Please help me . Oxycodone addict/dependent uk

[Reddevil83]

Hi everyone hope you and families are all safe through covid and keeping well . My question is I've been prescribed oxycodone 10mg capsules for around 5 years . I regularly overused for a period and my gp just kept giving to me even tho she knew the real rate at what I was taking them . All of a sudden I've had a letter saying we had just noticed you are overusing ! Just noticed !! And we are now lowering your amount by 6 a day you are now to reduce this amount every month . I am absolutely terrified . As my gp just gave it to me everything with just a small excuse I assumed she was happy but now because someone has pulled them up on it I suppose . They sent me a letter saying even if I overuse by one capsule I will be asked to leave the surgery . No advice, no help just a sort of ultimatum. I can physically not get through the day with that amount . They say if I don't sign it they won't give me anymore . My gp is famous for giving people meds. It's a long story but the reason I'm taking it is too do with an ex partner who was prescribed it putting in to my tea and coffee without me knowing . Making me dependent over a year of doing g it .so I am quite happy to reduce it as I am meant to be tapering off but the amount they are asking me to do is impossible . I'm reaching out to anyone I hope there is someone out there who can help me it is honestly making me contemplate if it's worth living without it ...for the very first time in my life . I am thinking should I hurt myself so someone will help me . I promise I can't see anyway past my medication . I feel let down by my gp and also my chemist who were happily letting me collect huge amounts of oxy for years and even time I saw my gp I'd say sorry I left them here or over used sorry and she would give me more !. I e no one left to protect me and I feel some sort of closure for my life approaching . Thank you for reading this and I wish you and your family all the best and keep safe

[Bananas5]

Right. Let me understand how much a day you are actually taking Is that every day? And how much is on your prescription?

x

[Madlegs1]

That's a very sad story.

Basically, your Dr has a duty of care towards you and what is happening now does not fulfill that standard.

Could you write to the practice manager or whoever, informing them of your history etc.

I'm sure there is a protocol for reducing prescribed opiates ,eithe FDA , or NICE, or HSE/ NHS .

A Solicitor might be in order at some stage, but better to keep that as a threat rather than action.

You are justified to look for help from those who have caused your situation.

Check out Suboxone on Google.

All the best.

[Konagirl60 in reply to Madlegs1]

She’s right! Duty of care matters. Call a lawyer.

[Hidden]

I think you should make an appointment, maybe a telephone consultation, with your GP and try to reach a compromise. Agree to reduce your medication but see if they will let you do it more gradually. Don't just take their letter as the last word - talk to them.

[Macblank]

If your Dr won't help, ask to see an addiction nurse or check your council website for addict anonymous.

They'll help and support you with your Dr, and with coming off the meds.

[Ritchie1268]

I am so very sorry you have been put in such a terrible situation!

Oxycodone & OxyContin took around 10 years of my life after I was overprescribed it for 8 years & became addicted, so I can truly understand why you're feeling so very desperate & alone as I have been there & would never wish it on my worst enemy! Please know you're not on your own.

I started a Facebook support group up for people addicted to Prescription Opioids 4 weeks ago & have 36 members on there with people joining every week, with some in the same situation as you have found yourself in. Also a few addicted to Oxy. It's a private group so no one can see you're in the group or what you post, only those in the group.

Your Dr & or your surgery are panicking due to the Opioids crisis here in the UK that the government has been in denial for for too long. The government outlook was, we have the NHS so the epidemic in the US won't possibly happen here, but it is here even though the policies are different between the two countries.

Most dr's don't know how to treat or deal with addiction so either cut patients off or taper them way too quickly. But you can get the help you need so please don't feel like there is no way forward.

I started the Facebook group as there was no help or support for people in your situation that desperately need help when I needed it 5 years ago, there still isn't.

I also have other things in place once things return to "normal" after the virus to help those in your situation who feel lost & left to suffer alone by a system that put them where they are.

So please don't feel like you're on your own as you definitely are not, & there is a way out of this for you.

I'm not sure if I'm allowed to post the link to my group in here, but if you message me I can post you the link.

Please try not to worry, even though it's all you're thinking about right now & consuming every second, minute, hour of your day, there is a way forward.

Please take care.

Ritchie

[Timboto]

My dear Red. I to was put in your situation . The NHS to turned me into a junkie over prescribing on Opiates. What you are stating in your post is not only extremely DANGEROUS for your health but puts your health authority in a dangerous situation. You cannot just stop taking opiates , when you have been on the large amounts that you have been taking daily. You need to book a double appointment with the GP who has been dishing the drugs out like Smarties. You need to be honest & tell them how much you have been taking. They have an obligation to put you on a withdrawal program . They know if they dont , there is a great possibility you could die if this is not done properly. Stay positive .

[Konagirl60 in reply to Timboto]

Exactly.

[Batty1]

How much have you been taking PER DAY? Is reducing by 1 pill that traumatic? Can you attend a pain management clinic(if such a place exist where your at)?

[gindy]

Listen to Ritchie, he's been through this as have I. I still take oxy, as I've got a lifelong condition that requires higher grade pain meds. However I've vastly reduced the amounts and I'm now on a quarter of what I was when I first started contributing here.

[Ritchie1268 in reply to gindy]

Well done on reducing gindy. Hope you're managing to control the pain

[RcsRdsrightarm]

Hello. I personally switched to Nuycynta x 2 a day. I found that hydrocodone and of oxy did nothing accept change my mood. Excuse me for being blunt but you are an addict. The more you take the more pain receptors your body will make. Talk to your dr about an alternative that is not methadone etc.. I did not have withdrawals switching to Nuycynta was

[dinkic]

My surgery rings me every 3 months to tell me I am an addict, cos I take oxy 20 mg twice a day and also need sleeping tablets, I tell them that it is not helpful and if they know better than a pain specialist I have been with for 15 years I am willing to listen. I do not take more than prescribed but if you have done so this is no doubt an intervention. They have me on weekly prescriptions as I also had suicidal thoughts a few months. I am just going along with it cos they have all the work I do not have to order them anymore. I think you need a face to face with a GP and speak to a pain specialist if you have one

[Takeonme]

Hi i have severe advanced osteoarthritis of both knees ,it's in my spine,ac joint in my shoulder,my jaw,my fingers and I also have fibromyalgia and several other things . I wear a knee brace and can't stand and walk without crutches .I was on Oxycodone oral solution two 5 ml spoons 4 times a day for the pain ,about 6 weeks ago my gp cut my dose in half with no warning and intends to stop it completely .I'm really struggling now on half im in constant pain and will probably end up in a wheelchair im scared and just like you feel it would be easier not being here ,when I asked my gp about it he said that the government are making gps stop prescribing Oxycodone to everyone and his hands are tied ,when I asked him what do I do ,he said I DON'T KNOW !! I feel so let down and don't know what to do ,all this was done over the phone because of the corona virus and without any kind of support ,i really hope you managed to get help Reddevil83 x