Anybody tried Opioids Legally (watching Dopesick at the moment)

magic_murph

Just wondering if anybody has taken opioids (OxyContin etc) assuming this is only available on prescription in the US.

Currently watching Dopesick, story of the opioid crisis in the US, and curious about the drug and how it all escalated to massive addition levels

I am only talking about legally prescribed not bought on sheriff street

Irish_wolf

Anyone who has taken Neurofen plus has taken an over the counter opioid. So probably a hell of a lot of people in Ireland. I have only taken them a couple of times as I dont think they are particularly necessary when a paracetamol will usually do the trick. But when you need an actual painkiller they do pack a punch although I would wager it's not even in the same league as OxyContin. I actually try to avoid them for the main reason that I don't want to develop an addiction, it took me near 5 years of failed attempts to finally quit smoking so I know my brain when it comes to addictive substances.

phill106

nurofen plus has codeine and available over the counter. Have taken that as well as something called soldapol, a soluble paracetemol codeine one.

Have taken both, they would seem to be quite common.

Real Life

Ive had a number of surgeries over the years and always been put on Morphine afterwards while in hospital and sent home with a few weeks supply of Oxycontin. Feels amazing while taking it, especially when you're in pain. But I never struggled to come off it thankfully, always just took my prescribed dose but I can see how easy it would be to get addicted to it.

I havent seen the documentary you're talking about but I think they are probably more freely giving out in the US.

NIMAN

Thankfully no!

A good show which highlights how devious and evil big pharma can be.

If you can track it down, Louis Theroux did a very good doc on the issuehttps://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/proginfo/2017/41/louis-theroux

Thelonious Monk

Smoked opium once, it was in Portugal so probably wasn't illegal. Great fun.

Gregor Samsa

Took Benylin a couple of times. I’m also partial to poppy seed bagels.

had morphine and oxycotin in hospital

I can absolutely appreciate why someone would become addicted to these meds, they're unreal haha.

Mad_maxx

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058219111/anybody-tried-opioids-legally-watching-dopesick-at-the-moment

Had to take oxycontin for a few months a number of years back, didn't get addicted. Was given kettemine immediately by paramedics after the injury, now that is a drug

Ireland is the polar opposite of America when it comes to prescription of pain killers, doctors underprescribe and have a philosophy that pain is almost good for the soul .

I live with chronic pain so know a little about the subject

Mad_maxx

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118204589#Comment_118204589

Paracetamol barely helps with a bad headache, it's an insult to patients to prescribe it yet its what's often doled out in hospital after people get bad fractures

Sgt Hartman

I was prescribed Tramadol when I had really bad sciatica. I naively took two at lunch time in work and spent the rest of the afternoon zonked off my head. After that episode I only took them in the evening before bed, and I took paracetamol and difene early in the day.

L1011

For various minor injuries / minor surgery:

Tramadol, both on its own and Ixprim with paracetamol - these are fine for me, but I'm fairly sure people can get addicted to this form too.

Oxycontin - horrific. Gave me the worst hangover I've ever had and all without touching a drop.

The OTC products here have tiny amounts in them.

banie01

Take OxyContin and OxyNorm as part of a pain control regime. In addition to other neuropathic meds.

Incredibly effective pain relief but one I still use sparingly.

razorblunt

I pulled a muscle in my back and was in bits for days. My wife suggested I try one of her pain killers, prescribed pre op for assembly hip surgery she had. I can’t recall the name but holy shīt they were strong. The best way i can describe it is that everything felt like I was s looking at it through a window. I didn’t like the affect though it did completely eradicate the pain.

Obviously as soon as they wore off the pain came roaring back so I took that as a sign this wasn’t a “usual” muscle sprain/pull and went to the GP.

she told me afterwards they were almost too strong for her pain too.

-edit- tramadol! That was them!

Mad_maxx

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118204680#Comment_118204680

Tramadol isn't especially strong but people react differently to meds

Difeine doesn't agree with me at all despite being commonly prescribed as an anti inflammatory

katherineconlan

The first opioid I tried was Nurofen Plus (codeine) a few years back when I was 18. Then went on a J1 to the States and tried some Vicodin (hydrocodone). Some strong ****.

