Pain Pill Addiction: Methadone Detox Facts

Question: My husband's pain pill addiction is costing us thousands please help me?

(Posted by: tafaye on 2007-03-30 07:10:36)

My husband's pain pill addiction is ruining our family. He sometimes spends his entire pay check on them. My heart is broken I love him and I know he is better that this. I can't seem to get him to understand that the whole family is suffering. We are soon to loose everything because he won't help me pay the bills. He has a herniated disk in his neck and gets 4 7.5 lorcets a day but, he has been selling them and buys10's (off the street) sometimes taking up to 17 10's a day. His surgery is scheduled for 4.13.2007. Should I tell his doctor of his addiction? He is not the person I married. We have 2 girls and this is not good for them. My nerves are always shot I can't sleep or eat. Is there anyone out there that can help me? Maybe someone that is or has been going through the same thing. I know he can overcome this and he has told me that he is only taking 4 a day now but, he lies to me so much I don't even know him anymore. Please help someone He has been taking them for about 4 or so years but, he didn't get bad until his injury (work related) about 2 years ago. He said he called his Dr. and he said "no " for the higher strenght because after the surgery is when he will need that. I think it started out as the fun thing to do and now he feels that to live he has to take them. He has admitted he has a problem but, he has to take the steps.

Posted by: Samantha H on 2007-03-30, 08:57:02

Your Hubby needs Pain Management ideas, not masking the problem by using pain medications. I found a site on the internet which might be helpful to you. PainReliefTips, painrelieftips.blogspot.com/ .I hope this helps and your husband finds the relief He needs.

Posted by: kissybertha on 2007-03-30, 07:17:08

As I can sympathize with your husbands pain I also had spinal surgery and I know the pain that is there before, but he does have an addiction, on top of the pain. but after the surgery he will also get more pain pills would say something to the doctor so he knows how much he is taking since he is going to be put to sleep they need to know how much ids in his system, plus after the surgery the doctor can monitor him apparently the doctor knows this because your husband has went to the streets to buy them. good luck

Posted by: Mopar Muscle Gal on 2007-03-30, 07:17:35

You need to go to a Al-Anon meeting........ASAP you need to do tough love and kick him out he will not change his behavior until he has hit rock bottom don't let him take you and the kids down with him also, think of your children, its not normal behavior for them to witness and maybe emulate

Posted by: red_fire_halo on 2007-03-30, 07:18:31

You need to get your husband into rehab, period.

Posted by: ropar on 2007-03-30, 07:21:12

Absolutely, tell his doctor, if his doc won`t rat you out. Also what he`s doing is illegal, if he`s caught you`ll lose everything anyway. Tell him if he doesn`t stop , you`ll rat him out and leave him.

Posted by: mimi c on 2007-03-30, 07:22:12

They say people don't know what they really had until they loose it..i say leave him and if he really loves you he will see that those pills ain't worth it...and he will quit and he will come do whatever that he can to get a better life and to be with you...but if he preffered the pills over you ..then he's not good for you and you deserve someone better than him.

Posted by: JC on 2007-03-30, 07:22:13

17 10s a day?? That's an extreme amount. And if it also has acetominophen in the pills, it will severely damage his liver. People don't realize this. I've had problems with Lortabs in the past for a neck injury and it got to the point that I could care less about the pain. The euphoria from the hydrocodone was what I was looking for daily and it was easy to find someone willing to sell them. That is way too much to take. He really needs to be encouraged to seek drug counseling. I

Posted by: linda p on 2007-03-30, 07:22:54

How long has he been doing this? How long has he been suffering with the pain? Why is he spending his paycheck, doesn't his doctor give him a script? I just re-read your question. He is getting them but they are not strong enought to help with the pain. He needs to tell the doctor that the pills are not strong enough he is not getting any relief. This man has real pain, and he's trying to relieve it. You call the doctor and tell him your husband is suffering. If he's scheduled for surgery the doctor knows he is in pain. After the surgery he will have to be taken off the drugs under supervision of a doctor, they take you off alittle at a time until you don't need them anymore. I wish you would write back and let us know how long he has been doing this good luck

Posted by: What, what, what?? on 2007-03-30, 07:24:53

I'm sorry for your situation. It is a truly difficult situation. If he is scheduled for surgery, you will have to make both his doctor and anesthesiologist aware of the amount of "10s " he may be taking a day. He might be signing a release form, that basically states that he has informed his doctors of all the important information---such as amounts and what kind of medication he is on. If he is on more medication than the doctors think that he is on, this may be potentially dangerous with the amount of anesthesia that he is going to receive. He unfortunately does not see the dangers associated with what he is doing, nor does he see it as an addiction or a problem. Have you talked to others (parents and friends) about this problem? You may have to. Interventions and addressing the addiction is the way that you will have to go...you will need to talk to your doctor about this. If he is addicted, he will potentially go through withdrawl, when he is in the hospital for surgery ON HIS NECK, and that will not be good if he is going to not keep throwing up or having the shakes. You have to be SURE that he is indeed lying to you and that he IS taking up to 17 10s a day. You have to have verifiable proof and support to undergo an intervention. I wish you all the best!! It will be tough...but be strong! And, expect to be made the bad guy. Sometimes you have to say "so what, if you don't like me?? " It honestly shouldn't matter if your doctor or whomever you tell about this situation, "rats you out. " It doesn't matter anymore. This has now become too critical of a life situation, otherwise. Edit: I agree with Linda's comment above me...in that your husband is in more pain than the prescribed amount of medication is able to handle...although, this may be part of the problem with the addiction at this point. This is up to the doctor to determine. The docs, as long as they are given the heads up, may be able to address the issue and continue the surgery...but it depends on the anesthesiologist's opinion--I hope you have a good one.

