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Original poster

Opioid addiction

11 replies

catherinewales · 11/12/2023 22:35

My husband has been on zapain for about 2 years on and off because of a knee injury. He's been taking them for 4 months regularly. 2 in the morning and 2 before bed. Friday night he decided he doesn't need them anymore. Yesterday and today he's been suffering really bad. What can I do to help and what's the best thing to do moving forward? Is he best just taking them and reducing gradually like he was suppose to do. He says he feels like he's going to die. I don't know what to do to help.

OP posts:
tescocreditcard · 11/12/2023 22:38

He needs to get advice and support from his GP really.

When you say he's suffering do you mean he is having withdrawal symptoms?

Original poster
catherinewales · 12/12/2023 07:23

Yes he's withdrawing and feels so bad. We decided he should just take them again last night and start coming off them slowly. Hopefully today is a better day.

OP posts:
Pigeonqueen · 12/12/2023 07:29

Taking 4 a day doesn’t sound like he’s addicted to them, especially if he’s leaving a gap in the middle of the day with them. It sounds like he needs them for the pain. He could try and drop down to 1 twice a day and then 1 a day if he wants to stop taking them but if the pain is still there he will need them to cope with the pain or some sort of alternative. Is he having any treatment for the issue causing him the pain?

MissSmiley · 12/12/2023 15:47

I was on 4 day of tramadol after major surgery, 2 in the morning and two at night, I was prescribed 8 a day. I stopped like your DH because i didn't need them and I got the worst insomnia ever as a withdrawal symptom. Spoke to the pharmacist and did myself a very gradual reduction over 8 weeks, dropping one tables every week. It worked.

MadamVastra · 12/12/2023 16:16

how is he today op

Original poster
catherinewales · 12/12/2023 17:02

He took some last night and throughout the night. He is in a much better place today. He only got up at 3 this afternoon but has had a shower and is talking about going for a walk. He said he's going to reduce slowly. Thank you all xx

OP posts:
Original poster
catherinewales · 12/12/2023 17:05

Pigeonqueen · 12/12/2023 07:29

Taking 4 a day doesn’t sound like he’s addicted to them, especially if he’s leaving a gap in the middle of the day with them. It sounds like he needs them for the pain. He could try and drop down to 1 twice a day and then 1 a day if he wants to stop taking them but if the pain is still there he will need them to cope with the pain or some sort of alternative. Is he having any treatment for the issue causing him the pain?

He did need them for his knee. He has bone on bone. He got a cortisone injection in September but it takes a while to kick in so he was told by his gp to top up with these painkillers. His body is addicted to them. He feels like he can manage on a lower dose painkiller now xx

OP posts:
Original poster
catherinewales · 14/05/2024 22:51

I don't know if anyone is interested in an update. He never got sick because of the tablets. He has stomach cancer. We're absolutely devastated but it can be cured so we've got everything crossed. We think the cancer just got ugly at the same time as the tablets.

OP posts:
GemsDays · 14/05/2024 23:09

So sorry to read this. Thinking of you, sending strength.

nothingsforgotten · 15/05/2024 03:41

I'm so sorry. Best of luck to you both, stay strong.

Original poster
catherinewales · 15/05/2024 10:08

Thank you both. We are here together fighting it as much as we can xx

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