Managing / reducing / stopping my pain meds

[Goyote]

Hi everyone ,i had a few serious injuries snapped my get ACL cruciate medial horn and meniscus and shattered pattella and dislocated shoulder about 10 years ago ....iv mostly recovered from these injuries and been on pain killers since then ...i have tried to come off my pain meds ..didnt know i was adicted until.i stopped them for s fdw days and found out just how serious it was ....i was a complete physical and mental mess i have been reducing the pain meds to just 2 -3 pills per day ....and was just looking for some advice on tryingbto get off opioid medication and also benzodiazepine meds for anxiety ......I have tried to come off them cold turkey but was afraid I might get sick and fit or something ......Thanks...

[AML80]

You need to cut the dose very slowly half a tablet if possible at a time. Wait about a week before you reduce the dose again.

[PainConcernHelpline Moderator Community Champion Pain Concern]

If you're wanting to come off opiod or BZ medication, you should definitely consult your GP or health care professional about the safest way to do so.

[katieoxo60]

Hi Goyote, as you have been on opiods and anxiety releif tablets for a long time you will need GPs support to reduce the dose slowly or to go to an addicts clinic for slow reduction. Good luck and best wishes.

[Hidden]

Hi Goyote

Sorry you are in a situation with pain meds.

I've had a comminuted wrist fracture along with a Schatzker 5 level shattered tibial plateau and stopped the hydrocodone 8 days after accident in rehab.

However, I'm lucky to have a body that is not addictive.

I have lived with and observed people who fight addiction; whether to nicotine, alcohol or, something as simple as panadeine forte after 5 days.

While I live with chronic pain from a number of different injuries, I can only use hydrotherapy (in a heated 32degCelcius swimming pool) for pain relief.

(The only panadeine forte I've taken took the edge off my pain for 30 minutes and then came back worse).

Water therapy also helps to calm.

There is another avenue I believe in (but isn't for me): religion.

I've seen it work for people with addictions.

I wish you the best, Goyote.