to generally apply in La La Land? ;)

25 Jan 2008

Quote by Missy
Is alcoholism more in the genes tho? Because not everyone does become addicted. But then there is the physical addiction, when you see an alcoholic coming down from it, you can see the physical withdrawal effects :shock: Or can anyone become an alcoholic? From my experiences of both alcohol and knowing alcoholics, it seems to be in the genes :dunno:
The physically addictive drugs, I feel, are not in the genes, they're designed to capture anyone that uses them, in the shortest timespan possible

That's a whole different subject Missy. Nature vs nurture. Is there a genetic predisposition to addiction or is it learnt behaviour? .... Truth is it may be a little of both. :dunno: I guess it's for smarter men and women than me to figure out. ;)
Another interesting aside is the legal vs. illegal drugs and their safety. Here's a couple of articles from The Times Online that make for interesting reading. There was also an article in the "comments" section of the paper by a doctor or chemist or something along the same lines that made for very interesting reading, but I can't find it on the site. sad

Finally, Neil I read about the lady who was addicted to nurofen-plus, the article I read suggested that it was actually the codine she was addicted to, but it was the ibuprofen that did the damage. Ibuprofen overdose (in extreme cases) affects the central nervous system giving all the symptoms that you quoted. IIRC it was either liver or kidney failure that was reported to be the COD in her case, so I've no idea what happened, but given the codine to ibuprofen ratio I'd guess at that being the culprit. :dunno:

25 Jan 2008

This is an excellent thread and there are some very valuable posts on it. Well done Missy for posting it and well doen to everyone else for the quality of the replies. I tried to post on here last night - but my brain wasn't up to it. rolleyes

To get back to the initial question - is it possible to accidentally overdose. I believe it is. Two reasons for saying this:
Firstly, it really is possible to lose track of your dosage. Some of you may know that I have had problems with my eyes for the last couple of years. I was prescribed all sorts of drops of varying strengths. In the end I was taking FOUR different types of eye drops (most steroid based). Some had to be taken twice a day, some only once. Now that doesn't sound too difficult for someone with an IQ of 156 does it? The morning doses were fine because my morning routine is reasonably fixed. However, my evening routine is never the same two days running. To make matters worse, I couldn't take the drops together. They have to be spread out or the previous ones get washed out by the later ones before they have had a chance to work (Easy will understand this). I had a real trouble remembering what I had dropped into my eyes each evening. The 'active ingredients' (i.e. the drug bits) do get absorbed into your body even though you have only put them in your eyes so it was an issue that needed to be taken seriously. In the latter stages (before surgery was resorted to) I had some tablets to take (Diamox, for those who know about these things :scared: - did the job but NASTY side effects :shock smile

. The pack of tablets was helpfully labelled with the day (a bit like the pill). However, you can't do this with a bottle of eye drops. I ended up having a marker on the bathroom windowsill and moving the bottles to the right of the marker when I had taken them - until they were all on the right and I could put them all back on the left ready for the next day. Simple, but it worked.
Secondly, the dose of a painkiller that can be fatal is frighteningly low. A doctor friend once told me exactly how many paracetamol tablets are fatal and I was horrified. I won't give the number here in case people in that state of mind actually act upon it. Since he told me I have stuck to Ibuprofen (which I only take extremely rarely anyway). I am well aware that there are issues there too - but not quite so critical.
One final point (I always go on too long). The same doctor told me that there is a certain amino acid (can't remember the name) that could be used in the production process for paracetamol that would render it harmless. It would still have all the analgesic properties that you want it to have but it would be impossible to kill yourself with paracetamol no matter how hard you tried. However, the drug companies won't use it because it would increase their costs. I find that horrifying and completely immoral. It would be possible to compel them, by law, to always include this added ingredient that would make the drug safe. So why don't we dunno

Will (sorry this has been so long!)

25 Jan 2008

Quote by tomu
It's kind of nice to have something serious to talk about and interesting people to talk to.
I'd just like to say, this forum is a hell of a lot better for that than the Newcastle Utd forum I'm also on. Unsurprisingly.

