123 responses so far ↓

• Terry Bailey // Aug 20, 2003 at 5:08 pm

  How do I find out more on who is doing the lawsuit. so we could get in volved with it in minnesota.

• darlene page // Oct 19, 2003 at 5:24 pm

  i was on oxycontin and neurontin for over a year a few years back. my husband said between the two it had changed my personality while taking it. i repeated myself, just stared at nothing for who knows how long. he would have to shake me to get my attention or to get myself unfixed from the staring. he sats i was a zombie. has anyone else had these problems with any of these two medications. a pain specialist prescrribed these two meds along with others for severe pain i was having due to the crushing of my right leg and ankle in machinery.this happened about 4 years ago. i weaned myself off the drugs and still have pain. i was taking 2700 mg’s of nuerotin a day.

• Jenni // Nov 1, 2003 at 3:17 pm

  How can I find out more about this lawsuit in Washington?

• Van Trent // Nov 6, 2003 at 7:31 am

  My younger brother passed away with a toxic level of oxycotin in his system. How can I get involved in the class action in TN?

• Christine S // Nov 15, 2003 at 7:20 pm

  I personally deal with severe pain and went to a doctor because I was medically addicted to percocets. I was legally taking four tablets every 3 hours as needed by a pain management dr. Fearing the amount I was taking and not getting enough relief I went to one of the best pain management clinics in NY who put me on Oxycontin 80 mgs. it was when they first came out. As a result of the severe addiction rate of this drug the doctors kept increasing my amount every few weeks. Towards the end I was taking 4 80mgs in the morning and 5 80mgs at night(720mgs). That is 144 Percocet in ONE DAY. This is not abusing them either…no chewing, snorting, or crushing. As a direct result of the habit I had built I could no longer incur the costs and was introduced to a much cheaper drug called heroine that cost considerably less than the oxycontin. Also because I was no longer getting the pain relief I did when I was first put on oxycontin and did not want to increase any further. The pain I went through when I ran out of my medication was absolutely unbearable I would truely hallucinate and this was before I graduated to heroine. I dont care what anyone says about it not being the manufacturers fault people become addicted, die, and graduate to street drugs because I am a living breathing example. Oxycontin has ruined my life, I had to go on Methodone to break away from both oxycontin and heroine and that brought with it its own problems but now I am free of all these drugs and am learning to deal with the same severe pain I received this drug for. I would rather deal with this pain than the pain I went through both emotionally and physically when I ran out of my medicine…it was a living hell. My husband overdosed on Oxycontin. He had five back surgeries and because of the pain and the amount of percocets he was taking they put him on a extremely high dosage also. If anyone out there knows if there is anything I can do to get some compensation for both his life and having mine taken away from me please email me and let me know. This drug has taken everything from me. They said it was safe because it was time released and it was good for people who had medical tolerances to Percocet…they outright lied and should help the people they have destroyed….its sad that I’m not an exception but it seems I’m one of many. Anyone who reads this STAY FAR AWAY FROM OXYCONTIN. IT WILL KILL YOU.

• Arlyne Rondon // Dec 3, 2003 at 2:22 pm

  My sister was prescribed Oxycontin, for her Lupus and died recently November 7, 2003. She would be here today if it weren’t for that Horrible Drug. I want to get involved in class action suit against the Dr. who prescribed it, and Purdue. I need more information if their are any lawsuits active in New Jersey, and Chicago?

  Please advise.

• Jeremy Housley // Dec 4, 2003 at 4:30 pm

  How do I find out more on who is doing the lawsuit. so we could get in volved with it in Montana/Pennslvania

• Pauline tamari // Dec 10, 2003 at 3:27 am

  I became severly addicted to oxycontin when I had neurological lyme disease, I live in NY how do I find out about a class action suite to be a part of?

• george r whitney // Dec 22, 2003 at 3:58 pm

  i took over 146 percription in four 19 were oxycotin and morphine5of them and so on i am on ultram now with no way off this pill

• Ken urban // Jan 31, 2004 at 2:33 pm

  I first hurt my back in 1982. Had a laminectomy and was doing fine. In 1996 I was put on oxycotin after another laminectomy. They gave me several different kinds of narcotics that did not help relieve my pain. When they came out with oxycotin they started me on 20 mg, which then went to 40 mg. When that did not work for me they strengthend it to 80 mg. slowly they increased me to 1440 mg every 12 hours for a period of 2 years before I put myself in detox. I was told they would not harm your liver or you would not become addicted to this medication. Since this time I have had 3 more surgeries with fusion to my spine. My body is now tolerant to pain meds and I need more medication to get the effect to relieve my pain. I will be in pain the rest of my life and am facing more surgery until my spine is totally fused. The strenth that they put me on could have killed me and am amazed I am still walking around to talk about this. This drug is highly addictive and hope that his med will be ban from the market so no one has to go through all that I have. How do I find out more on a law suit in michigan pertaining to this?

• Rodney Payne // Feb 14, 2004 at 10:03 pm

  I had several bad car accidents in my life and after many surgeries I was put on oxycotin. then doctors cut me off and i was left to get them illegally. i was arrested and it has ruined my life. i want to join the class action law suit.

• elizabeth haines // Feb 15, 2004 at 9:40 pm

  my husband was hospitalized in a drug rehab program for toxic does of oxycotin, atavin,etc

  would like infor on the lawsuit.

• John Riley // Feb 16, 2004 at 11:55 am

  My wife was on percocet a few years ago when she was diagnosed with RSD or as it is now known CRPS.Percocet does nothing for this pain.The Dr.kept raising the dosage.My wife became addicted to the point that they wanted to admit her to a detox.

• Johnny Stanley // Feb 21, 2004 at 6:01 pm

  sever oxycotin addition rehab twice and one surgery and still have problems

• wanda whatley // Mar 1, 2004 at 6:15 am

  I would like to have the phone # for the lawsuit to find out more about it.

• Kris Neuenschwander // Mar 1, 2004 at 6:26 am

  I have been on oxycontin for several yrs now. It was prescribed by a doctor that told me I could take it the rest of my life with out any long term effects to my kidneys and liver. But while reserching the drug on the internet I found info stating that prolonged use damages the heart as well as the kidneys and liver. If I can join the lawsuit pls email me and let me know. Kris N

• Luis Bautista // Mar 1, 2004 at 10:36 pm

  I was also on oxycontin and neurontin for pain i couldn’t stand. i lost over 50 lbs in weight in a short period of time. i was lead to believe that oxycotin would control my pain with no side affects. i found myself addicted and also had to wean myself of the drug. do to the classification of my job i couldn’t tell anyone for fear of loosing my job, which happened anyway. i had to retire. during the period i used the drug i was very absent minded and it affected my concentration. i found it very hard to read and stay focussed on the past few lines i had read. till i found out via the news regarding how dangerous the drug was did i admit to myself i was addicted. yes i would like to join in on this law suit. feel free to e-mail me for further info.

• Ray McCabe // Mar 7, 2004 at 2:04 pm

  I am an oxicotin addict currently 9 months clean. I was given the drug when I was diagnosed with a liver disease. Today, I’ve lost everything, financially, and am trying to put my life back together. How can I find out about a class action suit in PA?