It's funny how they have the same chemical compound but totally different effects. The Vicodin came on in 10 minutes and felt stimulating whereas the codeine took an hour and made me feel much more 'woozy'.

katherineconlan

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118204946#Comment_118204946

Tramadol and codeine are prodrugs and thus don't even work on some people as they don't have the liver enzymes required to metabolize them.

knipex

Was prescribed oxycodone after a surgery. Prescribed enough for 5 days and advised to take only if needed.

Worked to get rid of the pain, but only took it for 2 days and swapped over to an over to Ibobrufen as that controlled the pain just fine.. Did it give me a buzz ? Nope but I was on relatively low dose and only for a short time.

It would surprise you how often its prescribed..

Opiods are very good at what they do when prescribed and used correctly but tollerance build relatively quickly. In my experience most doctors are very careful about prescribing them but I have heard one or 2 anecdotal stories..

However for years we had too open availability of codeine over the counter. Even now its too easy get..

katherineconlan

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118205448#Comment_118205448

Codeine has a ceiling dose compared to other opioids. Exceeding 400mg of codeine doesn't increase the euphoric/analgesic relief and just brings more side effects.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118204600#Comment_118204600

Have you never even taken an opiate based pain killer?

I had a perforated ear drum when I was 17/18 - the pain was excruciating. And I had to get it drained every second day, which just added to the pain. I was hoovering up the codeine. Tried anti inflammatories but they just didn't do the trick like codeine did.

I only once got anything beyond pain relief - a floaty, dreamy feeling, with sounds in the same room seeming echoey and faraway.

I've had Tramadol (an opiate, but not a true opiate) a few times. Great pain relief, but I was out of my bin altogether.

BanditLuke

Had Oxy and morphine in hospital last year after surgery. Can easily see how someone would come addicted to both as I really enjoyed it. Take nurofen plus maybe once or twice a year if I get really bad migraine.

Dufflecoat Fanny

Had a morphine patches for a few days once. I never slept so well in my life.

Have had OxyContin, Oxynorm, Fentenol after major surgeries and for very unpleasant medical procedures and at a time where I had severe skin ulceration. I have been in such pain during highest dosages that I did not be one anywhere near being addicted, and the only time I would have maybe noticed becoming marginally find of it was when the surgical pain was waning and wasn’t meriting opioids any longer, but that’s the very time it has to be withdrawn and pain dealt with by paracetamol and moving out and about. Getting moving is then the best medicine for recovery and avoiding chance of addiction.

NIMAN

Oh, I have had an opiod then.

I have taken codeine before.

And also had morphine in hospital.

And Kapake as well.

All needed at various times, but don't remember missing them when they were stopped. Must not have been on them long enough.

I was also given a tablet once for sciatica. Not sure of its name. It really spaced me out. I remember driving the car the next morning, and I felt as if I was out of my body and watching myself from outside the car. Very strange. Called the gp and he told me to take no more.

OP, break your arm with the bone popping out and rock up to a and e and they'll give you some after. Have fun.

joebloggs32

Had my tonsils out in my mid 30s.

Was sent home with solpadol. Mighty stuff to say the least.

Had about 10 days of pain, the first few were severe. I was clockwatching so i could get my next dose.

Mrs Bloggs is a nurse so she made me reduce the dose after 5 or 6 days once the worst of the pain was over even though i had a two week supply

Slick666

I became addicted to Nurofen plus. They ruled my life for a few years. I couldn't go anywhere without looking for a chemist and Id travel to different chemists so the workers wouldn't recognise me. It finally came to a head during lock down when I couldn't travel, I finally had to get help from a drug addiction service. And now I'm happy to say I'm codeine free with nearly 12 months. When I started taking them, yeah they felt nice. But near the end, I had to take them just for survival. Horrible nasty drugs and glad I'm free of them now :)

Larbre34

Well done Slick, on and up.

I had a biblical four-alarm hangover on holidays once, my mate's girlfriend with us was a pharmacist and she slipped me a couple of solpadol, absolute gift of a cure but near knocked me out.

