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I know, no medical advice formally being asked, but does anyone know any taper schedule? They used to be on the internet, but now when I search, I keep getting directed to horrible sites that sell Lortab and get emails of spam now for Vicodin, etc. Been on Vicodin for 10 years, trigeminal neuralgia, chronic pain syndrome, and have been on four Vicodin ES a day the whole time. I am sick to death of going to this skanky pain clinic in our county. Scum of the earth there, people dealing in the waiting room and parking lot, and never see a doctor, just NPs who think they are doctors, and just hand out scrips. They never go over anything on our conditions, tho they are supposed to - they just hand out scrips. They have me on so many drugs by now, which is part of the game - you have to take the crap they hand out or you get kicked out of the program. I am supposed to be on Ambien-CR, Xanax, Esgic, and the Vicodin ES. My primary said that combo would kill me, and I know it would. The insurance company even said it would kill me, so I never ever even filled the Xanax. Xanax 2 mg four times a day, by the way. Can you imagine? They told me I had to be on an antidepressant, a sleeping med and then a pain med. I told them I would no way take an antidepressant, as never was depressed. So they said I had to have anxiety then. At any rate, I had a urine test the other day for "compliance", and I tested negative for Ambien and Xanax, if you can believe this. I never take Xanax, but I take Ambien-CR every single night. This ignorant NP also said I was in trouble as I tested positive for barbiturates, which I had to explain to her was the Esgic (they want me to take 4 a day, which is considered a lethal amount). I only take it prn and happened to need it the day before I got tested, and this unqualified NP told me I tested NEGATIVE for Vicodin, as my urine showed hydromorphone and NO hydrocodone. Well, Vicodin metabolite IS hydromorphone, and I had to try to explain that. She said I must have a huge -- stash -- of Vicodin at home, as my urine showed nothing about Vicodin. I thought I was on Candid Camera or something. I am really polite and never lost my temper, though I would have been justified. She was so frustrated with me that she told me I had to find another doctor. I then lost my temper and told her what I felt of this candy doctor, who is never around, as that is all he is, and how ignorant she is. Bottom line, I got 100 Vicodin from her when I swore I'd sue her if she cut off medications with no warning, and for incorrect medical testing interpretation, i.e. stupidity. I asked her for a weaning schedule, and she DIDN'T know. I asked to see the MD who runs the place, and he wasn't there, so I had to make an appt for 2 weeks from now to meet this horrible doctor for a wean taper. I have cried and cried all weekend, but its a blessing in disguise. This crap was killing me, and after being on it all these years, it really didn't help. So, I want to get off of it, but not sure of a wean schedule. Thanks for listening. I don't know how I will deal with the pain, but I will not subject my body to the narcotics anymore, or the monthly humiliation of going to these pain mgmt dumps. I think I'd rather have the pain, but NOT the withdrawal pain. Uggghh... I hope someone understands, and please, please, please don't flame me. I am just heartbroken over this and so scared, as I went thru severe withdrawal about 8 years ago, literally doubled over on the floor with stomach pains and vomiting. I have never been on more than 4 a day. Its so weird, but I get so sick, like watching junkies on a heroin movie. The withdrawal was another time long ago when I got humiliated picking up a scrip from a pharmacy in my new town. They were snickering and laughing about how some moms supplemented their income by selling Vikes. I had no idea what they were talking about til later, and then I cried and cried, flushed the pills, and died for about a week. At any rate, I am so scared of being sick like that, don't want to go to any rehab, as I am NOT an addict. My body is just narcotic dependent, and I can't even trust the MD who prescribed the stuff. Thanks for any help. Thanks for listening. My DH, by the way, is beyond furious and wants me to go to a lawyer over this, the NP not knowing that hydromorphone is hydrocodone metabolized in the urine, claiming I was on barbiturates, when she was the one who prescribes Esgic and didn't know what it was, etc. But right now, I just need to focus on my health.  This witch NP also told me she would give me a good referral at another pain clinic, not to worry, but I do NOT want to go thru this anymore. Sorry for carrying on so long. |