• Tabatha Evans // Mar 8, 2004 at 12:17 pm

  I would like to find information about Oxycontin

  lawsuit in my area .

• clint wilson jr. // Mar 12, 2004 at 7:27 am

  after many knee operations…and spinal fractures as a result from years of rugby for the U.S… i became dependent on opiates.. including the hardest one oxycontin. after being cut off by doctors i was buying the drug illegaly.. it ruined my marriage, my career, and my relationships with everyone i know.. ive been to inpatient rehab in highland ridge hospitle 2 times.. and am now trying to recover my life.. i would like more information about the class action law suit in my area… Salt Lake City..UTAH

• Robin Miller // Mar 14, 2004 at 10:52 pm

  I’ve been on oxycotin for over 4 years and I want help getting off it for good. I’ve been lied to by Dr.’s and would also like info. on any lawsuits agaist this company Purdue in California. At least I would like for this company to pay for me getting off this medication. Can anyone please help me? My life has been hell since being on this medication.

• Irmgerald Gade // Mar 16, 2004 at 8:48 am

  I went through a crutial neck and shoulder pain back in 2002. Some of the medications that I was prescribed were ultram and oxycotin. I thought I was going to die after taking oxycotin. I went through panic attacks. I also went through a withdrawal period trying to stop taking medicated drugs even though I was and I’m still suffering from pain. Who is eligible to join the class action lawsuit?

• J Piper // Mar 16, 2004 at 11:14 pm

  I would like to know more about the lawsuit. My husband was put on oxycotin and had terrible results. He went through a bad withdrawal. He still has to use pain meds. but has to take a lot higher dose than normal because of the past use of oxycotin. Would like to get involed in the lawsuit in Indiana.

• Mark S. Kreiger // Mar 18, 2004 at 12:45 pm

  December 8,2003 my son Brian (27) died as a result of OxyCondin. I am trying to gain information of joining a class action lawsuit againt the manufactures of OxyCondin. It is a highly addictive drug and has had fatal consequences on my son Brian. Please email me back with how I might find out information to stop these senseless deaths. Thanks Mark S. Kreiger

• John Morrison // Mar 19, 2004 at 5:42 pm

  I have been taking them for 5 months and can’t seem to stop crying when i try to stop taking them. I live in calif and had neck fusion and a live tranplant the pain in my neck was terrible. Ask the doctor if the oxycontin was good for the pain but had no idea it was going to hurt so bad to try and stop. Please if you know the name of the lawsuit in calif i would like to join it please. They put me on oxycodone 5mg and that don’t help. Was taking 40mg of oxycontin twice, would rather be in Pain!!!!!! Help please!!!!

• David Kalfut // Mar 21, 2004 at 3:56 pm

  I would like to know about similar actions filed in Nebraska. I would like to add my name to the list of injured.

• Daryl Teblum // Mar 22, 2004 at 8:22 pm

  I have been living a horrible lifestyle since i was introduced to the medication Oxycontin back in the summer of 2002. I have lost my marriage, profession, job, ability to function as a normal person, forced to file for bankruptcy, SEVERE loss of memory, as well as suffer from a massive addiction from taking 160+mg of Oxycontin 4+ times a day.

  Recently i saw on the news that numerous other individuals like myself are suffering the same or simular problems and i was awared that attornies are seeking individuals in a class action law suit against the makers of this drug. I was unsure as to whom i should contact as i have been a victim to this pain medication for quite some time. I am completely addicted and can’t function without this medication as it causes severe withdraw as well as other symtoms if i’m even close to missing a dosage. Please advise me and contact me of any steps you feel i should or can take. THank You (tebs225@msn.com)

• Ed MaC // Mar 26, 2004 at 10:47 am

  How do I get information on a Lawyer or group who is filing legal action on The makers of Oxycontin? Please someone e-mail me

• Crystal Santisteban // Mar 29, 2004 at 2:21 pm

  I am in San Diego and Im trying to find out more about the lawsuit and how would I be able to join in on this lawsuit.

• Robin (I'm too embarrassed to use my last name) // Mar 31, 2004 at 5:26 am

  I would like more information on how to get in on this class action lawsuit. I live in Wisconsin, and have just been told by a Friend about this. I’ve been on this medication since Feb. 2003, while waiting for Insurance to pay for my back surgery. It’s now March 31st and had no clue about the Addictiveness of this medication. I’ve never even liked taking a Tylenol in my past, I don’t even drink Alcohol, but the pain in my back is so unbearable, that I had to do something. I have to have Disk Replacement done and have Artritis in my Lower Lumbar. I too have had the memory loss, increased dosage and all the symtoms I’ve read about here. My Dr. had me sign some Narcotic paper in the office last month, like I’m some junkie/druggie. Saying he had to cover his License. He has made me feel horrible about myself. I have to be honest, he has brought me so down about myself, I even thought of suicide a few times. I sit and cry, I didn’t ask for this condition/pain, now I’m being treated like a Drug addict, some low life person who means nothing. I’m so embarrassed about this paper, I couldn’t even tell my husband or anyone. Now I’m terrified as to what my future of getting off this medication is going to do to my family and myself. Here I’ve been bragging, I can’t wait to get this surgery done and off these Meds, so I can have my life back. I even said it to my Dr. quite a few times, and he has never said anything back to me about, how it’s going to be for me to get off of this. I was always very active in sports and in my Boys life, I would like to know what I’m really going to be facing once I’m off these Meds.

  Send me Everything you have on this, PLEASE!!!! I was NEVER told how terrible this Drug was and I’m furious.

• Donald Wyckoff // Mar 31, 2004 at 12:15 pm

  Help!!! my father has been on oxycontin Since 93 he has degenerative spine disease and is always in pain, he is on 100mg.s a day of oxycontin.They dont even help the pain anymore and he has just found out that his liver is severly Damaged. how can he become involved in the class action suit? Please Help!

• melissa // Apr 1, 2004 at 11:28 am

  i had 2 friends recently pass away due to oxycotin they were bot diabetic and both had hypertension. i would like to be involved with the lawsuit

• Leslie Schiralli // Apr 1, 2004 at 5:06 pm

  my brother died March 11 of an oxycontin overdose. He was alive in the morning, running errands, having coffee, and was found dead in his bed a few hours later. how can i help

