Does anyone have any experience in giving up pain killers in order to give preventitives a chance. I have had daily migraine for 23 years. For 18 years it has been managed with prescription opiates (Diconal) on a daily basis and in large quantities. I am under pressure from my doctor to give them up in order to give preventatives a chance. I have been told I will need to spend 4 weeks in hospital giving up the opiates and then up to 2-3 years with medication only twice a week in order to try and find a preventative that works. I find this very daunting. I have a high pressure job and am convinced I could not function without medication. I am also very concerned about the giving up of opiates in hospital. Just how unpleasant could this be? I currently take 68 10mg diconal tablets per week and have taken them since 1992.
- Find
- Manage
- Resources
Q: Does anyone know about opiate withdrawal in hospital and giving up painkillers
Hi Andrew,
Good for you for thinking about taking this big step. Yes, withdrawing from long term opiate use is not pleasant and if not done properly one can have all sort of nasty complications. These include but are not limited to: vomiting and breathing stomach contents into the lungs, and then getting an infection, vomiting and diarrhea can cause severe dehydration, sleep depriavation, and more.
You have been on opiates a very long time. If you have a good relationship with your doctor and trust him, I would certainly give it a go.There is also new evidence that opiate use, especially in men, increases the risk of another type of Migraine called Transformed Migraine . Continue reading this article for more information: Transformed Migraine- Risk Increased by Some Medications
I hope this helps,
Good luck
Nancy
Unfortunately there is no easy way to withdraw from opiates. You will have to be under a doctor's supervision, or someone who can monitor your blood pressure, etc.
Suboxone is what I was given, and it is a bitch to get off! Now Im trying to get off "Dr. recommended perscriptions" I know u were given this by a dr. and they can be the worst drug pushers. You are physically and mentally addicted. If u know u cant work without it. I functioned on opiates as a nurse for years, my excuse not to give them up was my job. I ended up losing my job because of the addiction. I needed a higher and higher dosage everyday to just be what I thought was normal. If your Dr. wants u off and will not perscribe them you either have to get off and face all your fears and figure out why you dont want to or buy your drugs on the street. Unfortunately this is the reality. You may not think of yourself as an addict, because you have a good job, function on them but believe me if you woke up in the morning and didnt have your opiates to get u going u would be in hell. Good luck. Im withdrawling so sorry for being such an ass.
Unfortunately there is no easy way to withdraw from opiates. You will have to be under a doctor's supervision, or someone who can monitor your blood pressure, etc.
Suboxone is what I was given, and it is a bitch to get off! Now Im trying to get off "Dr. recommended perscriptions" I know u were given this by a dr. and they can be the worst drug pushers. You are physically and mentally addicted. If u know u cant work without it. I functioned on opiates as a nurse for years, my excuse not to give them up was my job. I ended up losing my job because of the addiction. I needed a higher and higher dosage everyday to just be what I thought was normal. If your Dr. wants u off and will not perscribe them you either have to get off and face all your fears and figure out why you dont want to or buy your drugs on the street. Unfortunately this is the reality. You may not think of yourself as an addict, because you have a good job, function on them but believe me if you woke up in the morning and didnt have your opiates to get u going u would be in hell. Good luck. Im withdrawling so sorry for being such an ass.
Important:
We hope you find this general health information helpful. Please note however, that this Q&A is meant to support not replace the professional medical advice you receive from your doctor. No information in the Answers above is intended to diagnose or treat any condition. The views expressed in the Answers above belong to the individuals who posted them and do not necessarily reflect the views of The HealthCentral Network. The HealthCentral Network does not review or edit content posted by our community members, but reserves the right to remove any material it deems inappropriate.
Featuring Content From:
By using this service, you accept our Terms of Use. Please read them. The consumer health information on is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment for any medical conditions. You should promptly seek professional medical care if you have any concern about your health, and you should always consult your physician before starting a fitness regimen. Copyright © 2012 Remedy Health Media, LLC. All Rights Reserved.
