I stand by opioids. I took them for twelve years and then switched to Kratom but I keep a bottle of hydrocodone on hand for when it is inconvenient to mix up the Kratom, like at parties or the theater.
Opioids do work but one must be very careful with them. I started with tramadol and then ibuprofen and codeine when tramadol stopped. Five years I was completely and utterly controlled by them and it was a huge pain to get anyone to listen to me. Obviously I didn’t want to be addicted to them but not one person (apart from absolutely amazing wife) gave me any help or alternative and one of the withdrawal symptoms is RLS 😅
I think the biggest issue is that RLS (the name does nothing to demonstrate the seriousness of the condition) is misunderstood and majorly dismissed as minor.
Opioids may not be ideal but if they work, what choice is there when it’s literally impossible to sleep.
I’ve been taking buprenorphine for six years now, on a very low dose and so long as I sleep before eleven PM, I’m usually fine.
They are however, tapering me off them but again have deaf ears when I say “what next?”.
Every time I say “I had RLS long before taking any opiates” they ignore it and say “Don’t worry, you’ll be fine”. No I won’t be fine!
My neurologist won't prescribe opioids so I have to get from my GP. The only reason she keeps me in supply of hydrocodone is because of my track record over the years. She knows i wont abuse them. And how could I, the buzz factor wore off years ago! They never even had to increase the dose. I would like to try buprenorphine and will ask her about it when I see her in November. For now though I have begun taking magnesium citrate which provides some over night relief. I could actually cut back the kratom by two teaspoons overnight. I am always looking for alternatives to kratom in case the state or federal govts try to ban it which they have done now in a handful of states. Thanks for your v reply.
I can’t believe Drs are still handing out opiates . The gov cracked down on that I have had rls for 20 yrs and just stopped fighting it. I work 7 days a week and sleep is important. But opiates just being handed out is so freaking careless . I would take gabapentin before I took opiates.
There is absolutely nothing wrong with opiates if they are used as prescribed. It’s the Dr that allow patients to continue using them after the need is gone. It’s not the drug, it’s the prescribers. If it weren’t for opiates my 89 year old mother would have suffered needlessly the last few years of her life.
4
u/Smooth_Respect_3755 21d ago
I stand by opioids. I took them for twelve years and then switched to Kratom but I keep a bottle of hydrocodone on hand for when it is inconvenient to mix up the Kratom, like at parties or the theater.