[Joe M]

I tend to wonder if this should worry me are not but due to me breaking my neck in 2007, combined with severe head trauma, a coma for 34 days, and a hospital stint of about four months ... I have been on OxyContin for roughly 2 years. In order to stay out of terrible agony, I must take 120 mg three times a day. That's a lot of narcotics!!

My question is that I never, ever get a buzz off the medication. I'm wondering why that is?? Is it the case that those who really need the medication never really get a high from it? I can recall going to the dentist office and getting Vicodin, and loving it because I got a great buzz off it. You would think Oxy would pack a much better buzz, but the truth that told it does nothing.

Can anyone help me understand this? Please know, that is not why I take this medication and that is not what I'm looking for. I could care less about the buzz - I just want the pain to stop, and thank God this medication stops in. Frankly, I just thank God that it really does kill the pain that I have. But I must admit I am curious as to why it doesn't pack the buzz that so many people talk about.

Thanks folks,

Joe

[Hockey]

My doctor told me that if you really need the drug to control pain, there won't be anything leftover to give you a buzz. That's why folks with cancer can come off narcotics when they go into remission without craving them like a junkie.

[lostmary]

I have often wondered the same thing. I don't understand why ppl want to take it. Nothing, except a small decrease in pain. I'm taking Opana which is 7 times for powerful then morphine, and nothing. I am going to get the pain pump where 1/300 of the oral meds is put directly into your spinal fluid. THerefore, it never goes to any part of the body. brain, kidney, liver, etc. therefore, you can drive and all, as you are not having the effects of the drugs in your system. it's only in the spinal fluid, no where else. I'm so excited about it. I'm always looking for the light at the end of the tunnel.

Hugs
Mary

[finz]

If the narcotics are going to the pain receptors, they are decreasing your pain. There isn't enough narcotic left to give you that 'high.' I'm on much less of a dose, so if I took yours, I probably would be flying high.

'Normal' people without pain don't have pain receptors looking for that narcotic, so it goes right to their buzz/high/feel good receptors.

[lulabelle]

Hi,I have complex pain syndrome and I am looking to get off of my narcotic -- kadian. One doctor tells me that the best way to do it is to go incredibly slow -- taking possibly a year, and to maybe switch to using liquid methadone so that I can titrate into really small doses. My other doctor tells me that it is better to do it faster -- like over a period of a couple of months. Does anybody have any experience with titrating off of narcotics? I have gone off of a short acting narcotic before, but kadian is a long-acting one. I am on about 120 mg a day, I've been on that dose for the last two or three years and have been on the drug itself for about four years. I would be very grateful for any advice. This is my first posting and I'm glad to be here in the community. My hands are afflicted and in the past few months I Acquired Dragon Naturally Speaking and am just now been able to explore the web a little bit more. Thanks for your help.

Originally Posted by finz

If the narcotics are going to the pain receptors, they are decreasing your pain. There isn't enough narcotic left to give you that 'high.' I'm on much less of a dose, so if I took yours, I probably would be flying high.

'Normal' people without pain don't have pain receptors looking for that narcotic, so it goes right to their buzz/high/feel good receptors.

[ginnie]

Hello, I have been on MS Contain and Kadian at different times. I receive no high eithor, and was told these meds go to the pain receptors, and there is none left over to get high on. I have also lowered the amount I take via drs. orders and have not had trouble. I went down by half for awhile after my spinal epidurals. I only got a little sweating, and it wasn't bad.

[finz]

Lula,

I'd be more inclined to listen to doctor #2, both because 1 year sounds like a really long time and because withdrawing from Methadone can be far worse than withdrawing from other narcotics