• Jennifer Nitz // Apr 3, 2004 at 1:03 am

  I have suffered from debilitating back, leg and hip pain most of my adult life. While living in Iowa in 1999, a neurosurgeon performed a discectomy (sp) which allowed me to be pain-free…for one day. I developed a high fever (103+) with even more pain than before. This landed me in the hospital for 5 days with the neurosurgeon treating me like it was all in my head. He performed another discetomy soon after. This helped a little and I had to make a move with my children and husband to Nebraska. Sure enough the pain was even more acute and I couldn’t feel my feet. Doctor after Doctor in NE refused to even look at me after they saw my MRI’s and told me to go back to the doctor that did that to me. I did and he peformed a 5 hr. double fusion on my lower back in June of 2000. My local doctor took over pain management after the fusion and he started me on Percocet (as usual) and he added 10-30mg every 12 hrs. This doctor knew from my records from 1985 that I had been in recovery from dr’s over-prescribing and still put me on this wretched drug. At first I hated it as it put me to sleep immediately. I was on oxycontin from 2000 until Sept. 2002, when I ran out of my oxycontin and oxycodone early and my body went into withdrawal. The ER doc pumped 25 or 30 mgs. of morphine in me and sent me home with extra oxycontin. I saw no way out of this love affair with oxycontin and having been in recovery previously, I knew in my heart there was only one way out and that scared me. My husband, my two beautiful boys, my family and friends knew I was in trouble but I was in such a dark oppressed cloud that they didn’t know what to do or even who I was anymore. In Nov. of 2002, out of fear, out of desperation to control the pain, I managed to take 135, 40 mg. pills in 12 days, surpassing what my regular doctor would prescribe, so the only logical way to deal with my addiction to oxycontin was to take the last 3 pills and try to come off them myself. By the time the sun set, I was starting to climb the walls, and my chest started to tighten and hurt so bad that I just knew I was gonna die a very slow death. I took a handful of my boys’ medication and called a friend to take me by myself to the ER where I told the Dr. that if I would happen to live…that if he sent me home with a bottle of Oxycontin…I would hunt him down. There were 4 whole days where it was touch and go. The only things I remember were my two teenage boys seeing their Mom scream that she wanted to die and see her eyes roll to the back of her head and the terrible seizures and convulsions. They are scarred for life. They tell me they love me at least 5-10 times an hour sometimes. After my 4 days of heart testing and whatever they did, I was sent to a psych ward to start my detox on Norco (similar to hydrocodone). I remember every single second of the hell of withdrawal from Oxycontin and I seriously want the drug company that marketed this legal heroin to the masses to pay dearly. Oxycontin was designed originally to be for an elderly/terminal end-stage cancer patient and not for 20-30-40-50-somethings. Something has to be done to correct this.

  Somewhere in the middle of being an “oxycontin zombie”, my adult step-daugther did a lot of internet research and realized that I was in big trouble. She contacted classaction.com?, who in turn contacted me, took my history and a law firm mailed me a letter with release forms for me to sign to allow my doctor to release information. There was absolutely no way at that point in time that I could let go of my bottle of Oxycontin. I also felt it would threaten my doctor to the point of not being treated at all. So I conveniently lost the paperwork. I just figured that my chance at being a part of a class action lawsuit was over.

  I haven’t had an oxycontin since Nov. 12, 2002, but my body still craves it and I now have to live in pain with no relief. Please if there is anyone that is connected, who can help me become a part of this lawsuit, I would appreciate hearing from you.

  Lastly, I want to thank anybody who had to read all of my “horror withdrawal” stories and are still on Oxycontin. It may sound bad and it was, but having Oxycontin out of my body and out of my life is like getting a fresh rose everyday. Please do not attempt to withdraw on your own or by “home methods” suggested by internet so-called professional.

• garry sneller // Apr 3, 2004 at 11:45 pm

  i was put on oxys for pain management and kept on them for 2 years. i was pulled over for speeding and given a blood test. the test showed i had oxy in my blood now the court wants to lock me up for a year

• Susan // Apr 6, 2004 at 11:26 am

  How do I find out about a civil lawsuit in New Jersey.

• Scott Miller // Apr 8, 2004 at 9:18 pm

  Aafter an anterior discectomy, my PCP referred me to a “pain management” Dr. I NEVER saw the Dr, only the physicians assistant and walked out with a scrip for a months worth of 40 mg Oxys. Within 3 weeks I was out of control with them, wildly addicted and through a phone call convinced her that 3 a day would be better. While suffering classic opiate withdrawel symptoms, I was involved in a car accident and charged with DUI (although that day I had no CS in my system). I am now out attorneys fees, the loss of income during a stay in a rehab to detox from this poison and facing the criminal justice system. I am in Texas and have yet to find an atty interested unless I had died from an overdose. Any suggestions????

• connie budd // Apr 13, 2004 at 8:10 pm

  i was perscribed oxycontin about four years ago,and have ever takin any drugs in my life and barely ever drank .now i am to the point i am taking three 80’s in the morning and about four to five 80’s every night and still am not getting the pain relief that i ever so badly need and nowi have two problems 1 is the pain that i am constantly in and now the constant need for this drug that my body so badly craves .. can some body help me please and email me with the listings of any attourneys in san diego that i can join in the lawsuit in california with!thank you!

• beverly y. thomas // Apr 15, 2004 at 1:50 pm

  I am not on oxycotin but I was tempted to purchase it illegally but,..I always research any drug that I put in my body first and that is how I came across this website. I just want to thank all of you brave people and let you know that you have save someone from living through the hell that you have all described. You are all in my prayers and I personally asked God to free you from the bonds of this horrible drug. I know it takes a lot to admit addiction so again, from the bottom of my heart,…thank you. God bless

  t/assisted hyster on 05/20/04. God has used you to save me.

  Beverly

• ETHON // Apr 23, 2004 at 1:54 pm

  IN THE YEAR 1990 I HAD A LAMINECTOMY AND FUSION ON MY SPINE… IN THE YEAR 1991 I HAD ANOTHER……..THIS PATTERN WENT ON UNTIL 1997 AND A TOTAL OF 8 SPINAL SURGERYS. THE ORIGNAL PROBLEM WAS BAD PAIN IN MY BACK AND BUT AND LEGS. I AM NOW REALLY “SCREWED” UP. I HAVE A DOZEN SCREWS STILL IN MY SPINE. THE PAIN IS SO BAD THAT AT TIMES I CANT GET OUT OF BED. IVE RECENTLY COME TO FIND OUT THAT ON TOP OF THE BAD SURGERY THAT WAS PREFORMED WITH THE WRONG TYPE OF SCREWS, I HAVE SEVERE ARTHORITIS. I HAVE SO MANY DISEASES BASED ON SO MANY DOCTORS THAT I DONT CARE WHAT I HAVE ANY MORE. ALL I CAN SAY IS THE FIRST THING THE FIRST DOCTOR DID WAS GIVE ME HYDROCODONE THEN MORPHINE THEN MORPHINE AND FENTYNAL PATCHES. NOW HAVING SO MUCH NARCOTIC IN MY BLOOD I ACTUALLY WATCHED A MISQITOE BITE ME AND DYE. NOW ITS 5 OR 6 80MG OXYCONTIN IN THE MORNING 5 OR 6 IN THE AFTERNOON AND 5 OR 6 IN THE EVENING. AND BY THE TIME I WAKE IN THE MORNING IM ALREADY HAVING SEVERE WITHDRAWL SYNDROME. EVERY DAY I TAKE 15 TO 20 80 MG OXY`S WITH TWO 100 MICROGRAM FENTYNAL PATCHES ON AND ALSO TAKE 3 30 MG MORPHINE TABS 4 TIMES A DAY…….AM I GOING TO DIE????? WILL I LIVE TO WATCH MY CHILDREN GROW UP?? WILL I EVER HAVE NO PAIN?? IM CRYING AS I WRITE THIS. NOT BECUASE I FEEL SORRY FOR MYSELF BUT BECAUSE I DONT WANT TO DIE , I DONT WANT TO BECOME MORE OF A BURDEN ON MY WONDERFUL WIFE I DONT WANT MY 10 AND 12 YEAR OLDS TO FIND THERE DAD SLUMPED OVER DEAD. I SIT HERE THINKING THAT”SOMEDAY” THIS WILL ALL END.BUT IM ONLY 38 AND MY PROBLEM STARTED WHEN I WAS 24. IS THIS ALL?? IS THIS ALL THERE IS? I CANT DO THIS ANY LONGER. THE PAIN IS SO GOD AWFULL HOW COULD GOD, WHY WOULD GOD DO THIS TO ME? WHY WOULD HE LET THOSE WHO HAVE NOT EXPERIENCED THIS HELL PRESCRIBE A DRUG THAT IS PURE HELL?????