I also had morphine with a side of nitrous and oxygen for a complex ankle break and dislocation just before and for a while after it was operated on. Combined it was enough to stop me feeling any pain from my left foot positioned at a heading of 240 and my shattered joint.

Pineapplez56

Had a very serious injury a few years ago they put me on morphine and fentanyl going into hospital in the ambulance was proper out of it but definitely didn’t feel any pain! That was until I woke up and had to get another dose! Got a ketamine drip after that was much better as the other two just had me feeling nauseous and very sick/dizzy whenever I moved my head around my sister had a great laugh at me in the hospital.. got prescribed OxyContin for a few weeks when I was able to leave the hospital wasn’t a fan of them they just made me not be able to think properly snd felt kind of nauseated over them don’t know how people would want to take them all the time for pain yes they’re good for it but damn I couldn’t function as a person doing them everyday moved to rely on paracetamol and neurophen after.

Zak Flaps

I had morphine after surgery years ago. I felt f*cking wonderful.

cj maxx

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118204946#Comment_118204946

One of the most chilled out I've ever been is on Difene (for a broken rib) . After a few , and I mean 2 or 3 , pints I was just chilled out. I don't know if it's even an opiate.

Lillyfae

Really into this show, Rosario Dawson, Michael Keaton, Michael Stuhlburg and Peter Sarsgaard all playing a blinder. I'm like an addict waiting for the next episode!

I was aware of a lot of details surrounding the case but it's really compelling watching seeing it all laid out in this way, and things that are new to me are just shocking. Himself wouldn't have followed the opioids story because it's not his area of interest, he truly can't believe a lot of it.

Mad_maxx

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118224692#Comment_118224692

Difene effects my breathing as ive a touch of asthma

I had a tooth abscess once for which I was prescribed pain relief the name I can't remember - it was a bunch of letters and numbers. Very potent also. That woozy, floaty feeling again. Nice. Very relaxing.

boardlady

I think pethidine is an opioid. Amazing stuff given in childbirth or miscarriage. Ive had it on about 5 occasions. I can see the allure 😏

Esel

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118227440#Comment_118227440

DF118 ?

Still stihl waters 3

I was admitted to hospital a few years ago with cellulitis in my face and head where my head and neck grew to almost double with the fluid making the skin almost transparent it was swelled up so much, the pain was excruciating and like my head was being dipped in acid, anyway got to hospital to be admitted straight away and given a big yellow or green pill to take for the pain ( can't remember which) but fcuk me the relief was phenomenal, I cried with joy when it kicked in, straight onto a penicillin drip of which they gave me round the clock for 5 days, been on ixprim recently for sciatica where I was bed bound for a week and various other painkillers over the years but nothing comes close to that first pill they gave me that day in hospital

NIMAN

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118227398#Comment_118227398

I just looked up what Difene was, and I see its Diclofenac.

I was given this in A&E one night when I thought I had re-broke my arm. X-rays showed I hadn't, but I was given Dicloflex for the pain.

Off I went with them and a couple of nights later I took one. Woke up in middle of the night with incredibly itchy hands and face, and dry mouth. Panicked and realised I was in some sort of shock. Called NowDoc and they told me to come along to nearest center. By time I got there it had calmed down. At this stage I had no idea the tablet was to blame.

A few weeks later hurt my back and took another one before bed, woke up a few hours later with same thing, only this time it was a lot worse. I really panicked, thought I was a goner, as throat was closing, I knew it was worse than the 1st time. This time I put 2 and 2 together and knew it had to be the tablet. So I now avoid anything with Diclo....and have Epipens.

Have since been told that I would need to be careful of a lot of painkillers and ibruprofen in general as same family, but thankfully no allergic reactions since.

Graces7

Without adequate pain relief I lose mobility to a dangerous degree. So am on prescription Tylex ie codeine and paracetamol long term. Only at night as I can cope daytime, but I need my sleep. Pain free.

There is so much hype re addiction that often pain goes unrelieved. Good pain relief is essential. Without it other serious health issues will develop.

Grateful for good GPs along the way.

I've been prescribed some as a result of sports injuries, I'm not allowed to take certain meds due to a chronic illness so often end up prescribed more out there meds to bypass over the counter stuff. I took them for last injury infrequently cause I'm paranoid about dependency.

