Brain Damage - Mixing Opiates/opioids And Alcohol Together
May 17, 2014
I am now been abstinence from substance-abuse. For 2 years, I was mixing opiates/opioids and alcohol together, and sometimes I mixed other substances with those-including cocaine. Plus, I already have depression and anxiety. I have been to a treatment/health care center twice. First time of abstinence, for 2 weeks I couldn't speak right. I'd think of a sentence. I'd start to say the first few words-with a stutter-and then forget the sentence. I would have to start my think process over again a couple of times.
I continued using/mixing-if not more-and became dependent on opiates/opioids, and I had already been diagnosed an alcoholic. I became abstinence, and still am. It's been about over 2 months of no substance abuse. I developed unnecessary stops in my sentences while I speak. Like my brain can't catch up to my speech while I talk, causing me to have to stop for a very short time before continuing me sentences-this can happen a few times in one sentence. I still have to restart my thinking process over again because my mind goes blank while trying to speak. When there are things that distract me or someone speaks a little bit while I'm talking, I have to restart my thinking process all over again.
Some other things that are going on with me is that I often feel microscopic bugs crawling on me and biting me. I also sometimes become frightened because I sometimes see shadows in the corner of my eyes or behind me. While staying still, my leg or arm will sometimes randomly jerk-I'm not doing it, my body is doing it by itself. I also forget to breath, and I have to remind myself to breath by myself.
I want feedback of what you'd think these are symptoms would be of, and/or if this is more of a severe or minor thing. Drug-induced brain damage?
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A friend of mine is on Wellbutrin, Lexapro, Xanax, Ambien, and alcohol (wine, vodka). How dangerous is this in the short/long term?
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I have just been on warfarin for 6 months for a left femoral dvt,during the prescribing phase no information was given to me,and I am shocked to find out myself after having an episode where my vision went very weird with associated vomiting for 5 hours that warfarin is a neurotoxin and can in some cause brain damage.wouldn't you think someone would give me that information at the start.prior to the above episode i had experience short burst periods of dizziness,and profound lack of clarity of thought. considering the seriousness of this drug wouldn't you think more information would be available to the taker of the drug other than the scant information on the drug information leaflets coming with the drug.I am profoundly angry as the lack of the more serious side effects to this drug not being given to me in order that i might make informed choices at the start.i have stopped the drug myself and informed my doctor of this.
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In 2005 I was given 22 lots of electroconvulsive therapy. It left me with brain damage that means I will never work again. I was lucky because I got support from a neuropsychologist who allowed me to understand and come to terms with my problems. ECT can be used to great effect. However some people like myself end up severely and permanently affected. I want to use this place to link up with those like myself. So that we can support each other. I don't say ect shouldn't be used. But people thinking of it should understand what can happen. The Information given about ECT side effects doesn't go into details, they talk about memory problems. Actually it affects far more than that. It causes cognitive impairment. 10 years on I need 12 hours of home help a week to help me care for my 3 kids. I tire very easily and some days I am able and feel intelligent. Other days if I have pushed myself and not been able to have a midday nap I struggle to do the most basic of tasks. Some days I'm not well enough to drive at all. Other days I will drive short distances. I was a doctor and well never work again.
Please let me know if you have had similar problems. Or if your thinking about ECT please make sure that you understand what could happen to you. It could mean permanent I'll health on top of your existing problems.I am no longer depressed. It wasn't stopped by the ECT but by psychological input to support me out of my coercively abusive marriage.
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I know I suffer from anxiety (and depression and insomnia), which is partly what drove me to drink, am on treatment for same and will review things with my GP asap, but I want to concentrate on my physical health concerns. Please ignore this thread if you ONLY want to talk about anxiety.
Briefly: I was a social drinker for 25 years, occasionally drinking more than I should have (but at things like celebrations and functions).
Two years ago, I began to develop mental health problems, but didn't start drinking more heavily (self-medicating) until about one year ago, when I also started to binge drink occasionally, including twice last October. After a gap, I then restarted drinking heavily in March this year, and this became very heavy at times in the summer (80+ units per week), with occasional even heavier binges, the most recent being last Thursday / Friday (50+ units each day).
I finally ended-up in hospital last weekend with tachycardia, low blood pressure and probably alcohol poisoning. While there, I first developed a painful red/purple rash on my chest. I was put on antibiotics for this, and it seems to be clearing-up.
However, then, I quickly developed various other strange and unpleasant physical symptoms:
- numerous bruises;
- numerous pimples and red/purple dots under the skin;
- some hair loss and extensive hair-thinning;
- a spider naevus;
- red palms;
- itchy skin- skin darkening affecting the backs of my hands and genitals;
- regular, profuse sweating;
- whites of eyes turned lemon;
- brain "fog".