  FOR WHAT EVER REASON MY BODY HAS…I NOW HAVE INCREASED PAIN FROM THE TIME I STARTED OXYCONTIN ITS ACTUALLY WORSE. BUT EVEN WITH THE OTHER NARCOTICS IN MY SYSTEM MY BODY WONT LET ME STOP TAKING THE OXYS. EVERY TIME I STOP TAKING THE OXYS I GET VERY SICK FROM WITHDRAWL EVEN IF I UP THE OTHER MEDS.THERE IS SOMETHING VERY DIFFERENT ABOUT THE MAKE UP OF OXY CONTIN THAT IS NOT LIKE THE OTHER PAIN MEDS. IT REALLY DOESENT WORK ANYMORE BUT I CANT STOP TAKING THEM.AND WHEN I TALK TO THE DOCTORS THEY HAVE NO ADVICE. AND THEY TELL ME THAT I SHOULD JUST MAINTAIN AS I WILL NEED TO TAKE THIS MEDICATION FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE. IS THIS REALLY TRUE? THE REST OF MY LIFE? IS THAT THERE WAY OF TELLING ME THAT IM NEVER GOING TO GET BETTER NEVER GOING TO NO A DAY WITH OUT PAIN?

  iF ANY BODY HAS THE ANSWERS TO MY PRAYERS PLEASE RESPOND IN THIS FORUM. THANK YOU ALL FOR JUST HEARING ME OUT.

• jerry wilson // Apr 25, 2004 at 5:39 am

  i am in the military, and was sent to a civilian dr.to have ceervical fusion surgery.after the surgery, the dr.put me on ooycontin (40)mg. a day for 60 days.my neck had healed on the 30 period,and i went back for a check up.he tells me here is some more oxycontin (30)day supply.something in my my mind told me to stop takeing this drug.the day i did is when i had my first withdraws.stomach cramps tingling of my hands and feet. i tries to go cold turkey but to no avale.i checked my self into a detox center for help.there they treated my withdraw symptoms with med.

  i am feeling alot better now,my body is almost back to normal.

  i would like to find out more about this lawsuit.

• Danny Harris // Apr 28, 2004 at 12:16 pm

  I was on oxycotin from August of 2001 until April 16,2004. I just went through De-Tox in a hospital setting. The decision to get of of oxycotin was my own. I could not of gotten off this medicine without the help of the doctors and nurses. I was prescibed oxyocotin by my pain management doctor. I was diagenosed with RSD

  [Reflex Sympathetic Dystophy] I would be interested in the lawsuit that you are pursuing.

• Steve Eugene Wilson // Apr 30, 2004 at 2:46 am

  I have been on the oxycontin every sence 1995 and i;m hooked i have a lot of problem. how can i find out more on the lawsuit and to get onboard

• Laura // May 3, 2004 at 12:29 am

  It killed my mother’s husband two months ago. His autopsy report said “accidental oxycodone intoxication”. Do NOT Take this if you don’t have to! Do not crush the pill! How can Texans join the action?

• Cheryl Tallafuss // May 5, 2004 at 11:54 pm

  I have just come home from detox. It has cost me out of pocket $12000.oo not covered by insurance so far. I went to a pain mng. dr. for a “better quality of life”! I was put on fentynal patchs phenabarbital, nerontin, oxicondone. I only ended up taking the fentynal patches. the others scared me the more I investigated. after loosing the ability to even read a simple story to my 9 year old daughter and not being able to comprehend what I read I decided it was time to come off of this nightmare of a drug.Of course I thought I was early stage altzimers because my dr. told me for months that it was not the fentynal! Long story short this dr. told me “he put people on the drug, but did not take them off of it”! Have you , any of you heard of such a thing. I currently have severe brain damage. Some doctors tell me some will come back with therapy. My IQ was 160 now 110! I have 5 children and a grandson a year old. I miss my life. I just had to go on a sublingual (under my toung) bupernex. This after a week in the hospital on lots of meds to ease the pain and suffering of withdrawal. I never took more than tylenol and after surgury’s, 5 of them, I came home on tylenol because I hated the way pain pills made me feel. I feel like I will never be normal again. Please if any pain dr. tells you to try fentynal stay away. It creates a sticky substance in the brain blocking all endorphan receptors. You no longer produce dopamine, seretonin or other important endorphins. You can take all of the anti depressants in the world, they will not work. Not until the receptors are cleaned out. that is why I have been on the bupernex. In the hospital they gave it to me by injection. I had secondary withdrawal common in oxi and fentynal so now sublingual. The depression and anxiety is horrific. I plan on retaining my own att. my lawsuit will be for malpractice. I was never told of the brain and liver damamge this med could do. I was also never told of it’s painful and very costly withdrawal. He gave me a script for 75, for 4 weeks 50, for four weeks, 25 for a week then off. Thank God and my savior Jesus Christ I had the family and support systems to get to a hospital. I will continue to pray for all of you who suffer from chronic pain and the addiction of these pain meds that dr.’s who know there affects continue to write scripts for. Those who took these meds for what they were intended died. They, many at least had stage 3 bone cancer. They could not tell us. The drug companies knew though and so did the dr.’s that make us addicted. A great detox facility by the way is pointsiena in palm beach fl. I pray that after the next 11 days I will be able to start to see the fog lift. I will also be going to a 30 day rehb program to learn how to rewire my brain. I am now a morphine addict. No matter what they tell you anybody, once you take it after 13 hours your hooked. I never took it for anything other than perscribed, but I am still addicted. My body will always crave that drug it sticks to everything including muscle, central nerveouse system et. You have to look at it like 100 little men working round the clock fixing things once your clean from the drug. You will continue to be in pain, but consider Jesus and prayer live one miniute at a time.

  God Bless

• Calvin Bay // May 9, 2004 at 8:55 pm

  We have a daughter that was put on oxy

  &we need info , so she can get on this class action suit ! “Thanks” C. Bay

• C. Warner // May 12, 2004 at 6:28 am

  Need information on how someone in Pennsylvania can get involved with a class action lawsuit against the makers of Oxycontin — it has destroyed our family life and has almost sent us into bankruptcy — please help!

• Vicki Hanson // May 12, 2004 at 11:53 am

  20,40,60,80mg of oxycondin and docs are suggesting higher doses. I keep hearing terrible news about this drug so tell me more. I also want more information about this lawsuit. I live in Missouri. I have severe metastic cancer of the breast. The doctors keep telling me not to worry about getting addicted because my pronognis is not that great. I’m not on my death bed and I am still fighting like hell every day and plan to continue more each day.

