Does anyone know . . .

The last several days, a friend of mine was hanging at my house . . we were just partying and stuff . . anyway, she kept nodding out, even while walking. She would lose it for a couple minutes . . just frozen, sort of . . incoherent. Every 3 hours, she would get irritable and say she hurts, then vanish into the bathroom.

We (me and her mom) didn't know what was wrong with her. She's on anti-depressants, taking valium for anxiety and sleeping pills because she's been recently suffereing from insomnia. So, we sort of thought it was just her anxiety drugs causing her to get stomach cramps and becoming semi-consious. She left last night and went home. We told her to make a doctor's appointment because she was having a side effect from her new meds.

Today, we talked to her husband because we were very concerned about her and he told us that she's been snorting Oxycontin for quite awhile (he didn't say how long, but suggested it had been for several years) and said that she HAS to continue taking the drug, or her pain is too unbearable. Her husband has tried taking the pain-killer away from her, but, she freaks out really bad. She refuses to go to a rehab center and won't allow him to seek professional help.

I did some research about Oxycontin addiction and found lots of information. But, I can't find anything referencing the effect if taken in combination with other drugs. She's taking Valium, Ambien and Symbalta regularly (all prescribed) and about 80 mg's every three hours of the Oxy.

So, my question is: Does anybody in here know about the mixture of these drugs? Is she going to nod off one time and not wake up? We're going to go over there tomarrow and either force her to volunteerily commit (which likely wont' happen), or take the drug away.

Should we be prepared for her to come after us with a butcher knife?

If this is an emergency situation . . I'll drop what I'm doing and go over there right now. My big concern is her taking it with these other drugs.

Does anybody know anything about this?

Can you do that, Dyr . . like now?

I don't mean to be a pest, but, her husband said that when he came home from work tonight, she was almost unconscious . . we're going there tomarrow . . but, could she die tonight?

Please . . .

Dyr?

Please help me . . can you call her tonight?

You can check out possible drug interactions by going to www.drugs.com/drug_interactions.html

Agree to the terms(blah blah) and put in the names of the meds that you want to check the interactions of.

I hope your friend is ok.

Thanks l/v . . I tried that and it only told me about each drug seperately, but, not the interactions . . but, thanks for tyring to help me. 🙂

Nobody knows?

Dyr . . you still here?

Hi P-Angel!!

I hope your friend is doing okay!!

She has some serious issues!!! She needs to commit herself to a drug rehab as soon as possible!!!

Otherwise, her husband can commit her to a psychiatric hospital if the situation gets out of control!!! She is a threat to herself and may have depression!!!

She may also be enjoying the attention that she gets from the people who care about her, by doing this to herself!! She needs urgent psychological help!!!

Please let us know how she is doing?

Valium, Ambien and Symbalta = that's what she was prescribed then it should be fine...

Like Dy said, sleep aids and oxy = bad.

But another issues, antidepressants can block Oxycontin from metabolizing, hence she may not feel the effects of the Oxycontin and may be taking more?

Opiates in general can have a depressing effect on the respiratory system (apnea), which may explain her "nodding off".

Frequent runs to the bathroom, Oxy and Ambien both may cause nausea, vomiting, diarrhea...




Remember, I am a computer nerd, these are just conclusions drawn from my own research and "useless knowledge".

I can talk to my mother who was an EMT (now social worker), but I won't be able to get back to you on that until tomorrow.

Thanks, vpm . . in the morning (several hours) we plan on going over there and taking the Oxy away from her . . but, I'm not sure what to expect. My main concern was whether she was in dire danger at the moment. Maybe taking the drug away won't be wise either, since she's addicted. Facing a drug addict head-on, while withdrawaling may not be prudent . . thanks for researching for me. I wasn't sure why she would do the bathroom trips so often, I should have put that together.