Some of these symptoms have reduced or resolved (eg. red palms and itchy skin), but the others have persisted.
I am eating OK, but making an effort to do so. In spite of this, I have lost about a stone in weight in the past 3 weeks. I'm also lacking in energy.
Since June, I have had regular liver function tests and other blood tests, too.
These have shown elevated enzymes, more or less in line with the extent of my drinking. In early August, after a serious binge, the AST was 96 and GGT was 121. In mid-August, AST had reduced to 25 and GGT 72. But they were higher again (though both under 100) on my admission to hospital last weekend, but had started to fall again after I was there for a few days. I have been advised that, in all of the tests, the values for other important measures were consistently normal. The junior doctor in hospital said the LFTs indicated no cirrhosis or hepatitis.
I also had a physical exam (just manual) from a GP in mid-August, and she said my liver / abdomen felt soft and suple with no sign of inflammation, enlargement or hardness.
However, given the strange and unpleasant physical symptoms that quickly developed in hospital last weekend, I fear that my last serious binge a week ago finally tipped me over the edge and into serious liver disease. Too many of the symptoms are those of cirrhosis for me to think anything else. (I've checked on the NHS website.)
I am absolutely terrified that, despite good advice and warnings, I did not take heed and my body, especially the liver, has finally been permanently damaged by the alcohol.
My main question is: can I turn things around? I have not had anything to drink since last Friday, and have no inclination to do so. I am drinking a lot of water, fruit and vegetable juices, and eating healthily. I will try to get some exercise, though I don't have much energy.
I'll see my regular GP next week, but could do with some advice and, if it's appropriate, some reassurance before then.
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Anyone had dealings with mixing these two drugs?
I smoke Cannabis and have just been put on Citalopram.
Wondering if anyone can inform me of any problems I may encounter.
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My 24 year old son is on day 4 in rehab for prescription drug abuse (Opiates). He detoxed himself last fall only to relapse 2 months later. Right now he is in a 28 day program but I am very scared that is not long enough. I feel so doomed, everything I read about addiction is so negative about recovery. Right now, all he talks about is how hard this is and that all he thinks about is his next dose of detox meds. He talks about how good the meds he was abusing made him feel. His talk just makes me feel like he will never be able to beat this. Before his addiction he was the sweetest, most sensitive, loving guy you would ever meet. Everyone is drawn to him. I still can't believe these drugs got a hold of him. His brain has been hijacked, literally.
Is there anything anyone can tell me that will give me just a little tiny bit of hope?
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Does anyone know if mixing cannabis and ADs causes side effects
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brief case history: I am a 24 years old male, i was on variety of opiates for the better part of 2-3 years, in the last year, i began taking methadone...which was a major mistake. in any case, i weaned off methadone and to prevent withdrawals, i began taking vicodin daily for 3 weeks; i then ditched opiates all together and endured about a week of mild withdrawals with the help of various OTC drugs and supplements.
now to the "juicy" stuff. I'm not a doctor and i do not know how this impacts females as hormones in both sexes act very differently. that being said, take this information with a grain of salt. I am a Male speaking from personal experience.
Testosterone is the king of all hormones, specifically in males....it is made in the testes and is responsible for emotions, sex drive, attitude, appetite, energy, sleep and so forth. that piece of information is key as this will help you understand some of the withdrawal symptoms. NOW, during the use of opiates for extended amounts of time, testosterone levels and production are seriously depleted ..which results in lower sex drive, less energy and motivation, etc. SO, when you stop taking opiates and endure the withdrawals, your body will be rebooting itself, there will be a lack of balance of your total biology for some time.
this is where my experience played a role in my understanding of what happens to the body during detox. after a week of withdrawals, i began experiencing restlessness, break outs and really oily skin on my face, and energy i didn't know what to do with. because my body was out of balance, i was in a state of "limbo": i was energetic and tired at the same time. i talked to my doctor and as it turns out, my testosterone levels were Through the Roof! upon detox, and opiates out of my system, by body began producing testosterone at near dangerous levels...its like going through puberty again! now...this is both good and bad. too much testosterone can result in the possibility of testicular cancer, and this isn't me trying to scare you...every single individuals experience varies, no two are alike. anyway...now for the good news. after a week of being lethargic yet restless and having little sleep, i forced myself to go to the gym. BEST DECISION EVER. your body is producing all this testosterone post-opiates, might as well put it to use. i KNOW how it feels to get up and drag ur arss to the gym, but i promise you that it will be revitalizing.