• Nancy Thomas // May 14, 2004 at 7:15 pm

  I have read all these notes and I know the fear and betrayal that so many have expressed. I have asked myself the same questions and I don’t know what to do next. I have had one bone graph in c6c7 and also have had two titanium cages on c5c6 and c7c8. I have degenerative disc disease and it is not only in my neck, it’s all the way down my spine. The two titanium discs failed and both of those discs have re-herniated. I also have spinal stenosis. I have had pain so hard that I couldn’t get out of the bed by myself and could not move my legs for a while. I was disabled from my job because I couldn’t sit, stand, walk, lift, turn my neck, excercise, lift my arms to reach, bend over to pick up and etc. My surgeon wanted me to go to another dr. and I went to an internal medicine dr. and he sent me to a pain management dr. and he handled all my medications. I had double doses of effexor and paxil and pain pills four times a day and stomach pills and laxatives and double trazodone pills for sleep. The pain management dr. (physitrist) also added oxycontin in very small dosages 10 mg twice a day. I also have arthritis and breast cancer and fibermyalgia. A dr. at the hospital clinic I was going to got into a lot of trouble-jail- with his prescribing large doses pretty often and so now my physitrist is also leaving the hospital and cut my oxycontin in half. Now I take 5 mg in the morning and 5 at night. I started having headaches and my feet swelled and I had no energy at all and started going back to not being able to get up or walk straight. I have called the clinic and was told there would be no more narcotics prescribed and the pain center would be no more. I was left a list of pain drs. and also very interestingly DE-TOX facilities. I am very afraid of what happens next. I WAS VERY TOUCHED BY ETHON’S CRY OUT TO GOD- WHY HIM… I do want to say we all go through thing in life and wonder why. I heard a story once about a preacher’s wife who had lost her new baby. She couldn’t think of anything good that could possibly come out of a baby’s death. Years later she said she had stood at funerals with parents over little tiny white caskets. She knew she had experienced that particular horrible thing so she would know how the parents felt and could talk with them about their feelings and give them a hug and love from someone who knew and cared so much. Sometimes God allows things to come into our lives for reasons. We may never know why, but it can help us be better people by understanding and comforting others. God does love you.

• Dave Chupela // May 20, 2004 at 4:46 pm

  My brother of 37 yrs. passed away on 2/4/04 from an addiction of oxy. a doctor who will be unnamed perscribed 900 tabs. of 5mg. each roxicodine and 240 tabs. 10mg. methadone all within a 2 months time which got him hooked. he was at the point where he went doctor shopping and had 5 different doctors perscribe him his pills to feed his addiction. this has got to stop. the drug companys are making it to easy to get these pills which i think the doctors are pushed to perscribe. my brother left me, 2 brothers, my sister, my parents an 11 yr. old son and 9 yr. old daughter. i blame the drug companys and the feds. for no regulation.

• cj // May 22, 2004 at 6:12 am

  How do I manage to withdraw from my oxycontin? I take a 20 and a 10 2x/day..am 80 years old with back fracture pain I will always always just have….My doc. is trying to remove a 10mg. pill 2/day, for about a month, then reduce another 10 for month til I am off…but it has been three days and I am not sure it is working..I am scared, shakey, and very anxious! I want to know more

• Robert S Pennsylvania-RECOVERED FROM OXY ABUSE // May 23, 2004 at 2:58 am

  TO ETHON,

  I have successfully withdrew from OxyContin. I began taking it about 2 years ago due to herniated discs degenerative disc disease a hairline break in my back (that went undetected) due to other injuries I faced in a car accident in 1991. —It also didn’t help that I was already a recovering addict. After abusing the drug,(snorting it) and finishing mny monthly prescription in 2 weeks with a (1 month subscription. I knew I was hooked and couldn’t stop…What was worse is that I didn’t want to stop. I thought that my pain was my (cross to bear) in life and that I always would have to use narcotics for relief…I have 3 children 7,4 & 2 and I also worried about them finding me dead…at my computer or on the couch in the morning with (remote control) in hand while the TV was on…DEAD…..

  I OFFER YOU HOPE….I INVITE YOU TO CALL ME….I CAN HELP YOU RECOVER FROM IT…..I DID AND SO CAN YOU!!!!!–FOR ME a 12 step program works…I’m not saying this is the route you have to take..but YOU CANNOT DO IT ALONE…I HAVE MORE PAIN THAN GOD SHOULD ALLOW..TRUST ME..There are alternatives..MY PAIN LEVEL IS MUCH LOWER –I’m NOT PAIN FREE. I HAVE TOWORK AT PAIN REDUCTION EVERY DAY…BUT IT HAS GOTTEN BETTER TO THE POINT THAT I CAN LIVE A RICH AND REWARDING LIFE…..respond to my e-mail address rjscott10@attbi.com…leave your number I’ll call you or visa versa…together we can overcome this horrible addicition ONE DAY AT A TIME…I HOPE TO HEAR FROM YOU AND ANYONE ELSE WHO NEEDS HELP GETTING OVER ADDICITION TO NARCOTICS ETC….Robert Scott

• jc // May 24, 2004 at 7:32 pm

  I have a spinal colom injury. I have severe pain in the morning and at night time. I have 3yr and 1yr old. I recently have been going to a pain management dr. I started on the lowest oxycodone then in 2 month now up to 2 20mg oxycodone 3 times daily and 30 mg of Avinza. I would say you rapidly become tolerant to oxycodne. Any questions about this or any other drug feel free to email me.

• travis braly // May 26, 2004 at 3:08 am

  I purchased oxycontin off the street for thirty dollars a 40 mg pill. I cant stop taking them Ive lost my wife my children my house all of my savings im going to kill myself icant live in this hell anymore.

• Lori // May 28, 2004 at 10:02 pm

  My brother is prescribed 160mg. oxycontin 2 times a day. Along with antidepressants, muscle relaxers, percocets,and sleeping pills. I informed his Dr. that he was injecting the oxicontin after he was hospitalized for a week for a severe hand infection. I feel the Dr. is as much to blame for this addiction as my brother but I don’t know how to report him. He actually increased the dose after the hosp. stay he was only on 80mg. prior to that. Any suggestions?

• Dave Chupela // May 28, 2004 at 10:35 pm

  to anybody who lost a loved one to this drug, how are you coping ? its been 4 mounths since my brother and only true friend died and i still carry a heavy heart and every day i wake up is a challange. please help.

• oxylocks // May 29, 2004 at 11:09 pm

  this is to the people who say that they need 4or5 80s in the morn and aft. and eve. well all i can say is abuse, you guys and girls are obviously not taking your meds as prescribed. trust me i know i to was abusing my meds for a few years. and when you do that (crushing,snorting,shooting) what ever it is that you did, it just blows the whole purpose of time release! thats your own fault that now you need so much, if you would have taken them as prescribed you would not require more to get the same relief. trust me my body is fucked up. but the bottom line is you abused and now you blame the company. well ill tell you now that i take my meds the way there prescribed i live a wonderful semi-painfree life. and those of you who have already blown the purpose of time release i sugest you quit trying to get high and think more about life and the help that doctors try to do for us,they only go by what bwe tell them so if you say im still hurting and they up you, well all your doing is hurting yourself your making you body more and more dependent on these opiates. all im saying is if taken right they are a life saver to me.

  thats after i quit abusing. so my advice to everyone is TAKE AS PRESCRIBED before you ruin it for people who are serious about there pain management.