I was beside myself with shock when her husband insintuated that this had been going on for years. Apparantly, the drug causes major pain to the body if not taken, so everytime he tries to take her drugs away . . it becomes unbearable. So, I'm not sure what good we'll do, except let her fiegn and be in intense pain. We're hoping that the withdrawals will get so bad that she'll let us take her to a center and she'll admit herself. The reason why we can't take her unvoluntary is because she doesn't fall into the criteria . . we already tried that route.

Thanks, for trying vpm . . if you can ask your mom that would be great. I'll be at her house, probably for several days, maybe even weeks, however long it takes . . I won't abandon her . . so, I can look up the info you find out from her house.

The nodding off part is the scariest because she doesn't fall over . . she just freezes in motion . . she did so while holding a cup of coffee up to her mouth and didn't even feel it when it spilled on her . . freaked me out.

P-Angel perhaps you should go to your GP to get correct information on the interactions of these drugs and what you should do about your friend. You need experts' help in these situations.

It sounds like she is addicted to pain killers and isn't aware of how bad her addiction is. It's hard to handle an addict going cold turkey but even harder still if you're forcing them to come off their drugs against their own wishes.

A person that experiences pain most of the time, has a psychological disorder... unless it is founded on real medical grounds!!! Pain is often a symptom of something deeper...

I agree with archer!!! If she sees a medical physician first, he will be able to decide wether this pain is real or fictioned (please read up on Factitious Disorders and Malingering) - Like I said, she may be enjoying the attention she receives from everyone (and the fact that her husband has taken a passive attitude... may have triggered her to show this pain in front of other people, such as yourself). She knows that you are going to worry about her and that you going to give her undivided attention!!

Don't get me wrong she needs support from you... but this support is not to sit and listen to her moaniing and complaining and even crying about the situation... The support she needs right now is that you take her to a medical physician as soon as possible (and try taking her to a different medical physician - not the same one from who she gets all these supscriptions from)... and PLEASE, either you or her husband has to inform the Physician about her history of dependancy and her beahviour!!!! He will most probably see that this problem is psycholocial one and not actually physical!!

Besides taking pain killers... this situation needs a psychlogical assessment by qualified and trained psychiatrists and psychologists. It will be easier for her to be informed that she needs psychological and psychiatric help, when such information comes from a professional doctor!!!

And yeah, another thing that I should inform you about is that people with this type of dirorder always change medical physicians!!!! Cause sooner or later the doctor may refer them for specialized treatment, but they don't go... They change doctors to keep getting these prescriptions. They also don't want to change her behaviour (and she doesn't want that because in the end she likes the attention she gets from people who care about her.

She needs help!!!!

Another thing...

if her pain is in fact based on medical grounds then she needs help in learning diffrent coping skills!!! Or she might just hurt herself!!!

But, I still believe that there is more to this problem than just pain!!!

NB - TRY a different medical physician - one whom she does not know and this medical physician NEEDS to be informed about her history and behaviour!!!!

Good Luck!!

P-Angel, how is your friend doing?

I agree with querida, she should see a physician to determine if she has any medical basis for the pain she says she feels.

Also, taking away a person's medication when they're taking such high dosages could cause serious medical problems. Even if she's just taking these medications recreationally, at such high dosages she should be monitored by medical staff when she comes off of them.

Good luck to all of you. She's blessed to have such a loving friend as yourself.

I'm sitting at home waiting for a phone call. Her mother and I ARE going over there, but, she has a husband and this ball is in his court. Her mom called me an hour ago, but, I was in the loo . . and she doesnt' answer when I ring back, so, I think she must be on the phone with either him, or her.

I think he's trying - again - to get her to commit herself to rehab. There is criteria, a person MUST do one of these three:

1) Threaten bodily harm to self
2) Threaten bodily harm to another
3) Ignore self needs, not bathe, eat

If a person doesn't do one of those three, then she can't be admitted by force.

I don't know how she's doing . . damn, I had to pee . . should have taken the phone with me.

