Addiction Recovery :: Drug Induced Dementia At 27?

My memory, both long term and short term, is shot. I cannot remember names, stories, facts, and many things that were easily retrievable only a few months ago.

Basically, from June until recently, I had major sleep problems. My primary doctor was reluctant to prescribe any kind of sleep medication. Also, I had poor sleep hygiene, and continued to smoke cigarettes and eat an unhealthy diet. Ultimately, I did not sleep for about two months. At most, I would get 2 hours per night.

At the same time, out of desperation, I started to abuse zzzquil. I would take 2x to 2.5x the recommended dose. All things considered, I am a large guy, at about 250 pounds. Still, in the beginning, that dose would afford me 6 hours of sleep. A couple months later - none.

If I was not taking zzzquil I would try melatonin with no results. If not melatonin, I would drink high quantities of alcohol (whiskey, straight up).

I had to quit my job recently, which was an easy one, as I could not focus upon any kind of work. I cannot remember numbers and figures for minutes after I have seen them. Even writing this post is very difficult.

At this point, I pace around my parent's house, chewing ice cubes, driving them crazy, mumbling to myself about how much I suck at life. At one point I was a smart guy - now I feel like a 95 year old.

My parents, my friends, people in AA, my general practitioners, everyone, say that I can make a comeback and that this damage is reversible. I thought that brain damage was irreversible? I cannot afford nor even get a referral to see a neurologist.

Before this summer, I was a chronic alcoholic and marijuana abuser, even for a time while on antidepressants, and have been incredibly irresponsible. My life is a current agony. What should I do? Should I believe that my parents and those around me are correct, should I give up as I am too broke to afford treatment? I am clueless, feeling hopeless, stupid....

Or should I start taking Prozac - as two/four gps stated that this is stemming from depression?

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Substance Abuse :: Can LIOFEN XL 20 Help To Stop Drug Addiction

Can LIOFEN XL 20 help to stop drug addiction ...

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Cannabis Addiction :: How Many Days Are Enough To Pass A Drug Test?

I am 5'11 and 176 pounds. I've smoked about 4-5 times in the past 2 months but the last time I smoked was 20 days ago. I also lift weights a lot but don't do a lot of cardio. I stand in the sun & sweat at work & I've been drinking tons of water. Can I pass a piss test by Monday July 8th? This drug test will literally ruin my life if I don't pass. What can I do from now until Monday to clean my body of thc?

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Pregnancy 12 Weeks - Heroin Addict - Now Clean And On Methadone

I am a Heroin addict of 7 years. I have been clean on and off for the past 2 Years. I have been on 50mg of Methadone Maintenance. I did not find out I was pregnant until today I am 12 weeks. In the 12 weeks I was clean 30 days then used for one night then got clean for 18 days and then I've been using hard for this past past week and a half. I am not going to pick up again. I am on methadone but I am going into rehab to detox the methadone as soon as I am in my second trimester. So I only want to know if any other women have been through this same thing. Used during first trimester and stayed clean the rest of the pregnancy. Is your child healthy? Are there any complications? Because of my use would it be smarter of me to abort because I honestly don't know the damage I have done? I will not have an addicted baby to ANYTHING! And I also don't want any complications. Please give me any advice. I am already taking prenatals, eating extremly healthy, proper hygiene, and dr check ups are scheduled. I will take care of this child the best that I can. I am just anxious to know if the damage I caused from using early in pregnancy is already done?

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Alcohol And Drug Misuse :: Drug Urine Test

I'm a bit worried. I had a urine test at work but forgot to mention that I had some antibiotics about 3/4weeks (maybe more) prior to the test, the antibiotic was penicillin VK.

I've read most antibiotics stay in your system for up to around 4-8 hours, especially penicillin VK. Some other sources reckoned between 7-10 days max. Although most said up to about 8hours max.

So I'm wondering if this would show up in the test at all?

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Addiction :: Diphenhydramine Since 4 Years?

Im psychologically addicted to diphenhydramine since 4 years now...Anyone has been or currently addicted to this stuff? It seems to be an extremely rare addiction..