• frances taulbee // Jun 8, 2004 at 12:41 pm

  my dr [rutledge] putt me on ths oxycotin for my back in 2001 and recently closed his practice .he gave me a three month supply and told me to go to my family dr to have them rite it for me .nobody will touch it .i hurt constantly and yet there is no help .ive had five back surgeries and am going thrue a masectamy now and wonder how much more pain i can stand before i say to hell with it and call life quit. my babies are the onr thing that keeps me going and on days that doesnt seem enough

• Jessica Weis // Jun 12, 2004 at 10:17 am

  My mother was prescibed oxycontin for moderate back pain years ago. She became addicted and told her doctor about her addiction and her doctor stopped prescribing it, instead of weaning her off…my mother was in so much pain and had very bad withdrawls that I witnessed. She commited suicide in June 2002. She was only 45, I now take care of my 15 year old little sister. I had a lawyer, and he just called me a few days ago and said he changed his mind, he doens’t want to take the case after reviewing it for 2 years! Does anyone know how I can get into a class action? I live in Pittsburgh, Pa. My email address is jjoy4@aol.com. Thank you.

• Ricky // Jun 14, 2004 at 8:17 am

  I have read alot of your statements and have gotten quite a variety of opinions, and what I have to say to encourage all you people some will probally not understand. My wife was prescribed oxycotin 3 years ago to take the place of spinal nerve blocks that the dr. could no longer give because of the created scare tissue which prevented the dr. from being able to get a needle though the muscle to continue the nerve blocks.My wife 2 weeks later found out about the effects of oxycotin, like many of you have stated the dr. never explained these effects to my wife nor did she even sign the form that the dr. had for her to sign because my wife was not out of her sedetion to do the last nerve block.When she realized this drug was addictive she knew she had to do something, so she tried to get off of the drug on her own and she realized that she couldn’t thats when she turned to God, now my wife is a christian and was saved in the early 90’s but this time she stepped totally on faith with a lot of prayer and she had me take her to the beach for a week in feb.she took her clothes,food, and most important her bible!!!! Gods word; she came back home at the end of that week and she has never taken oxycotin again.I know this sounds too simple but through GOD all things are possible, and my wife did not get off the drug on her own it was GOD who gave her what she needed.This is not the end of a horrible ordeal, because like many of you she went through withdrawals, it caused her to go through 12 different meds.for all kinds of problems from paranoia to ashma all because of a cronically sprained ankle that had to later have surgery anyway, what a wast of time, money,pain and suffering because of a dr. not informing patients of possible dangers. I understand what some of you have, and are still going through, although I personally have never beed addicted, I watched my wife go trough it, all i can say is if you have never been saved and don’t truly know Jesus Crist as your Lord and Savior you need to first give your life totally over to Him then ask Him to take this drug away from you and he will deliver you from this. This is not magic it’s a relationship you enter into with GOD and like all relationships you have to work hard to make it work.Gods word says he will take care of his own, that is those who have accepted Him as Lord and Savior,He also said that being a child of God you will go through suffering in life just as Jesus did, only Jesus suffered and died so that we might have everlasting life. This life is only for a short time and then we all will die, the most important question is where are you going when you die? Heaven with peace, love, no more pain and suffering living with GOD for eternity or HELL where the pain and suffering will be so bad that your worst day on earth compared to HELL would be a walk in the park. I’m not trying to scare you ,but I want you who are not saved to realize that GOD loves you and don’t want you to suffer anymore, and I don’t know what God has in store for you, thats something that you need to get into His word every day and in prayer everyday to find out, He will let you know but you have to make the first move to let Him know you want Him in your life.Go to matt.7:7 this is just one of many of Gods promises, read hebrews chapter 11 the hall of faith, these are just a couple of many, many scriptures that Gods word has waiting for to read and believe, and apply to your lives. I hope this will help you get through you terrible ordeal and I will pray for all of you. You have tried all the rest now try the BEST” GOD” He will not fail you! God loves you! 2 ricky

• Ibin Dere // Jun 17, 2004 at 8:19 am

  There is a legal prescription drug that not many people know about called Suboxone. Suboxone will COMPLETELY remove ALL Oxycontin withdrawal symptoms in ten minutes, and remove ALL craving for drugs FOREVER.

• Lyn Furbee // Jun 22, 2004 at 7:45 am

  Please let me from people who have sucessfully de-toxed from Oxycontin. Thanks Lyn

• angry_with_these_comments // Jul 1, 2004 at 9:29 am

  ok, now i understand that a lot of peoples lives have been destroyed or ruined, as you all put it, by oxycontin & the company that makes it. but let me ask you something, do you know anyone who has OD’d from tylenol? or asparin? do you blame the mfg of those over the counter drugs? or what about the people who have died from cough medicine, trying to get high? do you blame those companies? NO OF COURSE YOU DONT because those medicines have valid uses and they were not intended to be abused in such a way that people die. oxycontin is the same way… but since they throw the word ‘narcotic’ on there then people get scared. i am not trying to downplay anyones experiences, and i truly sympathize with many of the situations posted… but COME ON people… you CANNOT blame Perdu Pharm for people abusing oxycontin!!!!! we all are in control of the descisions we make… including how we take our medicine. i know MANY people’s lives that have been saved by oxycontin…. a good friend of mine would have killed himself long ago had it not been for oxycontin. i just wanted to post my 2 cents… everyone seems to be looking for someone to blame and the mfg seems like the easy choice…. but just as tylenol is not responsible for someone who has liver failure due to too much acetametophine, perdu cannot be blamed for people not taking their medicine correctly. and, as far as drs being at fault… it is THAT type of thinking that is making it hard for people who deserve pain relief to get the proper medication…

• angry_with_these_comments // Jul 1, 2004 at 1:55 pm

  ok, now i understand that a lot of peoples lives have been destroyed or ruined, as you all put it, by oxycontin & the company that makes it. but let me ask you something, do you know anyone who has OD’d from tylenol? or asparin? do you blame the mfg of those over the counter drugs? or what about the people who have died from cough medicine, trying to get high? do you blame those companies? NO OF COURSE YOU DONT because those medicines have valid uses and they were not intended to be abused in such a way that people die. oxycontin is the same way… but since they throw the word ‘narcotic’ on there then people get scared. i am not trying to downplay anyones experiences, and i truly sympathize with many of the situations posted… but COME ON people… you CANNOT blame Perdu Pharm for people abusing oxycontin!!!!! we all are in control of the descisions we make… including how we take our medicine. i know MANY people’s lives that have been saved by oxycontin…. a good friend of mine would have killed himself long ago had it not been for oxycontin. i just wanted to post my 2 cents… everyone seems to be looking for someone to blame and the mfg seems like the easy choice…. but just as tylenol is not responsible for someone who has liver failure due to too much acetametophine, perdu cannot be blamed for people not taking their medicine correctly. and, as far as drs being at fault… it is THAT type of thinking that is making it hard for people who deserve pain relief to get the proper medication…

• vicki // Jul 5, 2004 at 8:45 pm

  My sister who was 48 and have severe back pain was prescribed oxycondone 40 mg by her doctor and we found her dead just yesterday July 4 and whe died in her sleep . The coroner said her heart just stopped. Can anyone contact me I am very confused as well as upset. I live in Illinois. She was diabetic since 12 and had a kidney transplant in 1995 and only 1 leg and just a couple of toes left on her remaining leg. I dont understand how this could happen. Her nephrologist prescribed this for her due to severe back pain from a fall in the hospital a few weeks before this. She was not planning on going to bed and dying. I was in the hospital having a hysterectomy and my Mom and sister called me and found her dead July 4. The coroner said she had only taken 2 of the 40mg oxycondone she had picked up the Fri eve prior. Can anyone help me I need support.

