Stadol NS and euphoria

Hello everyone!

I have a few questions for those who use Stadol NS.

A couple times (1-2x) a month I get a migraine that won't break for at least three days. They are so severe I run to my FIL and get several Norco(vicodin/hydrocodone) 10/325's which dull the pain but don't even take it away. I usually don't eat for 3 days, or eat very little since my stomach is upset. I can only hold down water and broth. Lately I've thrown up my pain pills completely, which wastes them. I can't even sleep for longer than an hour without waking up in excutiating pain.

Triptans don't do anything for me, I have tried to break this type of migraine with Frova, Treximet, Imitrex, and Maxalt but have not had any luck with any of them. Fioricet with codeine is a waste of time. They don't do anything. I have to take 2 Norcos every 4-5 hours for relief for 3+ days straight! Icky!

I hear wonderous things about Stadol. Several people say it is a life saver, but I've read up on it a lot and I'm hearing that it makes you crazy euphoric and high. 2 norcos make me high too, don't get me wrong, but I can function okay. I can get up and go to the bathroom, make myself broth, shower ect. I can play with my daughter (but I don't pick her up while on meds like that) and I can generally take care of my house. Will Stadol mess me up so badly I can't do any of that?

What are your experiences with Stadol's side effects. I have come to believe that if used correctly it will not cause dependency but I don't want it if I can't do anything because I'm so off the wall.

Also, I now get about 2 minor migraines a week that can be controlled with fioricet and codeine. Do you think I can ask for a script for fioricet w/ codeine and Stadol? I don't want to use Stadol every time I have a migraine if it is stronger than necessary. I'd rather stick with the fioricet w/codeine for that job. If I can ask for both, how do I go about asking for a specific drug like Stadol without appearing suspicious. This is only my 3rd appointment with a neuro and I don't want to come off as a drug seeker.

Thanks guys!

Sorry I have to say I am not familiar with this. Maybe another one we dont get here.
Hope someone can help.

Hey Gia.

i've been on Stadol for about 13 years, on and off. My first nuero prescribed it when I was about 25, and I'm 38 now.

The first nuero over-prescribed it, and I got dependent on it. Subsequent nueros weaned me off, and I don't have problems with it like I used to.

I don't really remember how i felt when I first took it, it was too long ago. What I do remember is that it made me want to throw up because the taste is truly vile. Even after all these years, and even after diluting it (I dilute it 1 part medicine, 1 part water, on the advice of my nuero), it still can make me gag. That's the strongest reaction I remember.

I do remember it does cause quite a euphoric high, which is probably stronger if you aren't used to it. When I was first diagnosed, my nuero prescribed a triptan (one of the early ones, I forget which, but not Imitrex) and the Stadol as a rescue. He never tried any other painkiller, so I had never tried anything else and had nothing else to compare it to, and no experience with other painkillers. That Stadol "high" came as a complete surprise to me, and for a long time I wouldn't use it because the high scared the crap out of me.

Needless to say, when nothing else worked but the Stadol for the severe migraines (it took a long time to find a good preventative), I did use the Stadol and got used to the high. That was the start of problems for me, because I stopped using any other painkiller, and stopped using triptans. I just used the Stadol, and my system built up too high a tolerance for it, and subsequently needed higher doses of the medicine.

All this to say, Stadol is a strong medicine. However, I used to get 8, 9, and 10 level migraines that lasted for days on end, on a weekly basis. Did it help? YES. Did I grow dependent on it? yes, to some extent. I must say though that my dependence weakened when I found a nuero to treat me properly, who put me on topomax, which was a big help. He also didn't overprescribe it, like the first nuero did. He prescribes one vial a month - truly for rescue purposes. My first nuero prescribed 2 vials every 2 weeks.

Right now my system is very tolerant of the Stadol. I can function at a high level after taking it. That isn't going to be the case with most people though. I think the best answer would be, trial and error. The usual dosage is one spray in one nostril, repeat after 2 or 3 hours if headahe persists (don't quote me though). That's full strength Stadol. I do dilute mine (I have to, full strength is so foul tasting, I'll puke it up otherwise), so I do one spray in each nostril. My nuero has approved that dosage though, and put those instructions on the bottle. I admit though, I usually repeat after an hour, not after 2 or 3.

I can do normal things but I wouldn't drive after taking Stadol. I play with my 3-year-old nephew (I live with my nephew and play with him every day) but it's low key playing - reading, playing with cars, etc. - not running around or anything strenuous. I can watch tv or read sometimes. I have to be careful, it can make me sleepy - I've fallen asleep at weird tasks before (once while eating!). You wouldn't want to do that while taking care of your daughter.

My advice would be, it can't hurt to ask to try it. If it doesn't work, you can chalk it up to something you tried, and if it does, how nice would that be? Just exercise caution after taking it; you might want to lie down after taking it the first time, and just take note of how you feel, how your body feels, what your headache is doing, etc.

PM me if you have any specific questions. It sometimes takes me a while to read the messages, but I'll keep an eye out for you