Withdrawal symptoms

[Guest guest]

Dear Heidi,

I have gone thru withdrawls twice so I will tell you what happened to me.

Within 12 hrs after stopping the pain meds the restless legs begin, feels like

tickles but you can't make it stop. Then shortly after, about 18 hrs you start

feeling like you have the worse flu, ache everywhere. And the restless feeling

is also in my arms and body now. Goose bumps, chills, sweats, water diahrea,

etc....The utter exhaustion is overwhelming. It took me down on the couch for a

week. After a full week, the flu feeling lifted and I could get off the couch.

Still dragged, could barely move my muscles, so heavy, just an effort to move.

I was told, by the rehab Md, it is because the opiotes attach to the receptors

in your muscles and they learn to function differently. When the opiotes are

withheld the muscles are saying what the heck are you doing and basically turn

to jello and shut down. They have to re learn to work. After 3-1/2 weeks I woke

up one morning and the weight was lifted 50%,

Two days later, completely gone. Wow! What energy, I forgot this feeling. I

always have to go off cold turkey because my heart wacks out, very erratic

beating, heart palpatations galore.. The first time, after I was on the heavy

pain meds for 2-1/2 years, I had to be put in the hospital. I was given meds to

make me sleep thru the initial phase, 2 days. My heart was ok when I woke up.

The rehab Md gave me muscle relaxants that I took several times a day. That

stopped the tickle, muscle jerk thing. She also gave me valium to calm me. I

took it once and I was already so calm, practically comotose, from the

exhaustion alone. So the valium was too much. I didn't need it. If I chilled

anymore I would be dead. I will check to see the name of the muscle relaxant I

was given. It worked great. Hope this helps.

Love,

w

[Guest guest]

Heidi/Sue,

I've also experienced the limb restlessness when I was without my pain

medication, but I take methadone. I've seen several articles in passing

that this is a common symptom of withdrawl for many different

medications. However, other than restarting the pain medication, I have

no idea what can be done to stop this from occurring. Sorry my reply is

so late, but I was offline last week visinting my grandmother.

Kimber

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Kimber

Vallejo, CA

hominid2@...

Note: All advice given is personal opinion, not equal to that of a licensed

physician or health care professional.