i did some basic stretching and work outs and got myself some heavy duty protein. i also learned that testosterone is most easily and directly distributed to your legs which could be a factor that plays a role in RLS. think about it, testosterone production sky rockets, testosterone is responsible for energy, you're not putting that energy to use and therefore drives ur legs crazy when all you do is lay around and do a whole lot of nothing. anyway, i did some basic work outs, came home, loaded up on vitamins and drank a nutritious protein shake and that night, i slept like a Rock. the next day i felt like a million bucks...but because i've been on methadone for a year, to this day (37 days post methadone) i still experience very very mild but noticeable symptoms of w/d (hot flashes and stuff).
after FORCING myself to get up and go to the gym, i've gotten out of my state of "limbo" i am energetic during the day and sleep significantly better at night.
The KEY here is: know your body, understand it. you may be sober, but FAR from normal. so it is crucial to do whatever it takes to help your body regain that balance.
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I live in the U.S. so the drug names may be different. I have been taking hydrocodone (norco) 2 x 7.5 a day for over 2 years. I had neck surgery in 2012 and within 6 mos the pain in my neck and left arm returned, along with the nerve pain in my arm. After ruining my digestive system with ibuprofen ( I was taking at least 8 to 12, 200 mg each, a day) I gave up and went to pain management for help. I had successful injections for low back pain a year or so before that, so I thought that is what they would want to do for this. But the doctor said that it would not help, probably because of my surgery, I'm not sure now because its a distant foggy memory. Anyway, the result was pills. At first it was only 5 mg 2x a day. Then he upped it within 2 mos to 7.5 mg. 2x a day. Since then I have read a lot about opiates and know that it is very addictive. I take it as prescribed but that means that I am just addicted to the prescribed dose. I had surgery in September for my digestive problem that all started with the ibuprofen. After the surgery they gave me Oxycodone. Within 3 doses I started sweating and having a headache soon before my next dose was due. I recognised this right away as a symptom of withdrawal. I immediately stopped taking that and just suffered through the surgery pain with my "usual' med, hydrocodone. Within a month, I started to realize that I have the same symptoms to a lesser degree with this med. This can only mean that I am addicted to it. When I went to my doctor for my usual appointment and med refill, I asked if there were any alternatives to Opiates. I said I was uncomfortable taking this and wanted to find something else. He said "Tylenol?, that's your only choice." I was floored. Well, I know tylenol can ruin your liver, so that wasn't even an option. He then said, "the holidays are coming up, why don't WE wait until after that and rethink this". Wow. I was truly speechless. So I took my scripts and left. I did NOT make another appointment. All that to ask this question. Does anyone know if there is ANY option to opiates for chronic pain and permanent nerve pain? If I do not take the med, my pain comes back, but the Nerve pain is the one that drives me back to take the pills. Now it's in both arms and when the med starts to wear off they start to ache, then burning and tingling. I have tried reducing the dose by taking half a pill, but all that does is make me count the hours to the next half pill. ugh. I want off this stuff and I know it can be done! I have read several success stories right here. Other symptoms I have are anxiety, depression, anger, constant waking up at night with the sweats. I need support, answers, and a way to do this without losing my job,all my friends and my mind!!
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I don't know all the reasons why Doctors won't just tell a patient the truth about dependency, but, my best guess is fear of the unknown. In my opinion they are scared of Lawsuits. Scared of what this person may do. If you are trying to stop taking Oxycodone like I was in 2011 then you probably felt like no one was giving you a roadmap to success. You felt like you had somehow acquired a PHD in chemistry and the medical field with all of the knowledge you had obtained through the internet. You asked and pleaded for help to stop taking these drugs. I read everything. I felt as if no one cared. I felt like my doctors were pawning me off to pain management doctors and no one was simply saying the obvious...Stop taking them! That is it.
