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how i got past withdrawal (not recommended)

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Posted 11/21/2012 7:20 AM (GMT 0)
By the way, when I got off my meds (to test my theory that my lack of interest was not my fault), I foolishly went cold turkey. I was sick as a dog at first, but then I took a five hour energy shot and all my withdrawal symptoms went away. And I was fine the next day.

I'm not trying to advertise for them, and I don't know enough about all this stuff to even recommend trying it, but I noticed a lot of threads about this and thought i'd share my experience.

Post Edited (ookla76) : 11/21/2012 9:42:08 AM (GMT-7)

Posted 11/21/2012 10:49 AM (GMT 0)
You mean the stuff that's being investigated by the FDA in connection with several recent deaths? (probably from using more than one as specified on the label)

It's mostly a big caffeine boost and B complex and C vitamins. I'd personally rather take the vitamins and wash it down with a cup of coffee. Those things taste like gasoline smells. All of the other stuff in there is unnecessary, and can be harmful.

Though to be clear, I do have much love for the Monster drinks, especially the blue lo-carb. I limit myself, maybe once a week, if that, but I actually like that Jolly Rancher meets slightly carbonated diesel fuel combo. Weird. Especially when it's hot out. Can't drink coffee in a truck with no AC in the summer. But that's the only one I've found that I like that's diet/lo-carb that I actually enjoy.
Posted 11/21/2012 4:26 PM (GMT 0)
I've never tried any energy drink, but let me raise a caution -- many of them have in addition to caffeine, other stimulants. Someone with an undiagnosed heart condition may try one and end up with tachycardia or worse.

Because of my heart condition, I avoid everything with ginseng and most other stimulants. I can handle 1 cup of coffee in a day (so about 100mg of caffeine), but anything more and I'll start getting arrhythmias and tachycardia. If I weren't taking medication for my heart, even the coffee would cause an episode.
Posted 11/21/2012 4:38 PM (GMT 0)
I regret the title of this thread. I didn't mean to imply others should use this method, I only meant to imply that it's what helped me get through withdrawal. I've seen the reports on 5.H.E.S.-possibly-releated deaths and they're very worrisome, but they've become an unfortunate necessity in my life. My quality of sleep at night is somewhere around negative 10, which is usually fine for being at work. But every now and then, I'm required to make very long drives and 5.H.E.S. has been a "godsend" - if it weren't for it, I most surely would end up killing myself, and possibly others, in a car wreck. I can't drink coffee. So hopefully I'll be one of the lucky ones and survive the occasional use.

Post Edited (ookla76) : 11/21/2012 9:42:32 AM (GMT-7)

Posted 11/21/2012 5:14 PM (GMT 0)
I'll also chime in to say that it's very dangerous to add something like an energy drink whether on or going off medications...

And with Tramadol...that is a medication that should always be tapered as there are seizure risks associated with going cold turkey. It has a different chemical make-up than other pain medications...

So...people should always work with their Dr. when going on or off any medication to be properly monitored...

Post Edited (Snowbunny21) : 11/21/2012 10:30:24 AM (GMT-7)

Posted 11/21/2012 5:26 PM (GMT 0)
I hate to say it, but I don't really like my doctor and would prefer not to work with him if I can avoid it. The first time I was put on neurontin, I complained that it wasn't working and he said: "that's because you're on a baby dose." Maybe that was an innocent remark, but just the way he said it made it seem kind of insulting (I've had a problem taking medications in the past, almost anything makes me vomit repeatedly). Does neurontin need to be tapered down, too? I'm thinking of giving neurontin another try at maybe 600mg three times a day, but when/if it doesn't handle my pain (or causes the same particular side effect I'm trying to avoid), I don't want to spend weeks trying to get off it. If that's the case, maybe I should just skip the neurontin experiment?
Posted 11/21/2012 5:38 PM (GMT 0)
Yes....Neurontin absolutely needs to be tapered both up or down/off in dosages as it also has seizure risks...

And I don't think your Dr. meant anything insulting by saying it was a baby dosage....He just meant that you were on the lowest possible amount and it is a medication that is meant to be started this way and then raised all the way up to 3600mg in many cases as the therapeutic level...