Posted by: alaskan_gurl1995 on 2007-03-30, 07:25:45

My dad is/ was an alcoholic. Once my dad realized that he wasn't being a good dad or husband, he started going to AA. Now he realizes that he can't drink anymore or everyone will suffer again and he could die. Your husband doesn't realize that what he is doing is hurting the people around him. You have to help him realize how bad it is making yours and your daughters' lives. Once he realizes this try to get him to go to some sort of meeting. No addict can go through it alone. If he doesn't work with someone to stop, he won't stop. I am sorry for your situation. I hope everything works out.

Posted by: big dog on 2007-03-30, 07:42:23

First thing is... you can bring a horse to water but you can't make him drink it. If your husband says "he doesn't want help. " the med pro's drop him like a hot brick. but here in new orleans there is lots of what you are seeing. the best solution to get off an addiction (defined as tolerance--increased use over time, combined with a negative consequence.) that I have seen is a shot called naltraxone. they put you to sleep and dissolve all narcotics in a 24hr. period. no sickness or withdrawal. getting off is easy, STAYING off of them is the challenge....but you need insurance. (or have a serious desire to stop....) in order to pay for the $10,000 (I have heard) outpatient or $10,000/ week inpatient.

Posted by: Born2Bloom on 2007-03-30, 16:58:15

It seems to me having been there I am hearing just a bit too much me,me,me. I do not suggest leaving him and giving an ultimatum of me or the pills.Yes he's addicted, yes he needs to get off them but until he himself sees this it will not happen.It will only happen when he sees it for what it is and leaving is not going to help.This is what often drives addicts to suicide. This is when he needs you the most he ever has and you need to stand by him. Go to al-anon and see if he will go to drug counseling.The doctor should know what is going on. Why would you want to teach your children that when you need someone the most that you cast them aside. If they are at least 8 or more you should grab this situation as a chance to show them what trouble drugs can be. Tell them how dad has a problem right now that stemed from his disc. Don't hide it from them and just run away. That is wrong.I know it is hard but sometimes both life and love can be that way. I have 3 herniated discs and severe spinal stenosis and am inoperable. Your whole family needs help. Only people who have never been there in my belief would say to go. To leave him on his own.If this is someone you love that would be very wrong for sure. He needs your help and understanding. Can't live without them, well, unfortunately right now he can't. Do you know what it feels like to be cold to the bone but have sweat dripping from you.Know what its like to shake uncontrolably and have your whole body hurt beyond description?The feeling in your arms and legs intolerable. To continually throw up and have diarrhea worse then you've ever had. Just to move enough to get to the bathroom and freeze to death while your there is too much. The doctor can aleviate your finances by putting him on buprenorphine(suboxone) (subutex). I took place in the clinical trials for this drug 3 x from 1993 - 2002. I think I would suggest the suboxone as it also contains an antagonist which will make him real sick if he were to use other than the suboxone.Naloxone is the drug in it along with the bupe. The subutex is a monotherapy drug containing just the bupe. At the clinical trials after they had someone tapered down from the bupe they put you on naltrexone(naloxone) to insure clients stayed clean. After seeing how sick the brave got from taking other substances while on the naltrexone no one else dared to try it I can tell you that. I did not go on that as I was there getting off large amounts of morphine and another one I'd just as soon not mention.I used to get breaks of up to two years in between the spells of incredible back pain of which I now get no breaks. I liked to get free of the drugs in between and went to the clinic to do it. I think it works well if weaned off it gradually.Since we were their guinea pigs they tried all sorts of different doses and weaning schedules and whatever one you got you got.It was a double blind federal study that only took place 3 places in the country.You will find it covered by most insurances. Of course it too has found a blackmarket value unfortunately.You should talk to your doctor about it.Doctors had to take a 14 hour online course to be able to have bupe patients. They had a limit of 15 patients each until this last week when they upped it to 50 I believe. Well worth checking out. Please do not abandon him now when he needs you guys the most. I bet if you really think about it you would not want that either, you just want things to change. Just remember things can change for the better and also the worse. Make it be for the better. Be strong. Hang in there! I have no choice myself nomore but believe me if I could I would do anything to have my life back. My horses have become pets as I can't ride. I can't work and they say I'll be in a chair in a few years.But each time I went to get off them I really hoped the pain would not come back but it always did and soon didn't go away.It is extremely important for him to have success is getting his physical problem fixed for good. It would not be good for him to have to go back on them after getting off, it takes much less time for addiction to occur the next time. And please see that it is not just you this is affecting. You know, Your heart, your kids, your etc. It is all of you who are suffering and none more than him. If leaving him was going to make the difference in if he quit or not it at least would not be for nothing but it does not work that way. He can't see things that way even if he wanted to right now. He knows exactly how bad this is getting and likely hopes you wouldn't leave him in that way. NOTHING not even his family is going to get him to stop until he's ready so why not put your energy into getting him to see just how things are and what help is available and make it known you and the kids are there for him. Let this be a good lesson in life for them. Good Luck! I wish you guys the very best in this endeavor!

Posted by: fushia on 2007-04-03, 06:21:19

Yes make an appointment and tell the doctor what you have told us, they will need to know if he is to have surgery ,he is putting his life at risk.also tell him you will not put up with his behavior and that you expect some support back from him . you do not have to put up with his behavior get in touch with the woman's refuge for advice and support, there link is,womensrefuge.org.uk/ http_docs/ helpus/ funrun.htm?nbtn= 6 -