I suffered a back injury, had spinal fusion, was given Oxycodone during recovery and was taking them for a year. As I felt my back injury and recovery or healing process of that surgery was over. I started weaning off the meds. Lowering my dosages. I did everything any normal person would do. I asked doctors, everyone, how? How to I stop taking this drug? The back injury and surgery was no longer my issue, the issue now was this feeling that I was a drug addict and it had to stop, in order to fully heal. In retrospect I would have gladly suffered the pains of the surgery, because, that was to be expected. After surgery it is going to hurt. You can expect to be in pain from that. What I didn't expect was becoming dependant on the drugs and being shunned by my own doctors who prescribed me the medications. Surgeons perform surgery. Mine didn't have any concerns with anything afterwards. I tried slowly weaning off the meds. I felt like c**p! I learned as much as I could from every media I could. I asked everyone How to stop taking these drugs. I asked all the questions one would ask? Will I die if I just stop taking them, How do I stop taking them? Is there someone who can give me a list of what to take and slowly taper them off of me? Nothing worked! Nothing....worked. After reading everyone's experiences and seeing everyone go through the same things I had been going through. I came across one post...one person...simply said "You people are stupid"....Stop taking the drugs. This was on a site where I had been reviewing probably fifty cases of people begging for relief, begging for answers on how to slowly wean off these meds. No one wants to feel pain. It's that simple, but, here's the reality....It's going to suck! You will feel terrible. Go to CVS and buy some circulatory leggings ( stocking to help bad circulation) They are tight fitting socks that go up to your crotch, put them on! Find your favorite pillow or large stuffed animal and get in bed, have plenty of Gatorade, pedialyte, anything to replenish the fluids and vitamins, you are going to need to keep drinking these fluids as much as possible! Tell your family to bear with you and forgive anything they hear come from your room. I screamed, I cursed, I cried and after a couple of days the worst was over. It was two Hard days. It was a hard week following, but the days get better, the weeks get better and the good news is...You will no longer be dependant or addicted to this ridiculous drug. I'm not a Doctor. I don't claim to be a drug Guru. I was a patient suffering from an injury and thrown away. My recovery process was just as important to me as my surgery. That was not the sentiment my surgeon shared. he performed surgery, that's his job and that's how he saw it. Oh , you're having difficulty with the medications? well here is a doctor who specializes in that, go away! The pain management doctor wanted to substitute my addiction, dependancy? (whatever) with other drugs? Methadone, you name it, and told me he was there to give me whatever I wanted for as long as I wanted. I can call that guy right now and get drugs if I wanted! Stop taking them! That's no life. The pains you are experiencing on a daily basis regardless of whatever injury or illness you have are increased by these pain medications. They tell your brain this doesn't hurt ...but, now you have this pain...these doctors have no idea, what you are going through. They will give you drugs, they will perform surgeries, but, they are not going to hold your hand and suffer with you, this horrible suffering... you are going to have to overcome. Check with your doctors first, tell them your plan, get their opinions and make a choice.
Ask your doctor this one question...Am I going to die if I quit taking these medications right now?
Once the drugs were no longer in my system (and I mean months, If not a year to fully regain my sanity of overcoming this) I was able to get my life back.
Do not flush your meds in the toilet! I do not want to drink from my tap water and worry about ingesting your meds. Empty the contents of your prescription bottles in the trash can and then dispense of the bottles themselves. I finally threw all my drugs away about a year AFTER I completely withdrew from my addiction...I was not in my right frame of mind to part with them. I honestly kept them as a backup to end my suffering, but, one day the clouds separated and my eyes were finally opened enough and were clear enough, not to need them anymore.
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Ok well I'm sat up as I'm typing this, I've been a heavy cocaine user for the past 2 years. Put been using for 15 years. Sat here now my eye is weeping water I've bad headache side of my face is in sore.
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I don't know what happened. I have been doing great the last 2 weeks, and then all of a sudden this morning was bad. I woke up in a panic attack. I really want to know what is going on. I am still seeing a counselor, doctor, and going to na meetings. Being over 120 days clean, would this still be some sort of PAWS. I am still struggling with how all this started while i was using. I don't really feel depressed, but this anxiety does make me feel down. Can you have anxiety this deep into withdrawal. Again, i used normal opiates for over 2 years, and switched to loperamide the last year. The lope was about 20 to 30 a day. A big part of me still thinks that after even 12000 dollars of testing, the doctors have still missed something. Is all this still normal? I mean I felt great the last 2 weeks, and then all of a sudden. Please respond anyone who has experience with this. I really think it's something else. I am scared of something not seen. I know this is a contrast from last post, but what is going on. I am trying to not take any of the xanax they gave me, but today i had to take 2 of the smallest doses.
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Just before christmas I received a letter from my hospital saying “ recent blood tests show a slightly abnormal liver function and the scan revealed cirrhosis. It is absolutely crucial that you consider urgently reducing your alcohol intake to avoid further liver damage. I would be grateful if you could see your gp to discuss this further.”
Immediately I phoned my gp and couldn’t get an appointment for 2 weeks, when finally seeing my gp she referred me to a councillor, which took another 2 weeks before I saw them, only to be told they don’t have a clue at what stage my cirrhosis is?
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I am possibly thinking of paying for a private home detox. They have suggested it will be using valium as opposed to Librium. I was just wondering if anyone else on here had been through one?
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I am 18 years old and it pretty good health. I do have an anxiety disorder and OCD.I am on medication for this. I would like some opinions please. No rude comments please.