:shock:

25 Jan 2008

LP...

very brave.
A lot of people have 'addictive' personality types, I know I'm one of them. I'm lucky I've not been in a position such as LP's, but I was addicted to smoking and I did replace that with a bottle of wine every night for 8 weeks when I quit smoking.
Back in 1993 I had a problem with co-codamol. I was on 2 every 3 hrs for headaches or so I thought. It wasn't until my doctor said that my headaches were withdrawal from the last dose and my body was actually saying "it's time again" that I was faced with the realisation I had formed a stupid addiction to the stuff. I sensibly reduced them until I was off the tablets totally. I rarely take anything these days and I mark pain by coping markers, if the pain is uncopable I'll take a painkiller, if not I'll get on with it.
Having an addictive personality is ok as long as you realise you have it and know how to cope with it.

25 Jan 2008

It has took me a few hours to respond to this post. Prescription drugs I believe can be lethal.
I recieved a phone call yesterday informing me that my ex husband had taken an overdose of his anti depressants with alcohol. Fortunately, a friend of his turned up and found him and got him to hospital. Basically he was drunk when he overdosed. He has been on anti depressants since we split up 2 years ago and to be honest, I can't help but blame the doctor (not totally may I add). For someone to be on anti depressants for 2 years, that to me is saying there is something seriously wrong and needs a review.
All the hospital has done is send him home and refer him for therapy to deal with his alcohol. Now I have to make decisions in regards to the 4 children we have together and at this moment in time, I have no idea what to do.
So, is it easy to overdose on prescription drugs. YES most definitely, whether intentionally or not. Just like it has been said on other posts - it is the difference between the legal and illegal aspect and the person taking the meds.

25 Jan 2008

I cant resist another story.
A respectable middle class lady with a very high standard of living broke her leg skiing and was prescribed powerful pain killers. When the prescription ran out she suffered terrible withdrawal and being unlucky enough to know a local drug dealer (hubby being a respectable businessman she had lots of local connections) secretly established an illegal supply. All was reasonable until after 6 months or so the dealer said he couldnt get his hands on her particular pill. What he did have was lots and lots of cocaine and he suggested she try that. I met her six months later in rehab. She had spent fifty grand on coke,funded by money hubby had put in her name to use up her tax allowances. When that finally ran out she had to confess to him. She told me tales of shopping trips that had to be planned around the location of public toilets so that she could snort.
She was kicked out of rehab for using. I dont know if she is dead yet or if she is one of the few lucky ones.
Thing about us human beings if we are in pain physically or emotionally we do something to take the pain away. Its usually whatever is easily available. I am thankful to the core of my being that I was lucky enough to ease my own mental pain before I got addicted to any of the available "painkillers". I was very lucky. Conscious of my good fortune I refuse to be disdainful of anyones behaviours.
Before you accuse me take a good looka at yourself. There is an awful lot of pain in this world and an awful lot of damaging ways to take it away.

26 Jan 2008

As far as prescription drugs go its the Drs who are at fault for over prescribing or prescribing them in the first place. Someone I know recently went to the Dr because he had extreme pain in one of his arms, every movement was agony. What did the Dr do? Send him for scan, x-ray or the like? Nope he gave him co-dydramol and a few months down the line he is still taking them and the pain is just as bad. There has been no diagnosis as to what the cause of the pain is and being a blokey type person it is doubtful that he will go back to the Dr within a year or 2 by which time the addiction will be pretty much set. Get rid of useless Drs is my thought and then prescription drug addiction won't happen

26 Jan 2008

There is another side to this - underdosing.
TheVilians is currently recovering from an eye operation (details avialable to anyone with strong nerves) and has to take 2 sets of drops. One was clearly marked antibiotics - no prob. The other just had the brand name and generic name. He ran out of these on Friday and thought it would be ok to get the new batch on Monday at the Doc's. Saturday moring arrives and his eye is closed, throbbing and watering. This gets rapidly worse. We checked the name of the drops on Google and it turns out they were steroids to reduce inflamation.
Great - we just need to get the prescription made up sooner. Problem - dos's is shut, it's prescription only, NHS Direct says got to A&E.
6 (that's SIX) hours later we stumble out of the hospital with the drops needed and instructions to take them every hour and come back tomorrow - hence sat up at typing.
The lesson here is know your prescription. Understand the effects of over and under-dosing.
There are some excellent sites describing drugs of all kinds in lay-man's terms.

17 Jul 2008

Hey.
Apologies for dragging this one up from a thousand years ago but: did anyone see this in the Metro the other day?

