Posted by Barbara D. (205.188.195.21) on July 30, 1999 at 01:36:58:
In Reply to: ADDICTION ISSUES posted by Anne Thomas on July 29, 1999 at 14:29:53:
This is weird, but I agree with all of you and you are not agreeing with each other.
I've used Cafagot PB (and yes, abused it at times) for years and Phenobarb and Belladona are very addicting, but I've only had minor shakes and sweating after abusing it for months at a time.The thing is - when I wasn't in pain, I didn't want it. I don't like the feeling I have when I'm on it.
I'm alergic to Codeine, so I've never tried it for CH. Other narcs they've given me didn't even make me sleepy most of the time and they NEVER helped the pain.
My first "drug" of choice at the VERY beginning of a HA is Excedrin ES. Ok I know... but if I get to it quick enough I can abort the HA (and I don't take the recommended dosage - usually take a handful - 6-8). But if the HA is over a 2-3 forget the Excedrin and lets let out the Cafagot or Imitrex.
Since I became a Clusterhead, I've probably taken every addictive pain med on the market and finally figured out that pain meds don't help MY CH (that's just MY CH - not everyone else's), so I don't take any (unless you count the PB in the Cafagot). I've just never thought about getting addicted when I'm in pain. But I agree with DC about NOT taking anything if you even think you have an addictive personality. I've seen people in Detox and it's not a fun time at all.
If there is one thing I've learned from this board it's that we all REACT differently to meds, treatments, etc. One thing we agreed on in Dave's Garage was that we're all sick and tired of taking meds, but until the pain is gone, we're gonna keep on taking 'em. I've got mine down to one pill at night (a 10mg Amaltrytiline)but if a CH hits- all bets are off and I'll take anything near me.
It really looks to me like, we're damned if we do and we're damned if we don't. But my doc has never questioned my request for a scrip for anything. If I tell him I need it, he knows I do.
Guess what I'm saying is that everyone of us needs to look to ourselves to see what we can and cannot do. Bob P (sorry to use your name, but it's an example k?) does knee bends and aborts his that way. If I ever got down, I wouldn't have the strength to get back up, but if you tick me off I could knock the living daylights out of you without even thinking about it. So while I can't do knee bends, I'm thinking seriously of getting a punching bag like Linda B. (great idea - just never thought of it) and try killing it.
So, what was the question?
Hugs BD