• Trying to kick // Jul 6, 2004 at 9:21 pm

  I was addicted to oxycotten and finnally went to rehab on my own i was put on methadone in liquid form….PLEASE TAKE MY ADVISE….Do not take methadone to get off oxycotten the withdraws are way worse than kickin heroin or any other drug..Heroin makes you go thru a week of withdraws,Methadone has withdraws that last months if you dont believe me look up some HORROR storie on the web before you try to kick one drug by substititute it with anoyher one. My suggestion is to give the oxycotton to someone who will only give you a little bit at a time to wing you off. Dont make the mistake I did just be strong and being family orintated helps.

• Jeepman charlotte north carolina // Jul 9, 2004 at 4:27 am

  Cervical fusion c6 & c7 oxycontin for two years, up to 80mg three daily. I want to stop and scared, the withdrawal is bone crushing leg pain etc. I have hepatitis c and know this is killing me. Can’t eat, sleep or have any normal type of lifestyle. I could withdraw myself if the dosage was not in a 80mg tablet form, the problem is that you would need to reduce dosage, but how can you when the pill cannot be broken? Think about how the purdue boys had to think long and hard to figure out how to keep a person taking their “lifesaving drug” right! Yep I was the person who thought it was a lifesaver too, but now that it has got control over my every emotion, feeling etc. I think its the most wicked drug ever produced, its worst than CRACK in my opinion at least most of the crackheads eventually quit but no, not this drug, I am reading where people are losing their homes, retirement everything for this pill. Then I read about the people like me who thought it was a lifesaver. Just wait, you will have exactly the same feelings as all these other suffering people have. Then you won’t be singing praises to the oxycontin for its lifesaving abilities. It has life ending abilities too and they are not being addressed like the so called professionals should be addressing them. So what am I to do? No money for detox, insurance will not pay for nothing but these one thousand plus per month prescriptions of death…. Pray O’yes thats the best one, all the hours I have layed in the fetal position praying for the pain to go away, I got my doubts about tender mercies and such. Well thats all the venting I have about this lifesaving drug oxycontin. Hope you people addicted can get your lives back, I am just now going to try and hope I can get my life back. Best of luck and GOD BLESS

• K4Brown // Jul 16, 2004 at 9:53 pm

  Can someone help me? I was prescribed oxycontin 3 years ago for a back injury from a car accident. I was on it for 18 months. I have been off of it (came off on my own, with no help from a dr.)for about 18 months. It was one of the hardest things I’ve ever done. Since then, I have a lot of trouble with my memory. I cannot remember a lot of things (mainly short-term) and people in my life get frustrated with me. Is there a medical reason how this drug may have affected my memory? Please someone respond - this is very important to me. Thanks so much.

• Dean Kendrick // Jul 21, 2004 at 1:21 pm

  Is there anyone in Louisiana or Mississippi that handles oxycontin lawsiuts. I have lost everything due to my addiction to oxycontin. PLEASE HELP!

• Anne Marie // Jul 23, 2004 at 6:06 pm

  I started taking oxy about 10 months ago. I was taking 40 mg 3x’s a day. I decided that it was too dangerous and wanted off. So, being stubborn, I just stopped all of the oxy and percocets. I am in a living hell. My family and children are also in a living hell. I have had flu like symtoms, chills, sweats and all over. I just called my pain dr and asked for relief of somekind, I feel like a failure. He gave me percocets, so that I can make it thru the next week at least enough to get out of bed.

• Diana Rousseau // Jul 24, 2004 at 7:31 am

  I am just now beginning to learn about oxycontin and how dangerous it is. My brother hurt his back three years ago and waited for almost two years for workmen’s comp. to “o.k.” surgery, which he had a year ago. During the time he waited for surgery (and after) he was put on oxycontin. He was putting on a program where the doctors tried to wean him from the drug after the operation, and he had a horrible time– very sick. During the first week of January he called the family to say that he had taken the last of his oxycontin, and would not be getting any more of it. It was the last we heard from him. He committed suicide on Jan. 14, 2004.

  We are still overwhelmed with grief. This drug must be stopped. At the very least, it should be illegal for a patient to go through withdrawals without being monitored in rehab or somewhere. My brother lived alone, and far from us– and had I known then what I know now, I never would have let him deal with going off that drug by himself.

• Steve // Jul 25, 2004 at 10:53 am

  I have been taking oxycotin for the last 6 years and I too got hooked on them. I was prescribed oxycotin after nothing helped the pain I suffered from HIV related arthritis and severe neuropathy in the hands, legs and feet.

  I was taking 40 mg twice a day with percocet and fenatyl patches.

  I started taking the oxycotin more and more frequently because my body began to crave it sooner than the time prescribed for it to be taken. I would have panic attacks, stomach cramps, severe leg pain, flu like symptoms and feel like every nerve in my body was being pulled through the top of my head.

  After 6 years I realized I was indeed no better off than a crack addict and knew that in order to continue my life I would have to stop taking the oxycotin.

  I got off of it myself with God’s help and a lot of suffering from the sever withdrawl symtoms. I went without sleep for almost an entire week while suffering from the side effects of withdrawal.

  There is a prescription drug that is not near as addictive as oxycotin and it is called Kadian, it too contains morphine but substituting it for oxycotin made the withdrawal symptoms much less, remember I am no physician but I was presribed this by one to help me break the viscious cyle of oxycotin addiction.

  I have no been free from all pain medications for the last five days and am happy to say that I finally think I have beaten oxycotin addiction. This was the hardest thing I have ever done in my life. I still have flu like symptoms and severe pain in my joints and legs but I would rather live like this than count the hours down to the next oxycotin pill or pills.

  My withdrawal symptoms are slowly residing but I know I will never be free of this drugs hold over my consciousness and craving addiction.

  I threw all of the pills away after my second day of being free from them so I would have no way to get to them. I flushed them down the toliet so that my life would not go down one. This was the most rewarding experience of my life, even though I know I would still have the cravings.

  At least now I can leave the house and not have a panic attack if I forget my little pill box full of oxycotin. I used to get miles down the road and have actually turned the car around after being over 200 miles from home to go back and get my little “friends” call oxycotin.

  You too can kick this habit, but it will not be easy, it will be the hardest thing you have ever done in your life. Going cold turkey is not the answer but a slow tapering and with the help of other less addictive opiates and God’s help you can kick it for good.