Don't beat yourself up cuz you had to go to the bathroom. You have to do SOMEthings for yourself.

As far as being admitted by force based on those criteria: I had a relative who we kind of "tricked" into it. We took him to see a doctor and the doctor told him we were going to take his "fix" away from him and possibly have him admitted. He then asked him what he would do if that happened? Well, he got irate and said some things about hurting other people and himself and voila! The doctor was able to recommend it because he heard it first hand. The doctor's back up plan was to tell him all the horrible damage he was doing to himself and his loved ones. Sometimes people need to hear it from people who aren't close to them. They tend to see loved ones as "over-reacting."

P-Angel, in all of this, don't forget to take care of YOURSELF. 🙂

Thanks, lv . . I'm ok, just worried to death about her. I was reading online about being addicted to this drus and apparantly, it's worse than herion. People are funny about things . . the husband thought he was protecting her by NOT saying anything to the family and being in denial on her behalf, when in reality, that's not protecting, rather, encouraging.

However, her mom and I were talking yesterday about this and her husband is normally, very possessive and NEVER allows her to spend nights away without him. Before the "girl sleepover", we were thinking he finally got over himself and realized that we are "family" for gods sake, not some booty on the side, there's no reason to feel jealous. Now, we get it . . he wanted us to see for ourselves that there's a huge monkey on her back because he knows us and he knew we would intervene.

This way, he doesn't look like the "bad guy" to her and she recieves whatever help we can give to her. The main thing is - she gets help. It's my understanding, he wasn't going to work today, so she's not home alone . . we hope. Still sitting here on standby, waiting for whatever move he wants us to make.

It's a difficult situation dealing with someone who's addicted. It sucks in EVERYONE - the husband/wife, friends, family, children, co-workers. Their first loyalty is to the person that they KNEW, not realizing that they aren't dealing with the same person.

Playing devil's advocate here: In the husbands defense, he might have thought what she was going through was just a "phase." He probably wasn't sure exactly HOW bad it was because he watched it (slowly) escalate to what it is now. If he's tried to help her and get her admitted before and it failed, he is probably feeling completely POWERLESS right now(and YOU KNOW how men feel about THAT), so he figured he would ask you ladies for help without actually having to ASK for it.

You're a good friend for being there for both of them.

Last night, there was a party we went to .. she and her husband were there. After several hours of partying (I was keeping a close eye on her alcohol intake), the two of us ended up in the bathroom, talking, crying.

I felt so bad for her, she ACKNOWLEGES that she's addicted to pain killers and WANTS help, but ............

Her husband, father, mother and sister were there at the party and NONE of them came to her aid. They sat back and bitched about how she's ruining her life, and she needs to get a job, and she's being dramatic .. this is huge with her. We cried and cried, and she wants to get better, she wants to be herself again .. but, her family isn't helping her and it's killing her inside, she NEEDS them .. She HAS to take the drugs .. she's ADDICTED. There's a difference.

Witnessed and heard with my own senses .. her family's angst against her, instead of wanting to help her. After about 20 minutes, her husband came in the bathroom, glared at her and spat at me for succombing to her hysteria. I don't get it? What's wrong with people?

For the life of me, I can't understand WHY they don't want her to get better, and would rather put their energy into being angry with her for getting to this place? Certainly, I can understand their dissapointment in her .. but, that's mute, at this point. She needs help ............ he's tied my hands.

She told me that I'm the only one in her life who is willing to take action, and, after last night .. I believe her. She knows that she has to go into rehab and with me standing by her side and emotionally supporting her .. she's willing to go.

She bravely grasped my arm, while we headed to the car .. she wanted to go last night and her husband stopped us .. he was acting like I was taking over his territory, like I was out to take something away from him and how dare I interfer?

I'm at a lose on what to do .. today, I've tried calling her and he won't let her talk to me because he knows that she will go with me to rehab. Certainly, I understand that she is his wife and that he feels like it's his duty to care for her.