And just for the record - the Wikipedia article on Heath Ledger ( ) has this to say about the manner of his death:

Quote by Wikipedia
After two weeks of intense media speculation about possible causes of his death, on 6 February 2008, the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner of New York released its conclusions, based on an initial autopsy of January 23, 2008, and a subsequent complete toxicological analysis. The report concludes, in part, "Mr. Heath Ledger died as the result of acute intoxication by the combined effects of oxycodone, hydrocodone, diazepam, temazepam, alprazolam and doxylamine." It also states definitively: "We have concluded that the manner of death is accident, resulting from the abuse of prescription medications." The medications found in the toxicological analysis are commonly prescribed in the United States for insomnia, anxiety, depression, pain, and/or cold symptoms.

Just thought it was important to set the matter straight - nobody did anything particularly wrong, Ledger wasn't taking illegal drugs, it was all just very sad. And paracetamol can kill you really easily so be careful!

18 Jul 2008

Tomu, I wasn't on the site when this was originally posted so I read it with great interest.
My hubby died three years ago from a side effect of a tablet which shouldn't have been prescribed to him as he was an alcoholic. I have also had addictions to pain meds, I have fibromyalgia, and suffer extreme pain at times, and the only thing that helped was co-codamol 30/500 strength. I started to get addicted to them, and like others that have posted, couldn't get started in the day without my "hit".
I actually worked in a pharmacy when I started on these tablets, and it was my job to advise customers to stick to the right amount of tablets.. not easy taking your own advice when you're in pain. It took a blood test to realise my liver was suffering, and was causing more pain than they were supposed to help.
I am now only taking paracetamol with the odd tramadol when the pain is really bad, but don't take them regularly. My really bad migraines have all but stopped now - they were rebound headaches from the painkillers a lot of the time, my stomach has settled down, and I do feel better in myself. It could have quite easily gone the other way....
Addiction is a terrible thing, whether its drugs, or alcohol... a lot of people forget it IS a disease... and sometimes people can't help themselves...

18 Jul 2008

Quote by Misskitty_2008
Tomu, I wasn't on the site when this was originally posted so I read it with great interest.
My hubby died three years ago from a side effect of a tablet which shouldn't have been prescribed to him as he was an alcoholic. I have also had addictions to pain meds, I have fibromyalgia, and suffer extreme pain at times, and the only thing that helped was co-codamol 30/500 strength. I started to get addicted to them, and like others that have posted, couldn't get started in the day without my "hit".
I actually worked in a pharmacy when I started on these tablets, and it was my job to advise customers to stick to the right amount of tablets.. not easy taking your own advice when you're in pain. It took a blood test to realise my liver was suffering, and was causing more pain than they were supposed to help.
I am now only taking paracetamol with the odd tramadol when the pain is really bad, but don't take them regularly. My really bad migraines have all but stopped now - they were rebound headaches from the painkillers a lot of the time, my stomach has settled down, and I do feel better in myself. It could have quite easily gone the other way....
Addiction is a terrible thing, whether its drugs, or alcohol... a lot of people forget it IS a disease... and sometimes people can't help themselves...

I do respect your honesty and self disclosure.
'addiction' being a disease is actually one of many medical models. Another one is that people can help it and with correct and constructive support delivered in a holistic manner (medical, emotional,social etc) a person can become independent of any and all substances.

18 Jul 2008

Thank you hun.. it was quite difficult posting that reply, but I felt I had to. There are so many misconceptions on addiction persay, and in the past three years I have been quite vocal on local BBC news and also in the media, about it. I wanted help, so got it... and had the support of my friends and other half in the last few days of me taking them, and that meant the world to me. Sadly, not everyone gets this support, and going back to the OP when everything is public is doubly difficult to deal with.
I am thankful that I managed to get off them, but when I am in extreme pain it could be so easy to go get some from the chemist... but I won't. I enjoy my life now.. I would rather feel pain and be clear headed than pain free and walking around in a fog....
If anyone who reads this wants to pm me for a chat, my inbox is always open..

Quote by splendid_
Tomu, I wasn't on the site when this was originally posted so I read it with great interest.
My hubby died three years ago from a side effect of a tablet which shouldn't have been prescribed to him as he was an alcoholic. I have also had addictions to pain meds, I have fibromyalgia, and suffer extreme pain at times, and the only thing that helped was co-codamol 30/500 strength. I started to get addicted to them, and like others that have posted, couldn't get started in the day without my "hit".
I actually worked in a pharmacy when I started on these tablets, and it was my job to advise customers to stick to the right amount of tablets.. not easy taking your own advice when you're in pain. It took a blood test to realise my liver was suffering, and was causing more pain than they were supposed to help.
I am now only taking paracetamol with the odd tramadol when the pain is really bad, but don't take them regularly. My really bad migraines have all but stopped now - they were rebound headaches from the painkillers a lot of the time, my stomach has settled down, and I do feel better in myself. It could have quite easily gone the other way....
Addiction is a terrible thing, whether its drugs, or alcohol... a lot of people forget it IS a disease... and sometimes people can't help themselves...

