2nd August 2007
Hi all....
I'm brand-new here. I'm having a major problem with fioricet. Yes, I am addicted and have been for the past 4-5 years. As with many pill addicts, it started out innocently for me - I've been getting migraines since I was 6-7 yrs old, so for most of my life I have only used it medically. But, after my divorce, I slowly started taking just a few a day (without any headache present) to ward off any potential tension/migraine headache before it started as well as just to relax.
The past 4-5 years, my problems have grown (loss of job, financial problems) as has my addiction. I use fioricet to "ease my mind" of my worries as well as for any "real" migraines I get. After trying many of the newer drugs (Imitrex, Zomig), I still find that F is the only effective drug for me.
Currently, I take 12-15 pills per day, occasionally more. I feel so stuck. How do I stop, yet still have something to take for my migraines? My doc seems to be growing increasing weary of my constant refill requests - I ONLY get the pills from him - and he now fears my refills will send up red flags to the DEA and all the 4 pharamacies I use to get the pills (I switch my refill orders among druggists so that I'm refilling too early in any one of them).
Currently, my script is for 50 tabs. Depending on the pharamacy, the bottle lists that as an 8 or 12 day supply (however, I refill after 4 days).
My doc is aware I am abusing and has tried to wean me off for the past year, but it's not working. His latest suggestion is for me to see a pharamalogical psychiatrist. I'm not sure exactly what that is, but he feels strongly this specialist can help me.
Being unemployed, I cannot afford in- or out-patient rehab. About a year ago when I first admitted my problem to him and my psychologist at the time (had to stop seeing him due to lack of money), my doc started me on Cymbalta, then Lexapro in the hopes that it will ease my anxiety as I wean off. I stuck with the anti-Ds for a while, but felt the Lexapro wasn't really helping my anxiety or depression or helping me to wean off the F's. I've decided to start the Lexapro again and it is helping my depression somewhat, but I'm STILL reaching for those 12-15 fioricet tabs daily because they are extremely effective in "making me forget" my troubles. However, at the same time, I fully realize I've made this drug the center of my world and it's ruining my life!!
I guess I'm posting this to (a) vent that I need help badly; (b) to see if anyone here has had similar trouble weaning off; and (c) to find out if anyone has been to a pharmalogical psychiatrist and what sort of success they've had.
PLEASE: any suggestions would be greatly appreciated! I've read many of the threads here and elsewhere and realize what dangerous waters I am treading right now.
Thank you all and God Bless!
- rw -
I'm brand-new here. I'm having a major problem with fioricet. Yes, I am addicted and have been for the past 4-5 years. As with many pill addicts, it started out innocently for me - I've been getting migraines since I was 6-7 yrs old, so for most of my life I have only used it medically. But, after my divorce, I slowly started taking just a few a day (without any headache present) to ward off any potential tension/migraine headache before it started as well as just to relax.
The past 4-5 years, my problems have grown (loss of job, financial problems) as has my addiction. I use fioricet to "ease my mind" of my worries as well as for any "real" migraines I get. After trying many of the newer drugs (Imitrex, Zomig), I still find that F is the only effective drug for me.
Currently, I take 12-15 pills per day, occasionally more. I feel so stuck. How do I stop, yet still have something to take for my migraines? My doc seems to be growing increasing weary of my constant refill requests - I ONLY get the pills from him - and he now fears my refills will send up red flags to the DEA and all the 4 pharamacies I use to get the pills (I switch my refill orders among druggists so that I'm refilling too early in any one of them).
Currently, my script is for 50 tabs. Depending on the pharamacy, the bottle lists that as an 8 or 12 day supply (however, I refill after 4 days).
My doc is aware I am abusing and has tried to wean me off for the past year, but it's not working. His latest suggestion is for me to see a pharamalogical psychiatrist. I'm not sure exactly what that is, but he feels strongly this specialist can help me.
Being unemployed, I cannot afford in- or out-patient rehab. About a year ago when I first admitted my problem to him and my psychologist at the time (had to stop seeing him due to lack of money), my doc started me on Cymbalta, then Lexapro in the hopes that it will ease my anxiety as I wean off. I stuck with the anti-Ds for a while, but felt the Lexapro wasn't really helping my anxiety or depression or helping me to wean off the F's. I've decided to start the Lexapro again and it is helping my depression somewhat, but I'm STILL reaching for those 12-15 fioricet tabs daily because they are extremely effective in "making me forget" my troubles. However, at the same time, I fully realize I've made this drug the center of my world and it's ruining my life!!
I guess I'm posting this to (a) vent that I need help badly; (b) to see if anyone here has had similar trouble weaning off; and (c) to find out if anyone has been to a pharmalogical psychiatrist and what sort of success they've had.
PLEASE: any suggestions would be greatly appreciated! I've read many of the threads here and elsewhere and realize what dangerous waters I am treading right now.
Thank you all and God Bless!
- rw -