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Viagra Addiction - Using It For 12 Years

I'm 44 yrs old and i have been using Viagra for 12 years for recreational use, how do i wean myself off, i have tried having sex without Viagra but i can not achieve a full erection or an erection at all if i don't take the pill, i have been to my GP and to my urologist and have done blood test and had my testosterone check and all is normal.

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Pregnancy :: Drug Testing

So I've been reading a lot of posts that say they've been drug tested while they've been pregnant? When exactly do they do that right before you give birth or right after?

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Addiction - Weaning / Tapering Off Co-codamol After 7 Years

I was on cocodamol for 7 years and just recently weaned off using a taper plan and good planning.

I didn't realise just how mind and body controlling these drugs were.

Ok to cut a long story short I became ill and was prescribed 30/500 cocodamol the first few weeks I felt great yeah less pain and what a head rush.

I started to get addicted and needed my 2 tablet four times a day fix,was my injury gone I don't know I just needed the fix.

I tried a few times before to go cold turkey and ended up with the worse symptoms possible I sure you have had these.

The restlessness and aches in the legs were the worst I'm sure you will agree.

Through my dependency I became intolerant to any products containing caffeine as I noticed my body would itch and I had pain in my kidneys all the time.I stopped caffeine 6 years ago and cured that issue.

This time around I decided enough is enough and try a taper plan.

week 1

8 tablets a day

2 at 7am

2 at 1pm

2 at 6pm

2 at 8pm

for 7 day only then I started my taper plan and it really works.

week 2

2 at 7am

2 at 1pm

2 at 6pm

1 at 10pm

week 3

2 at 7am

2 at 1pm

1 at 6pm

1 at 10pm

week 4

2 at 7am

1 at 1pm

1 at 6pm

1 at 10pm

week 5

1 at 7am

1 at 1pm

1 at 6pm

1 at 10pm

week 6

1 at 7am

1 at 1pm

1 at 8pm

week 7

1 at 7am

1 at 8pm

week 8

1 at 7am

This worked for me and just remember plenty of water but not mountains of it as too much water can be deadly.

I would say to anyone who has just been prescribed co codamol just be aware that the come down after long term use will really spoil your day.

For the full impact of going cold turkey should only last around 8-10 days from sources I read but I will say this for a easier stage of coming off and less side effects try a taper.

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Stopping Heroin Is Just The Start

Heroin is something that no-one journey is the same,the effects it has on your life may be same but to go though and come out the other side clean..yes in fairy land. Yes you can, but to get there is more than any words could describe. Its hard work the ones with family's supporting them may be a help but to most its just a suicide mission. I went though it dragged my family with me,but to no avail it wasn't cos I couldn't care less it was a matter of survival for me I couldn't cope with normal everyday duties. My Dad died and instead of being with my family I ran away it couldn't be true it was a lie I just wouldn't except it .

My world was shattered and no-one around to help -depression sunk its teeth in and wouldn't let go. That was 2 years 9 months ago ,today I am street drug free,on a maintenance regime with a network of out-reach programs with all the aspects of my life being worked on, its hard work, not for the faint hard it its got to come from you the one its destroying to take control, if I can have a life I want one that's got a future to look and plan for.I have been the lowest any human-being could get and crawled out of the huge hole I put myself in. that's the point"ADMITTING IT WAS YOU " no-one else. I wish you luck,and I give you hope,that you too can do what I did .its staying clean thats the hard part ,one step at a time and no matter how long it takes that no interest do it in time for you not to a time-table. Thankyou for reading ,hope it helps one person that'll do for me.

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Heroin :: Does Thomas Recipe Works?

I'm really scared to try detox again but I'm going to try the Thomas recipe. I just don't know how its going to work as its both me and my husband doing it at the same time. We have been on heroin for over a year now and I swear this stuff is the devil. We at one time were up to 2 grams a day a piece now we are at between a gram to a half a day between both of us. Its time! If not one of us are going to die. I've heard the Thomas recipe is good but its the Valium part. We don't want any Rx drugs at all and Tylenol pm,s don't work for him. Maybe nyquil?

