And more control over drug company reps who push medications onto doctors, it’s exactly how the oxycontin issue began.

IMO it begins with education...REAL education, not scare tactics or drama. What is it? What does it do? What could happen? IMO we’re leaving it up to law enforcement and drug companies, both of whom have their own agendas. And look where that’s gotten us.

Not referring to you specifically, just people in general. I know someone who’s so strung on tramadol they’re taking DOG pills every day. It’s the same thing but still, that’s a problem. I’ve read that in some parts of the world where it’s OTC it’s a huge problem.

I was actually sent home from work and had to show them the script as it was obvious I was “on something”. I mean absolutely rubber-legged LOL, staggering.

This is why I dislike blanket statements regarding drugs. I can take 10mg of hydrocodone and barely feel it, some people might be dizzy and sick all day from that dose. Some people take valium or xanax every day no problem, I take a quarter bar of xanax and I’m out for ten hours.

If he is using 30 pills over six months he is doing an exceptionally fine job of managing his usage and he should be commended, not scorned or forced to justify his medication needs. I have known people who could go through 30 pills in two days.

And nowhere in this thread or in the comments has it been mentioned that Prince’s dopey religious beliefs were keeping him from getting the surgery that might have helped him with his painful condition. I’d rather ban dumb religious beliefs than opiates, at least one of those things are good for something.

I’m happy that flexeril worked in your case, however for me that drug is hell. Made me feel like a constantly yawning Gumby, I was literally unable to do anything but sleep on those things. 5mg of hydrocodone was far more preferable, I was able to function like a normal person, while on flexeril I was a total zombie.

“Non-addictive”...for SOME folks. Personally they do absolutely nothing for me, but I know people who are most definitely tramadol fiends. Apparently the SSRI effects can make them an absolute bear to kick, essentially it’s like kicking two drugs at once.

Sudafed too. Amphetamines open up and dry out the sinuses. Sudafed is basically amphetamine minus the high. Some demented genius figured out how to reverse engineer it into meth which is why you have to ask the pharmacist for it now.

It’s terrible how someone like you has to deal with the fallout over this year’s drug scare. IMO I’d rather deal with handling a moderate pain med habit/tolerance than to go through every day in complete misery.

The 1990s? Did you know that until the 1980s codeine cough syrup (“sizzurp”) was available over the counter? Ten bucks a bottle.

This is exactly what I mean when I say we desperately need more drug education in this country to seperate fact from fiction. Those drugs allow you to function normally and that’s nothing to be demonized over. Best of luck.

Facts. Sudafed is an isomer of methamphetamine. Making meth essentially reverses the molecule (vastly oversimplified). Immodium is a fentanyl derivative. It doesn’t pass through the blood/brain barrier so no buzz. Some assholes claim otherwise but hey, if they want to clog up their colons for life that’s their…

No one will ever be able to do anything about it, just like with alcohol abuse. Opiates have been around for thousands of years and they’ll continue to be desirable forever.

Tramadol is a weird drug, it’s sort of a painkiller/antidepressant combo drug. It can cause seizures in high doses. IMO it’s straight up garbage, regular opiates are far, far safer and preferable.

Yes, you will not become a raging addict if you take an opiate for a month or two.

Interesting fact: immodium (loperamide) is actually an opiate, one that’s been engineered to cause one specific side effect (constipation) minus the high. Ditto sudafed, which is simply methamphetamine engineered to clear the sinuses without the intense high.

And that is grossly unfair. Opiates work and work well.

It’s a trade off. No one WANTS to have to take pain meds every day but it beats the hell out of agonizing pain 24/7/365. These drugs are commonly demonized however for folks like you they enable you to live a normal life.