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Posted 9/4/2012 6:38 AM (GMT 0)

Has anyone taken a drug holiday, on purpose?  I have been a CPP for close to 20 years and have been on methadone all of that time.  My PM and I had decided to take me off the methadone (small EKG change) and switch me to something else.  The first try was not entirely successful nor was it unsuccessful; we underestimated what a tenacious drug the methadone can be.  During the first try I was off methadone for about two weeks but the pain was so bad I was eating 15mg oxycodone (which I took maybe 2 a day prior to that for bt) like it was candy and was only getting 2-3 hours of relief and you cannot work a 12 hour night shift on that.  After much discussion (including while my PM was at Home Depot one Saturday) and prayer we decided to introduce a smaller dose of methadone mainly to decrease the withdrawal and then re-wean at a slower pace.  To our surprise 1/2 of my original dose not only took care of the withdrawal but took care of most of the pain.  Seeing how my receptors reset themselves in that short time I decided that a drug holiday may be in order.  After all this time I want to see exactly what pain is still there.  It is very scary but I think the thing to do.......My question is has anyone taken a drug holiday and what did they find when they did.  My PM says that she will treat whatever pain is still there and that takes some of the fear away.

In an aside I want to say that in reading some of the posts and responses there are some truly compassionate people on this forum.  I only wish I had found you all years ago.

Posted 9/4/2012 2:08 PM (GMT 0)
You definitely have a great doctor there that is working with you so closely. My own oncologist, who is also my PM, is the same way.

I read your story with great interest, and will be watching and hoping you keep updates, as I want to see how you do on this self-imposed vacation of sorts. Hope it works well for you.

david in sc
Posted 9/4/2012 2:55 PM (GMT 0)
In October 2009 I was laid off from my job, which had AMAZING health insurance. So while on unemployment I continued it through COBRA and had to pay for it.

I eventually was so broke I had to stop the insurance in July 2010, and since I was on Morphine Sulfate 30mg 3xDaily, I tapered myself off over the next month.

The withdrawals were uncomfortable but not terrible, I realized then I was not an addict because I never craved it. The only time I wanted it or "craved" it was when my pain would intensify. Then I wished I had it to make it go away.

I went two years in pain and going through ibuprofen like a madman until I was put back on Morphine with my new insurance a few weeks ago.

Having to deal with the pain again sucks, as there isn't much out there that's over the counter than helps that much.

Your tolerance is supposed to reset quickly, and yours seems to have done just that which is good.
Posted 9/4/2012 3:14 PM (GMT 0)
Yes on the drug holiday by choice.

It IS amazing to see what your system can do. I was on a massive load of narcotics - due to an ever growing tolerance and my doses being upped and upped. I had several doctors recommend a "drug holiday" - and, at the time, thought there was no way I could do it.... through a tapering process, I got off that high amount.... and stopped taking a couple of the meds completely.

Through that whole journey - I'm at 1/4 of what I used to be on... and - actually - my pain is better controlled than when I was on the higher amounts.

I know it's scary.... but the great thing is that it sounds like you have a PM that is willing to work w/ you - and that's literally half the battle. '

Let us know what you decide to do... and wish you luck on it all. I think it's great that you've been able to just get on a smaller dose of methadone... Maybe that's what you try at first? Just trying to get down another notch... and then another, etc. You've been on the same med for such a long time - and methadone is notoriously hard to get off of... so just take it slow and see where you can get down to? Just a thought!

Take care --Tina
Posted 9/4/2012 3:29 PM (GMT 0)
Cave,

I feel your pain on the COBRA situation. It's nice that it is offered if you are out of work from a large enough firm to have it, but its another thing to be able to pay for it.

I have told this story before, but I wanted to repeat it. I was laid off in July 2008. Exactly 1 month later, I was diagnosed with an aggressive prostate cancer. Even though the firm was too small to require COBRA, my ex-boss was compassionate enough to pay our full health insurance policies for 6 months out of his own pocket, until my wife was able to get setup with BCBS through her employer. Since there was no gag in our coverage, my cancer and all its expensive operations and treatments were not considered "pre-existing"..

I was very, very fortunate, I realize, and forever thankful for my ex-boss. Not everyone would have done that, especially under the economic circumstances that caused me to lose my job in the first place.

I wish only the best for you ahead.

David
Posted 9/4/2012 7:24 PM (GMT 0)
 

 Hello Mtn!...and Welcome to our chronic pain forum!

       I'm in total agreement with Tina here, and I myself, went through a self-forced med holiday. Of course, I would never sugest the same route I took (cold turkey)....but I did find that it reset my receptors as well...although I was off only a few months.

      In my case though, the reset did not last long, and I have since been switched to different med's in an effort to find something longer lasting and more effective. At the moment, I have not had too much success, and is a big worry for me. It is even harder since I work a full time job, and my pain has increased.

      I think too,...that you have a great PM there so you should do just fine. As Tina said the results may surprise you, and it may not only take some stress off of you, but your PM as well.

    Good luck, and please keep us up to date. Many of us find this to be an interesting topic.

       SE wink

       

     

Posted 9/4/2012 7:42 PM (GMT 0)
I have never personally been on a drug holiday...What my PM and I have done is to rotate through different opiates/nerve pain meds/muscle relaxers. In addition to all the other modalities that I use for pain relief.

This way, we never had to keep raising the dosages on a particular medication/opiate. And when we switch to a different one...we start very low and end up at a lower conversion rate as it's hitting different receptors.

It sounds like you have a really good Dr. and if this can somehow make it where you end up with taking less medication and this handles your pain...then that is always a good thing.
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