With any medication....there are going to be side effects...Most of these will go away within a month or so...

People need to be aware and know the difference between a side effect...which can be nausea, fatigue, itching....or an actual allergic reaction like hives or trouble breathing.

You shouldn't be "experimenting" with any of your medication without your Dr.s help or knowledge..

Even if you don't like him...Do what you need to do with regards to these medications with his help and in the meantime...you can be making appts. with other Drs. to find one that you care for better. Just be sure to NOT accept a prescription for any other controlled substance until you are completely done with this Dr.

I have found there are different types of personalities with Drs...some of them can be absolutely brilliant at what they do but they don't have a great bedside manner...Yes...there are some that have both traits...but only you can decide what you are looking for in a Physician...
Posted 11/21/2012 5:41 PM (GMT 0)
It definitely needs tapering down. Usually the dose is increased slowly and decreased slowly. After a few weeks my dose was increased to 1800mg. Initially I was only tired at the lower doses, but eventually the med helped with nerve pain.

Any medication that has an effect on nerve pain needs to increased/decreased with a drs supervision. Like snowbunny said-there is a risk of seizures if not handled correctly.

I would definitely look for another dr. If he/she is for a longterm problem, you need to be able to trust them. It's hard enough being in pain. Being in pain and relying on a dr who you don't trust or like just makes the problem worse.
Posted 11/21/2012 5:55 PM (GMT 0)
1800mg? That sounds like a lot to me. Do you take that all at once? My pills are 100mg. I can't even imagine taking 18 of them!
Posted 11/21/2012 5:59 PM (GMT 0)
As I wrote in my post...Neurontin can go up to 3600mg for a therapeutic level...

You can't compare milligram to milligram of this medication (like your Tramadol) to other ones as it is a different chemical make up. So don't be nervous about the particular dosages for this med.

So it's really about getting to a dosage of this medication to where it really helps someone's nerve pain as an opiate doesn't really work on that type of pain.
Posted 11/21/2012 6:18 PM (GMT 0)
It wasn't the dosage that surprised me so much as the amount of pills. I just can't imagine sitting there swallowing 18 pills. I was at 600mg and even just 6 pills seemed a bit excessive to me. I guess maybe I'm still part of the mainstream pill stigma-ists (did I just make that word up?).
Posted 11/21/2012 6:38 PM (GMT 0)
I know Neurontin at least comes in the 600mg capsules.... because that's what I take....

--Tina
Posted 11/21/2012 6:48 PM (GMT 0)
Does it matter how you take a dosage? If you're supposed to take 300mg of something, is there any difference to taking one 300mg dose vs two 150mg doses vs three 100mg doses? Like with my tramadol, could I have just taken 100mg in the morning instead of 50mg in the morning and 50mg at night?
Posted 11/21/2012 7:32 PM (GMT 0)
It does matter for certain medications as it's about having a steady stream of medication in your system so you don't just dump it all at once and then have it all gone...

The Dr. should prescribe each medication to be taken as directed...

With Tramadol...if it is NOT the ER version (extended release) then it only lasts about 4-6 hours...Sometimes people get many more hours of relief...So that is dosed "as needed" to take per those hours..(as in the prescription may read take one or two tablets every 4-6 hours as needed for pain)

If it is the ER version then it lasts from 8-12 hours and it's best to be taken once in the am and then again in the pm. Those are usually prescribed to read take one tablet every 12 hours.

Many times a Dr. will allow 3 times a day (every 8 hours) depending on the patient and how it's working for their pain levels...

All of this boils down to taking the medication exactly as your Dr. directs it..you really shouldn't experiment on your own like you have been doing with going off meds when you want to...or trying to figure out your own way on when to take them.....I would hate to see you cause yourself harm when unintended...
Posted 11/21/2012 7:51 PM (GMT 0)
I know you're right. This is it. If the neurontin doesn't work, I'll stop goofing around and wait to develop a plan with my Dr at our Dec 5 appointment. Maybe.
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