I do respect your honesty and self disclosure.
'addiction' being a disease is actually one of many medical models. Another one is that people can help it and with correct and constructive support delivered in a holistic manner (medical, emotional,social etc) a person can become independent of any and all substances.

18 Jul 2008

One final point (I always go on too long). The same doctor told me that there is a certain amino acid (can't remember the name) that could be used in the production process for paracetamol that would render it harmless. It would still have all the analgesic properties that you want it to have but it would be impossible to kill yourself with paracetamol no matter how hard you tried. However, the drug companies won't use it because it would increase their costs. I find that horrifying and completely immoral. It would be possible to compel them, by law, to always include this added ingredient that would make the drug safe. So why don't we

The combination drug/paracetamol is methionine/paracetamol, available (maybe) as PARADOTE.
It is 6 times the cost of paracetamol. Side effects of the combination include headache and extreme flatulence.

Methionine-paracetamol combination tablets
Methionine is a glutathione donor required in the metabolism of paracetamol. Combination tablets were first suggested in 1974, and released on the UK market. The analgesic effectiveness of paracetamol has been shown in the combination drug, with a slight increase in minor adverse effects such as drowsiness. Other adverse effects of methionine are mild, and include nausea, flatulence and headache. As most paracetamol overdoses are impulsive methionine would have to be added to all formulations containing paracetamol. This would mean that a lot of people would needlessly consume methionine, and the dose required to be effective is unclear. In rats, who are quite resistant to the hepatotoxic effects of paracetamol, a methionine dose of 10% of the paracetamol dose was protective, but an equivalent effective dose cannot ethically be determined experimentally in humans. In the UK the only paracetamol-methionine combination available is Paradote (Penn Pharmaceuticals). This contains 100 mg methionine and 500 mg paracetamol (i.e. 20% methionine). Concern has been expressed that long-term methionine intake could promote carcinogenesis. Methionine is metabolized to homocysteine, and raised plasma homocysteine concentrations have been associated with endothelial dysfunction,stroke, and coronary heart disease. The dose at which these effects occur is not clear. In healthy adults, 100 mg/kg L-methionine caused a significant increase in homocysteine levels. In a study looking at the effects of dietary methionine and homocysteine levels in healthy males, an intake of a mean of 2112 mg of methionine a day for 7 days had no significant effect on plasma homocysteine Thus the dose needed to have an effect on homocysteine levels would appear to be considerably greater than the 800 mg that would be ingested with the 4 g recommended maximum daily dose of paracetamol.
Another paracetamol-methionine combination tablet was withdrawn from the UK market after it was placed on the list of drugs not available for prescribing at NHS expense. It was felt that it was expensive, there were alternative drugs to paracetamol available and that allowing the product to be prescribed would have no effect on self-poisoning if the paracetamol tablets were obtained OTC.
The net cost per tablet of Paradote is over six times that of generic paracetamol. This would perhaps deter a person planning an overdose, if it were the only form of paracetamol available. The cost might also limit the availability of an effective analgesic for appropriate use to much of the population.
There do seem to be risks of using methionine which need to be evaluated further. Until these risks are elucidated, it would seem ethically unacceptable to require all people to take a paracetamol-methionine combination. Cost and government policy will also affect the availability and use of these types of drugs

18 Jul 2008

Quote by Misskitty_2008
Tomu, I wasn't on the site when this was originally posted so I read it with great interest.
My hubby died three years ago from a side effect of a tablet which shouldn't have been prescribed to him as he was an alcoholic. I have also had addictions to pain meds, I have fibromyalgia, and suffer extreme pain at times, and the only thing that helped was co-codamol 30/500 strength. I started to get addicted to them, and like others that have posted, couldn't get started in the day without my "hit".
I actually worked in a pharmacy when I started on these tablets, and it was my job to advise customers to stick to the right amount of tablets.. not easy taking your own advice when you're in pain. It took a blood test to realise my liver was suffering, and was causing more pain than they were supposed to help.
I am now only taking paracetamol with the odd tramadol when the pain is really bad, but don't take them regularly. My really bad migraines have all but stopped now - they were rebound headaches from the painkillers a lot of the time, my stomach has settled down, and I do feel better in myself. It could have quite easily gone the other way....
Addiction is a terrible thing, whether its drugs, or alcohol... a lot of people forget it IS a disease... and sometimes people can't help themselves...

