Expert: Caroline West - 8/30/2010

Question
QUESTION: hello five been sniffing pain pills going on 5 yrs in the
last 15 months my throat burns nose feels like  someone
pulling it apart, teeth hurt goes in jaw bone and have ear
ache i know stopping is the best but the pain in all areas
is unbearable the only thing that soothes it is sniff more
pills i want to stop tried stopping went 3 days without but
jaw,ear,nose throat pain is miserable called ent dr was
honest with them said there nothing they can do for me i
live in eastern ky cant find a dr that will help me i dont
want to live like this anymore can u help find me a dr that
doesnt judge for the stupid problem i caused or do u have
any remedies that will help dextox that also helps with the
pain ready to try anything thank you ive tried flushing with
saline  use ear ache meds blow nose all the time do pill
flush with water its  hard pills in nose and canals sometime
when i blow my nose i blow out all different size pieces of
hard pills that gives some relief when i flush alot and try
to clear nose and canals ear ache and jaw bone gives some
relief but then throat is on fire please help me get better

ANSWER: Hi Davis. I am very sorry for the late reply,my computer has been messing me around and almost completely crashed on me. It's working now so I can now do my best to help you.

Unfortunately we do even get judged by Dr's and it's a bad feeling but sadly,reality. I will do my best with helping you Detox,I can't get you a Dr mainly because I don't live in the States and all I can suggest is that you find your nearest Drug and Alcohol Team/Services which there should be. Depending where you live and what's available,you may or may not have to travel. So try looking and I will help you here to get off this.

First,you must not try and stop altogether. With any successful Detox,it has to be done slowly. You have been on these for 5 years so coming off will take a bit of time and that's a fact.

Best thing to do is to start straight away by taking the same amount but in two different ways. Sniff half of what you normally would and swallow the other half,not crushed but as a whole tablet. This will be less stress on your E,N and T and jaw,and you will also still be getting the same pain relief by taking the rest orally. Make sense? Do this for a week to get comfortable and used to it. If you get the sore throat,just get yourself some sore throat medicine and take it. Also the same for your ears. Detox's,however you do them,are uncomfortable,so expect a bit of that. After a week,cut your dosage down. So for example,if you sniff 10 a day,cut it down to 9. So you cut down 1 pill a week and continue to take half up your nose and the other half orally. Again,it must be slow like this otherwise it will be harder,I'm giving you the easy way :). If you notice that this plan is working and your E,N and T are coping,then take 1 less for sniffing and swallow it. Still making sense? So you are in control and gauging your own pain tolerance. So keep at it like this. Also gargle with some salt water,will help the throat,but a medicated throat spray or liquid with an Anaesthetic will numb it. With your nose,keep up with the blowing regularly to clear it out and ease it like you said blowing does. Swallowing tablets should ease your jaw as you are still getting Pain pills into your system.

So carry on like this,1 pill down a week until you get to the last 2 or 3. This will be the hardest part. So you reduce by half a tablet a week. Then,once your down to 1,take it for a week and then 1 pill every other day for a week,then half every other day for a week and then just taper them off. It's a gradual process,but it will work. Your in control so just go by how the effects are taking place. Also,you might feel some withdrawals for a few weeks after stopping them completely,Detox isn't easy,but the aches and pains will subside.

So try and contact your nearest Drug and Alcohol Service,start giving this plan a try and let me know how you get on. If it gets hard,then write in again. Look after yourself. Caroline.

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: ty very much its was helpful ive already started the intake
down its helps some some days i can do 2 to 4 to where i
used to do 15 20 now some days i do 5 6 7 trying trying to
stay under ten i found a e n t dr said the have a scope and
can blow my canals out that the beginning of the month so
ill keep u posted with the results, ive tried all otc throat
sprays cepreaol seems to work best,flushing is the key do
that alot till dr appt ill have keep doing my rotunie ty
once again

Answer
Your very welcome Davis,and you are seriously doing well! I had no idea how many pills you were taking,but to cut it down to about a quarter of what you were taking,is fantastic,truly. Your doing good.

I am very pleased that the Dr's are going to help you and flush your canals out,very glad. But with me,I have to make questioners aware a bit more and push them just a bit further for me to do justice and give the best possible advice and help I can. So,once you have this procedure done,do you think that you will be able to stop the snorting for good afterwards? I say this,not to cast a dark cloud,but because I know the pitfalls and understand the nature of drug abuse all too well and aim to be realistic. Lapses happen (where you pick up the substance of choice again,even for a few days,or a full on relapse where you return to the using as much as before and get caught up in the vicious cycle again) and that's fact,but I am definitely not saying you will,but I just want you to be aware that they do happen and it's the natural path of the course when it comes to addiction recovery. Now the good part :). As you have done so tremendously well,and have made a great deal of headway already by yourself,I know that you really have made that all important initial step of having had enough,so the outcome for you as an individual is very good indeed. But please be aware that you have had this addiction for many years and it will no doubt come times when life gets too much and you think sod it,I'll take some. This does happen Davis. So my advice to you is to still try and get in touch with the nearest Drug and Alcohol Team for support or at least have the telephone number of America's national Drugs Helpline for those times you may be at risk.

I would suggest that you still try my idea of swallowing a couple of those tablets and cut down on the snorting,this will be doing yourself a big favour and get you ready for when your canals are cleared. This act will only serve you for a better chance of success,and that is all my concern.

Good on you for how well you have done and are doing. And you may not have liked what I said above,but just know that it's to prepare you and give you some prior knowledge of possible future pitfalls. If things get tough for you at any time,then do write in again and I'll support you through it. But for now,you are doing great and I really hope that the procedure will bring you the relief you need and that you truly succeed at this the first time. Your doing good. Caroline.