Dope Sick - Anyone Else Experience This?

Anyone ever feel sick after not having any pain meds? Dope sick is a slang term given to the withdrawal symptoms you get coming off of drugs like narcotics and other addictive drugs.

I've run out of mine a day or so ago and yesterday was rough. I felt flu like and restless. I ended up sleeping most of the day.

For me it usually it only lasts about a day. But it's a terrible feeling. It can also play tricks on your mind if you don't realize what is going on. Luckily I have a klonopin script I can take to blunt the effects. But it throws my sleep cycles off.

I'm restricted to how much pain meds I get a month and I had another bad run where I used more than I should have. It's my fault; I need to be better disciplined with my intake.

On top of all that, the chronic daily headaches and migraines will still be there. My life is such a mess...

Hi,
I can't really relate, but I do get these days even without head pain when I feel plain ill. I have a head cold right now, and all I want to do is sleep, yet I must work!

I think with me with the cold it is sinus related as my face just feels achy. The only relief I get is from a face cloth run under a hot tap placed on my face for a few moments, it gives great relief but only for a short while.

Sinus gives me head pain that can lead to a migraine.

I hope that you can find relief,


Peter

Yes, Dan...unfortunately I know exactly what you're talking about. BUT, if you mention it to anyone they jump all over addiction band wagon. People don't realize the difference between physical dependence and addiction. During BAD months I have run out early (though not recently, I have a Dr who understands pain management ) and it starts out with horrible stomach cramps. Because of a pharmacy/insurance mix up about the four months ago I went through three miserable days.

Every preventative I've been on has given me intolerable side effects, most effect me mentally. It seems like there isn't a drug out there that doesn't have some side effect. This is the bane of our existence with narcotics. But, for me the are the most effective thing that allows me to work and now have some semblance of a social life.

I perused a couple of drug boards and one day of discomfort isn't NOTHING compared to what these addicts go through. Cramping, massive diarrhea, vomiting, uncontrollable shakes, hallucinations...

Geeze, I'm glad I never touched coke or heroin.

I feel pretty good today (all things considered).

Nope. Have not had any withdrawal symptoms. I'm probably not taking high a enough dose. There have been times I would like to but refrain just so I don't get to that point. Also, I'm only allowed so many and want to make sure I have them when I need them the most. They really are helpful.

>>> if you mention it to anyone they jump all over addiction band wagon <<<

Don't I know it! If I ask my PC for more, I run the risk of loosing what a got now. The real question is whether I have enough meds to treat my pain.

I'm so tired of hurting and being depressed and not enjoying life anymore. I used to have a good job, my family and music in my life and now all I seem to do is sleep and ache. I've been to so many doctors and spend so much money only to end up in the same place.

I can understand what happened to Rich Little's wife. She probably got tired of dealing with this shit every day.

It's sad Dan, that so many of us on the Board understand what she did.

What in the heck do people expect those of us who resistant to treatment to do? I really don't wish my life on anyone, but there's something to be said for walking a mile in my shoes.

02R96 wrote:>>> if you mention it to anyone they jump all over addiction band wagon <<<

Don't I know it! If I ask my PC for more, I run the risk of loosing what a got now. The real question is whether I have enough meds to treat my pain.

I'm so tired of hurting and being depressed and not enjoying life anymore. I used to have a good job, my family and music in my life and now all I seem to do is sleep and ache. I've been to so many doctors and spend so much money only to end up in the same place.

I can understand what happened to Rich Little's wife. She probably got tired of dealing with this shit every day.

Boy, do I understand completely, Dan. Keep hanging on.....

I had foot surgery back in March and was given Vicadin for the pain, I had about 10 pills, do you know the whole time I was on it, and I only took one at bed time, I never had a migraine. But when I ran out of the vicadin, I had an aura for 2 days and called my neuro. He said it was from coming off the narcotic,,, bummer,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Sometimes I think I would like to stay on the Vicadin, I felt great!

Hope it all works out for you Dan,,, I agree, our lives are not very pleasant, it's hard when you see others having fun, laughing, having an occasional drink, doing things...... things I would never dream of doing.... someday!!!!!!!!!!!

02R96 wrote:I perused a couple of drug boards and one day of discomfort isn't NOTHING compared to what these addicts go through. Cramping, massive diarrhea, vomiting, uncontrollable shakes, hallucinations...

Geeze, I'm glad I never touched coke or heroin.

I feel pretty good today (all things considered).

The withdrawl from Oxy can be just as bad as heroin withdrawal. They are both the same drug family, and you can have the same problems.

I have experienced what I would consider mild to moderate withdrawal symptoms a couple of times in my life. It was during times where I had chains of headaches that none of my meds seemed to treat (I get 1-2 weeks 'bouts' every few months). I had to take non-stop high doses of abortives to try to keep my attendance up at work and 'get through it'. Now I have just told the people at work that I have no choice but to take one or 2 days off if I am in one of those situations again. It's not worth doing that to myself in the long run just to make it into work.

I totally understand the getting to work thing... am pushing to go today.

Last night a bad mig. came out of no where, and I had to get a shot of toridal and a generic imitrex, now this morning I'm dizzy and feel like I have a hangover, not to mention the suttle "pounding" in my head that is sure to erupt at any minute.

I am going to go to work and if it gets bad, I will just leave.

Praying for a good day for all.... wouldn't that be something?

Sending you positive energy!

I have been lucky and able to avoid having to use narcotics to treat my conditions. So i have never experienced this.

But several pain patients I know, who suffered from various conditions and were being treated with narcotics, had their medication cut off suddenly and had withdrawal symptoms.

In one case the guy I know suffers from painful neuropathy from spinal damage. His pain doctor's practice went on a sudden hiatus after the doctor had a massive heart attack - he didn't have a partner and they were unable to refer his patients to other doctors because most of the pain practices in this area are full and not taking new patients.

Nobody else would prescribe for him and he started having the "mild" withdrawal symptoms you all have described, as well as a return of severe pain. He ended up at the ER and they gave him a tiny dosage and sent him off. That was all he could get.

It's amazing to me that his primary doctor or someone wouldn't at lease give him a prescription so he could taper off the narcotic so he wouldn't suffer withdrawal. They just let him suffer.

I hope this is not typical.

Unfortunately it is. With all the hype about prescription drug abuse, most doctors are scared shitless to prescribe quantities of narcotics so as not to attract the attention of the DEA.

All you have to do is a Google search and you'll find stories of well meaning doctors who have been ruined and sometimes jailed over this issue of narcotics and what is considered "over prescribing".

It really sucks for people like me who have to put up with more pain than I should because some government agency thinks they know better.