Also had a procedure a few years back where the pain was pretty extreme so they shot me up with fentanyl.... It killed the pain pretty immediately but wasn't a situation where you could find an enjoyable aspect to it..

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118230766#Comment_118230766

That's the one.

completedit

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118204661#Comment_118204661

They mention this in Dopesick actually when trying to sell into Germany. They say cultural reasons on top of more stringent regulations mean that selling their product on the German market will be difficult as suffering is seen as something to be endured.

Mad_maxx

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118231384#Comment_118231384

We are too averse to pain meds in Ireland, the philosophy is rife in the medical fraternity

banie01

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118231389#Comment_118231389

I agree to a large extent. The front line of GPs and primary care and so on are reluctant to up the pain relief prescribed beyond co-codamol or similar levels without an immediately obvious cause and even then it's a short term script.

Now where in my experience that changes is as soon as a consultant in any field or an advanced nurse practioner in pain management makes the call that increased control is needed. Then it's a different ball game with regards to pain control.

Problem is, as usual in Ireland that if you don't have PHI, you are waiting on the public system and chronic pain is still not treated as urgent. I'm lucky to have PHI and I cannot imagine how I'd cope without the near immediate access to specialist interventions it affords me. I get fairly regular nerve ablation and depot nerve blocks that make my pain control far easier. I know people with similar needs reliant on the public system and they are lucky to be seen once a year! I make a call and I am on the table within 2 weeks.

From conversations with my pain management team, their attitude is that you know your pain, you know what works treatment wise and they are there to support that path. To enable you to find the very best management strategy.

The issue with having access to pain management though IME. Is that once your pain is managed that even with PHI! It's often a case of managing the symptom rather than treating the ultimate cause.

As an example, I ended up in A+E last July in a particularly bad way. I was immobile, in intense pain and had reached a limit on the amount of opiods(in conjunction with high doses of Gaba) that I was comfortable taking. If I upped the dose, I lost the ability to function and leave my house.

The hospital assessed me, agreed with the core diagnosis but as I had a treatment regime in place for the pain?

It was a case of, unless their was a threat to bodily function that there's nothing they were going to do, that severe and honestly debilitating pain wasn't an emergency and I should stay home and take more drugs 🤷

Mad_maxx

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118231468#Comment_118231468

in my experience , many GP,s dont believe in chronic pain at all , ive been condescended to several times , even had a consultant orthopedic tell me outright it doesnt exist , now this guy had a bad rep anyway but its not unusual

my current GP is good but will only write prescriptions for pain if he gets written support from my pain specialist , hes very sheepish about prescribing pain meds and im not even on terrible strong ones these days as nothing at all works for me when i get " flair ups "

im on gabbapentin

banie01

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118231751#Comment_118231751

I'm on Gaba myself with OxyContin and OxyNorm as PRN prescription.

My GP was hesitant to make the initial prescribing decision but once a specialist made that call and passed on their diagnosis, he has been brilliant. Nurses in practice are too.

Where there is a very significant gap is that if you have multiple conditions? There's no holistic view taken IME. It's very much a case of each specialist working in their own silo and for me at least, hoping that my GP can pull all those threads together.

Graces7

I never had any problem getting pain meds. Many years ago I was barely coping with pain on OTC meds when a visiting friend gave me a couple of her Tylex. Than I asked the GP for them and no issues.

Five years ago when I moved to a remote area the GP refused anything but paracetamol. Then I learned that my notes had not arrived so I contacted my former GP and all was well again.

Deeply thankful as they really help.

Haven't opioids been prescribed more liberally in recent years? Oxycontin prescriptions have definitely sky-rocketed.

slither12

This thread is a bit dead.

Does anyone know why oxycodone never become a thing here? It's been available for two decades like it has in the States yet for some reason, doctors here (or in any other part of Europe for that matter) never prescribed it like they did in America.

cj maxx

I’m and on co-codimal ? for yet another rib injury at the minute. It’s not the strongest but it is relaxing. Plus the dose was doubled . It does make a difference to pain .