Then, why isn't he? Gladly, I'll step aside, she IS his wife .. he's not stepping up to the plate, nor is her mother or father or sister .. and they are preventing me from helping her .. it's killing me inside because I love her so much .. I don't want her to die.

It's killing her, too, her family in denial .. they don't hear her pleas.

I don't know what to do.

I thought that they wanted me to help her, but, I was wrong .. do they just want me to scold her for it, like them?

I cant' do that .. she means a lot to me .. I was there when she was born, I've loved her her whole life .. people die all the time from drug overdoses and it's killing me that she could very easily do this and nobody is coming to her aid.

That's terrible. 😢

Too many families actually hinder an addicts road to recovery because they're thinking about themselves. They're either too focused on their own anger at her that they can't see how much help she needs and is actually available to her and/or they're too embarassed to take her to get some help and "let the cat out of the bag." Meanwhile that cat/person is dying because they can't stand the embarassment.

You stand your ground P-Angel.

In the end when it's time for her to seek her recovery YOU are going to be the light at the end of the tunnel that shows her where to go.

Thanks, Dyr ... I am very concerned about her. It's really scarry when she does this, it's like everything just freezes, even her breathing .. she still breathes, but, it's shallow.

Actually, when she was here for those couple days and I noticed for the first time that there was a serious problem .. I checked her rx bottles and they are all from different doctors .. so, apparantly she's not telling each one what prescriptions she's on.

I really appreciate you asking your sister .. but, as you've read .. her husband won't let me do anything because, I guess he feels threatened because I'm trying to step in and take control .. I can be relentless, I realize that ... but, THIS time, it's for a good cause. I want to help her, but, I can't.

Well P-Angel when the husband is at work go and pick her up and then take her to a rehab center, she is a consenting adult and can register herself...

Go for it!

Thanks, lv, Es & vgm .. her husband got her under lock and key. I'm beginning to suspect maybe he's got this drug issue too and that's why he's ingoring it, as well. However, his can't be as bad because he is able to work everyday. Her, on the other hand, can barely function .. it's everything she can do to crawl to the toilet, which she seems to do a lot .. I guess because the Oxy makes her puke.

I know what you mean .. every time the phone rings, I'm terrified that .........

Yesterday, I tried talking to her mother about it on the phone and she says that it's worse than I think .. her mom said that she's hawked nearly everything worth value for more drug money and has even stolen stuff from her parents house. And the reason why nobody is doing anything is because they've all given up. She said they've tried and tried .. but, I find that hard to believe because I heard them bitch and moan. They aren't frantic to save a family member, like a normal loving family would do. Thier tone is with disdain, not concern .. certainly, they should know that I look inbetween the lines for the REAL meaning of things. I'm not being fooled .. they aren't even trying and just complaining about it.

Well, they don't know me .. aparantly .. when I get on something that I think is worthy, I'm relentless, I won't stop .. I just have to figure out a way to get to her. He's got the road blocked in front of me. She's not allowed to open the door when he goes to work. She doesn't have a phone at home because they can't afford to pay the bill. There's a way .. I just have to find it.

I'm thinking that if she can hold out long enough, soon, he won't have a choice because they can't pay their rent, all their creditors are calling, electric is past due (she told me all this Sat night) .. and it's only a matter of time before he HAS to come down off this throne and look to the family to house them and support them. Once this happens, he can't stop me from going to the moms house and getting her. The mom won't stop me either, she'll let me in .. hell, I was her birthing coach, for petes sake.

Soon, if she can survive .. I've made it may mission and I won't stop, everyday my resolve strengthens .. I'm not gonna let her die .. she can be the biggest drama queen in the world, she can come after me with a butcher knife, or throw herself on the floor with hysterics .. but, I still won't let her die.

Thanks everyone .. I'll keep an update