Ooh, more similarities here Kitty smile

As you know I also have FMS (as well as hypermobility syndrome) and courtesy of the nitwits in the NHS I'm also addicted to painkillers, in my case tramadol (400mg a day). This wouldn't be so bad but I used to be on dihydrocodeine (DF118s) to which I wasn't addicted. In their infinite wisdom they decided that as DHC is known to be addictive they'd take me off it and put me on the "less addictive" tramadol. I had been on DHC for about 8 years and wasn't in the slightest addicted to it, bam they put me on tramadol and within 6 months, yup, yours truly was doing a Michael Jackson!
I've been on the maximum dosage of tramadol for about 10 years plus now and finally I got pissed off with going into withdrawal if I missed a couple so I mithered and mithered my GP to re-refer me back to the pain clinic (oh if only that was as easy as it used to be!), anyway to cut it short they put me on the so-called fibromyalgia wonder drug, Lyrica, so that I could wean myself off the tramadol. I've only been on the Lyrica for just over a month so it's hard to say how it's going just yet.
Mind you add to that I've been on NSAIDs for years too mostly Fenopron 600 but when the manufacturers cut production I went on to Diclofenac. So courtesy of those concoctions my gastric system is shot.
So far I don't think it's possible for me to totally stop the painkillers as when I've tried not only do I get the withdrawal I am unable to function and move off the settee. So in my case the addiction isn't too bad as I'm likely to be on some form of painkiller for the rest of my life.
And Splendid, yes I've been down the holistic route, a friend of mine is an Holistic Therapist and so far has been unsuccessful in anything other than temporary relief (and I'm talking hours here).
As it happens, unlike your goodself, I didn't find this post difficult as I don't feel ashamed or embarrassed by my addiction. It is what it is and that's the way life is for me. On the bright-side, at least I'm high enough to deal with shit biggrin

18 Jul 2008

peanut....
I was talking about holistic with a small h. A Holistic therapist is a slightly different concept.

18 Jul 2008

Quote by splendid_
peanut....
I was talking about holistic with a small h. A Holistic therapist is a slightly different concept.

It's still holistic isn't it?
I know what I can bend your ear about now :twisted:

18 Jul 2008

Quote by Peanut
peanut....
I was talking about holistic with a small h. A Holistic therapist is a slightly different concept.

It's still holistic isn't it?
I know what I can bend your ear about now :twisted:
if you must rolleyes

x

18 Jul 2008

I've read this thread with great interest, I have never been addicted to prescribed drugs but I can see how easy it would be to get addicted.
About 4 years ago I had an infected wisdom tooth, call me dramatic but the pain was so bad I thought I was dying confused

. Took two nurofen not much effect so about 3 hours later took another two, the pain was so bad (I couldn't get a dentist app) I took another two a little while later the pain subsided slightly but not for long, this went on for two days. The scary thing is I started to like the feeling taking so much nurofen gave me, making me feel a little drunk and dopey and kind of like I didn't have a care in the world. Once I had seen the dentist and had some antibiotics I stopped taking the nurofen. Someone with a more addictive personality may not of been able to stop!!.
Hope this makes sense, it did in my head lol

19 Jul 2008

havent read all the replies but i am one of those peeps who dish out prescriptions. One thing that amazes me is how demanding people are. The current demand is for diet pills ..... if you read the list of side effects for some of them you would be happy to stay is my policy to look at a persons diet and advise them to eat and exercise sensibly but 9 out of 10 dont want that they wish to continue stuffing large quantities of fat sugar and refind carbs down their throats and pop a pill for a quick fix despite being given full information about the side effects. I have refused many times to prescribe them only to get a letter of complaint sent to the health authority. Not all people are cognitavely able to make informed choices and even whe n clearly stated only take 3 a day they think they will work faster if they take 6.
Also people demand repeat prescriptions and refuse to attend for medication reviews .... i refuse to repeat prescribe in those circumstances until i have seen them.
So there is another side to all of this.