There's a great book entitled Breaking Your Prescribed Addiction by Billie Sahley Ph.D and Katherine Birkner Ph.D that will help you get off the meds with the use of amino acids and other nutrients to support your brain function. I highly recommend it.

Here's a link to it: https://secure25.securewebsession.com/painstresscenter.com/mall/Books.asp I think it might be on sale as I only paid $10 plus S&H when I ordered it a month ago when I went off klonopin.

The reason you want to add amino acids is that these meds mess with your brain chemistry. To minimize withdrawals, you need to provide it with the building blocks it needs to function while withdrawing a substance it's come to rely upon.

Another book you might check out is Treating and Beating Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome by Dr. Rodger Murphree. He treats fibro from an orthomolecular point of view meaning giving the body the things it needs to function including amino acids, enzymes, vitamins, minerals and the like.

Here's a link to a great article about the role of neurotransmitters in fibro: http://www.drmurphreestore.com/newsletters_letters/arefmspatcrazy.html

I'm absolutely amazed at how much better I've felt in the last 3 months since adding amino acids to my treatment protocol. In fact, other than the last few days, I'm beginning to actually feel normal for the first time in 25 years.

Hi Sosotired,

Have you tried seeing a Naturopath? I am on a large dose of antioxidants, some vitamin, mineral and herbal supplements. My fibro is much less painful so I rarely need narcotics. You may want to get on supplements and then wean off the pain meds. It took about two weeks for them to kick in. I still have some bad days but nothing like I used to.

The bad thing about supplements is they are not covered by insurance so it is a bit expensive.

If you can find, Berry Green at a health food store I would start on 1 tablespoon a day in juice. It is my key antioxidant and probiotic.

You could also get support from an NA meeting. A lot of people get addicted to pain meds, even doctors and nurses. You will find understanding and support there.

I wish you the best and write me anytime, Hugs, Keleee :)

You may need to be switched to a different pain pill as they do tend not to help as much after awhile. It has been osted before where you can go in your state to find a good Doc. maybe someone will give you that address. Do not stop pain pills all at once if you stop them. Wishing you luck whatever you can get that helps marilyn

I think you need to be very careful weaning off the pain meds, I def. would look into the amino acid thing, I am very frighened at the thought of one day needing more than the Motrin and Lyrica for pain control. It is really hard but some exercise and water therapy might be helpful.

I thank everyone so so much. I really feel like i have to come off of the pain meds because when i don't have them the pain is umbearable, but thats not going to get better only worse. When I first was put on pain meds 1 or 2 did the trick...I wish I could go back in time. I'm looking into kicking the pain meds first and then managing my disease, I don't see how they can be done at the same time.

If you feel that your addiction is too severe for you to manage weening yourself, you may need a detox center. Before you do this though you should check with your doctor about the best way to go about it. I am narcotic free and the pain is actually more manageable. Sounds strange, but true.

You could research the natural pain meds, like St. John's Wort or Chinese Herbs and treatment. Good Luck, I hope you are able to find relief soon whatever you decide to do, warm thoughts and hugs, Owlxx

I don't have any great advice as others have, but, I will relate to you on being in the south in a part that doesn't really know much. I am in SW VA and go to Duke for my primary med care. A shrink there too. She knows her stuff. My pet peeve? How many people where I live will only diagnose FM and ignore CFS (my primary) only because they feel safer - no other reason that I can see. oh well.....I'm no help but you can feel empathy I hope.