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Substance Addict (Heroin) :: Using Suboxone To Taper It Off

I have been a heroin addict for 5 years, it was a half gram a day, sometimes more, I recently decided I don't want to live like that anymore, so I decided to try suboxone to first break the junkie routine I had established, and immediately began tapering. For example, I took 8 mgs day 1, 4 mgs days 2 and 3, 2 mgs 4-8. My plan is to keep cutting in half every four days, until day 16, being my last dose, am I crazy? I feel OK, and like I would probably be fine if I had jumped today, but that's probably the half life messing with me?

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Heroin Withdrawal - Aches And Stiffness Due To Methadone ?

I've been on methadone for about a week now, use to be a heroin junkie. Anyway, the last several days I've noticed that my joints have become very achy and stiff. They started me off on such a small dose of methadone (for me) 30mg, and I got to go up 5 mg a day except for the weekends. I thought initially that this joint stiffness must be some withdrawals bleeding through but all the heroin should have been out of my system by now, so i know this isn't withdrawal.. This seems to be the only side effect I'm getting from the methadone.. Has anyone else ever had joint aches or stiffness due to methadone?

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Hepatitis C :: Heroin Addicted - Elevated Enzymes Means Active Virus?

I'm a recovering heroin addict. For 7 or 8 Years I used heroin and participated in Many high risk behaviors, mainly sharing of needles and reuse of my own needles. I was tested last week to get on Accutane, and they said my test came back reactive and I had to go for a second test to see if I have the active virus. They also told me my liver enzymes were high. My question is, is with elevated enzymes, is that indicative of active virus? I'm going crazy waiting for results. And is there anything that could've made my levels high besides an active virus? And if I have the active virus, I've had it for at least 3+ years, because I haven't used or participated in that behavior or drank in 3 years, so what will be done to treat it?

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Thyroid :: What Drug/drugs Do You Take?

My doctor 20 years ago prescribed Synthroid and later switched to Levoxyl. After several more years I started Levothyroxine and am still on it. After more years on this my test result yesterday was .003. She did T3,T4 and the TSH and didn't say which test showed .003. She didn't give the other results and I didn't think to ask since this is the first time in 20 years that any doctor wanted the T3/T4. She mentioned that the number was way off(which explains hair loss,brain fog,flaky skin and other stuff. Wonder if she will eventually switch my meds again.

Have any of you had a number like mine and if so what were your symptoms?

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Prescription Drug Abuse (Opiates)

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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Nasty Drug Zopiclone - How To Withdraw?

i just start zopiclone for two day, now I think I'm addicted to it I have only taken 4, please someone help me to withdraw this drug

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Cyclizine Is A Dangerous Drug Due To It's Reaction

Cyclizine is dangerous and  I will not stop  warning people of the awful reaction to the drug company to own up their responsibility.  I cannot do this alone, I need all your help we have to warn  people of the danger of taking cyclizine.  

Positive feedback on this?

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Mirtazapine Helped - A Miraculous Drug

I appear for the defence , M'Lud. 

I was on SSRI antidepressants for some time.  They countered my extreme anxiety well, but I had bad insomnia probably caused by the  AD.  I tried various drugs for the insomnia (zopiclone,  amitriptyline etc) but with little success.   My doctor suggested mirtazapine but I declined as I had read about its weight gain side effect.  However eventually I changed my mind out of desperation.  The mirt was miraculous: it completely solved the insomnia.   I felt "normal" for the first time in months. 

"But what about the side effects" I hear you say.  Well, I did get back my appetite - but no more than it was before I became ill.   I gained a little weight, but no more than I had lost.

I did have difficulty getting up in the morning and feeling groggy after that, but those lessened with time. I take the minimum mirt that allows me to get to sleep - about 11 mg,  and I think that keeps the side effects down.

Mirtazapine is like a knife in that it is not evil in itself, it is how it is used that matters.   The people who say it is evil have perhaps been on the wrong dose.  Mirt tends to be more sedative at low doses; more activating at high doses.   Do not throw out the baby with the bath water!

I get the impression from reading posts on this forum that mirt is best used (at low dose) to counter insomnia or where an SSRI antidepressant has not been tolerated.        

     

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