I have this fear that I may have a brain aneurysm. I don't have any specific reason that I think this but the fear is starting to take over my life. I cant even focus at work because I worry so much. I just recently moved into a new apartment and i have been under a lot of stress. I was sick about a week ago with a common cold, runny nose, headache, watery eyes, sneezing. After i was getting pain in my head and my eyes from my cold I started worrying about my brain again, I had a headache today but ibuprofen took it away very quickly. I don't have vision problems or dizziness. I stay awake most nights googling signs and symptoms and then I convince myself that I may have it. I can barely sleep because I am so scared that I won't wake up. This is really starting to take over my life. What should I do? & Do you think I have an aneurysm?
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I found out on Tuesday that I have a 7mm focal aneurysm of the distal right internal carotid artery, mild mass effect on my right optic nerve, displacing it medially.
My surgeon wants to do a procedure where a platinum coil is inserted through the groin. He says he won't know if I will need a stint until he is in the operating room. I had an voluntary MRA. My mother died from a rupture in 1979. I am 58 years old.
Do platinum coils react with electromagnetic fields and cause migraine headaches?
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I have a question for all of you, I have had these very strange symptoms for the last year, year and a half and I can't tell my primary care doctor because he is treating, or barely treating me for chronic pain due to a pretty bad car accident years ago, (I was holding on to the steering wheel watching this guy drive right into the back of my car and was hit with so much pressure that I clenched up , went forward and when I came back I actually bent the steering wheel in half. I now have severe pain in my neck and lower back. After the accident I went to a chiropractor for 3 years 2 x a week, but only got worse. My PC doc for 8 years told me my pain had more to do with my emotional problems than anything else (I was continually raped by my father and then periodically beaten by my mother for being a ****, starting very early in childhood, also suffered a lot of physical abuse by both, I am really pissed that I have to apologize to the world that this happened to me and that my doctor would blame my pain on this), and always threatened to take me off all my pain meds if I complained about any other pain and symptoms. At one point 3-4 years ago I had such horrible pain in my lower left leg I thought I had bone cancer, it was the first time he ordered an MRI and when he got the results he sent me to a neurosurgeon immediately who told me if I move the wrong way they will never be able to stop the pain. When I told my PCP he dismissed it, but never put me down as having chronic pain syndrome anymore, but now he is taking my pain meds away slowly because he say the CDC is making him do it??? Anyway, I dare not tell him anything else cause I can't walk and do much of anything without a lot of pain in my lower back.
But a couple years, 1 1/2, I started to have this weird feeling of "something not right" in my head, I can't really explain it. Then I got this strong ZAP, like a strong electrical jolt in my brain. It took a while for the sensation to go away, but I ignored it. I also noticed I was "forgetting how to swallow", weird right? Since the ZAP wasn't really painful, but if it was I would be too afraid to tell my doctor, especially if it was painful, so I did nothing. Every few months this would happen again, maybe 4 times total. Last week, I could "feel" something in my head not right, Like something was going to happen, then I got that powerful zap, like an explosion in my head, and it took a little longer to feel okay again, then I got another one, and felt extremely fatigued after this one, and it took longer to "clear" my head. My blood pressure has been rather high lately too, in fact I've noticed my blood pressure goes up the more pain I'm in and since he's lowering my medication, my blood pressure had been around 164/90 to 175/90 from around 128-138/80 normally. My mother died of a brain aneurysm. I don't know if this is something I should worry about and maybe find another doctor, but then I'm afraid I'll be accused of doctor shopping...
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I am sitting at work, like always, when all of a sudden.... inside my head (in the top, middle, and behind my forehead) I began to feel what seemed to be a muscle spasm. What? Rationalizing, I think... Our brains are muscles. Right? So it could be a muscle spasm. Whoa... I feel dizzy and lightheaded for a little bit. Now, I feel like my head is full (stuffed full) of cotton or something. It isn't in my ears. It wasn't my eyes. It was "in my head". WOW.
I experienced this sensation of by brain shaking that was followed by dizziness. The "brain shake" felt like a jolt and then vibration/spasm that lasted about 5 seconds. I feel like the room is spinning and tilting and I was about to fall over (even though I was sitting down). The dizziness lasted about 2 minutes or so. The weird feeling of fullness in my head is still there.
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Can someone describe the brain shivers that i have been reading about when people are coming off of certain drugs, like Effexor? I have been getting this symptom where it feels like my brain is having a mild electric shock for a second or two but that cannot possibly be what other people are talking about is it?
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Are brain tumors hereditary? My Dad my Brother and just now, my nephew died from one.
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