hi RAWLIRUE sorry to hear about your situation, first of all your not a "junkie" because i know you don't want to be addicted to them it has just happened. I don't know how you will stop taking to many of them without a doctors help, although you could keep giving them to your wife to give to you when needed, am sure she doesn't mind because you love each other and she will want to help you. The other thing i was going to suggest is getting stronger pain relief than what your having now and still give them to your wife so you don't take to many and then you wont need as many hope this helps Jenny

Hi Raw

I am so sorry to hear of your situation and have found myself in this too... like you took them for a condition that I still have and woke and realised omg what is going on. They were prescribed and now feel sick to the stomach that no one has ever told me that they can and ARE addictive.

Ok .. I have started a blog.. this is where I get to off load.. without putting the extra stress on my husband.. who I spoke to yesterday about all this.

I am sure you wife will understand you have to be honest iwth her and YOURSELF. If you really want off then... start cutting down.. this is what I am going to do and am.... I have been looking around for support and have to say not easy.. .but I believe it will be there somewhere.

Give yourself time.. plan your journey and cut down as much as you can... I am on or was on 30 mg x 2 taken twice daily. They are also with paracetamol... so now on 400mg paracetamol with 20 mg x 2 twice daily for a week... then I am going to cut them in half and go for that for the next week and keep cutting down.

I have tried the stopping like you have.. and yes a bad flu is an under statement symptom.. so going for the cutting down option. Then hopefully over time my body will be used to less and less and fingers crossed it won't be so hard... there is no doubt Raw that it will be hard... but you have to know that you CAN do this and will do this.

The thing is ... you know now and that is the first step... so take it slowly... be honest with your wife.. ask her if she minds to help you.. and I am sure she will. But remember you have to do this for you.. in your time. Hope to hear how it goes. take care.

Oh.. I am not sure about getting stronger painkillers... maybe they could explain that.. also you may have to be aware from now of what you take medication wise for the rest of your life.. but you are prepared.

Verysad has great advice. I have been watching the same scenario for years now. My mother has disk degenerative disease. No one will operate on her back until all her discs are no longer usable. Its a terrible story and its breaking my heart to see her do this to herself. But i'd like to say that im proud that your wanting to do something about your addiction. thats the 1st step! Great advice to slowly cut down on your dose. very slowly..too much will put you back into ur sicknesses. That was your body going thru withdrawals.... you will experience withdrawals but thats the price you have to pay to be healthy again. Support is very important...let your wife know how important it is that she's supportive of you...its very difficult when you have no one having faith in you. Also keep in mind that its very important to get off these pills. it can really damage your liver...which can cause even more problems. So keep that in mind and it will help you stay strong for your health and your marriage. Good luck!!!!

Hi Maggie

Sorry that your mother is ill... this is the condition I have and it is very painful so I fully see where your mother is with this.. and of course where you are too.

She isn't in this situation cause she wants to be.. I know I am not and I am sure Raw isnt' either... why the heck drs don't make it more public what can happen if you are given these darn painkillers.

Even now I sit here and I should have taken my second lot of tablets a few hours ago.. and it disgusts me that I am in pain and I have to take them cause of how my back condition makes me feel and the fear of withdrawal..but I am doing something...oh looks like I am off to write on my blog.

Eventually you need to wean your self off the pain pills. However before you do you need to feed your body with nutritional products first. I can help you with that. Let me know if you want additional information.

My fiance is addicted to pain pills and I know he really wants to quit and I am doing everything in my power to help him, but I am not sure where to start? I have read up on other people's posts and he is starting to cut back each week. What else do I need to know!? Please help!