  Believe me I know the power of oxycotin addiction. After 6 years on the drug I wonder how much damage has been done to my system. I know all about the memory loss, forgetfullness, and lack of being in the moment due to oxycotin addiction. I lost 6 precious years of my life due to this drug. I am now taking more of an interest in things I neglected during my addiction. I have begun an exercise program, I am cleaning up the mess I made of my life finacially, I am talking to my friends and family more and I am less dependent on others for support and taking care of the day to day things in my life.

  You can get back to a somewhat normal life but you will have to go through hell to get it back, but believe me it will be worth the trip because you will never appreciate life more than you do after you experience the hell of withdrawal from this horrible drug.

  Life is to precious to waste it on this drug. Going through withdrawal will make you realize just how precious life is and that sometimes you have to literally ” Go through Hell to find Heaven.”

  I pray that all of you who are addicted to this drug will try and get off it for good.

  You have to have strength in yourself and believe that their is a higher power than yourself to help you through this journey to recovery, but it can be achieved with a strong will and the helping hand of God or whoever you believe is responsible for our being here in this universe.

  I call it faith in one’s self and being one and part of God.

  No one person or rehab can get you off this drug unless you believe in yourself first. You must believe it can be done and repeat it to yourself over and over until you know it will be done.

  My prayers are with all of you who are addicted or were once addicted to this powerful drug, I too am one of you and know your pain.

  May God and inner strength be with you all!

  Steve

• marie // Aug 3, 2004 at 3:36 pm

  I sympathize with all of you with your pain and having to take a pain medication and going through the addiction. I am a chronic pain person it has been 5-yrs now my pain Dr has tried all kinds of procedures and they did not work. I was given dilada which I did not like, then they tried that pain patch witch made me so sick, in search of something for my pain we tried oxy I did not like the way they made me feel I did not take but maybe 3 of them so then the dr said lets try methodone I have been taken methodone 3ys now. I feel the methodone has ruined my life it’s suppose to be the most addicting one and take the longest to get off of. My hair is falling out so bad it never did before. my mouth is so dry I am always at the dentist now, I am always so tired I fell asleep twice while driving, I can not remember anything anymore. I just want the old me back. I have isolated my self I am so depressed I told the doctor that I want off of this methodone now. He put me on avinza 60 mg 24hr release. I pray and hope it’s not as addicting as oxy and methodone. If anyone has any info on the Avinza please let me know. I don’t even want to take these narcotics but due to the severe pain I am in I have no choice. I guess in a way we should be thank full that there is something to get rid of the pain for us people in pain it’s ashame that the pain pills are so addicting and ruin our lives.

  Marie

• Kelly // Aug 10, 2004 at 5:07 pm

  My mother-in-law was put on oxycontin after a car wreck. Since then her doctor has changed and she is on morphine. If someone could let me know what the different side affects are I would love to hear from you.

• young widow // Aug 12, 2004 at 9:31 am

  My husband was prescribed oxycotin for a job related injury in 2001. This injury turned into a bladder problem, so he continued to take oxycotin. The more time he took it, the more he needed it to function daily. He got sick in Jan 2003 and became dehydrated. After receiving treatment at our local hospital, he came home and took his medication as usual. He went to bed and never woke up. He died Jan 14, 2003. Leaving me a widow at 30 with two sons to raise on my own. If there is a lawsuit ongoing, I would love to get in on it. Anyone with info? I live in Georgia.

• Myke Bruce // Aug 17, 2004 at 1:37 pm

  With these class action suits the lawyers get rich and you get $12.00

• robert // Aug 21, 2004 at 7:48 pm

  I noticed a lot of things on this discussion but alot of it sounds like everyone trying to make a buck. People seem to think if they ever took an oxycotin they deserve money.

  Other people feel that since they went threw withdrawal the deserve a payout.

  If you take any narcotic long enough you will become addicted. If you become addicted you will go through withdrawl.

  Oxycotin is not special. It is not more or less addicting than other narcotics. There are just more cases of oxycotin addiction because it is the most widely prescribed for long term chronic pain.

  It doesn’t matter if it oxycotin, morphine or dilaudid. The result is the same, addiction if you take it long enough.

  Steve says that Kadian is less addicting. Well that may be for Steve but for me Kadian is much more addicting that oxycotin, I need to take a much higher dose and the time I stopped taking Kadian I went through severe withdrawal. I do not have these problems with oxycotin.

  I have had pain problems for many years. I have been taking narcotics for pain control for a year now. Becuase I have been taking the narcotics for so long I am addicted. However it causes me no problems. I take my medicine as prescribed. i do not increase my dosage.

  Where before I would lay on my bed hoping/waiting to die, with oxycotin I now work and have a social life.

  Oxycotin has both saved and given me a life.

  I don’t know why some of you have problems. The vast majority of us don’t have problems. I think it is shameful that many of you are demanding the drug be taken off the market just because some of you can’t handle the drug.

  Most of us have no problems with the drug, use it responsibily, and would not be able to function without it.

  Some of you even seem to blame the drug when it is easy to see the person’s problem had nothing to do with the drugs.

  A small amount of you even seemed to be jumping on the lawsuit bandwangon hoping for a payout because your stories certianly don’t make any medical sense.

  Those of you who had problems through no fault of your own, I feel sorry for.

  Those of you who either had problems becuase they didn’t take the time to become well informed about something that was going to be so important to your well being, or those of you whom could not control yourselves, you only have yourself to blame.

  Some people also seem to think that the treatment so be perfect. It won’t be. There will be problems with the treatment. For me the small amount of problems with the treatment is better than the large amount of problems with the constant pain.

  I reserched my medical problem and then researched the treatment choices. I know what to expect with my treatment and have had no surprises.

  All I ca suggest is that we all become as informed as we can about our treatments so we can make good choices.

  Remeber no one forced us to take oxtcotin for treatment. Plus the vast majority of us who did choose to take oxycotin are very happy with our treatment and realize it is the only way we can function.

  I don’t think it is fair for the people who can’t handle oxycotin demand it be taken off the market when many of us who use it responsibly need it to survive and function.

  Thank you

• gary hollingsworth jr // Aug 28, 2004 at 11:08 am

  doc cut me off/6 80mg aday plus 5mg break throw pain 4xs day to 30mgs metadone and 5mg oxy codone imgpoing 6throwseriouse wityh draws i need my meds back please help me

• Sharon Ransford // Sep 2, 2004 at 8:27 pm

  I hurt my back in 1997 and for the first three years the Drs thought it was in my legs finally after countless Drs I had one do a MRI and by then I had went from hydro thru them all the the way to oxy80s three times a day I didnt know who I was or what I was doingso I begged to get off they kept saying wait for the pain to get better but my brain was telling me I hurt worse than I did.I finally found a Dr to get me off of them BUT I WANTED TO DIE! But Im still here I hurt around the clock some times I ask myself why did I get off of them ?I have 6 grandkids that I want to watch grow and sometimes no matter how bad the pain is I get in My car and drive 300+miles one way to see them.If it wasnt for them and my dog who has been at my side through all the surgerys laying in bed he was there to give me a reason to smile.I hope that people can try to focus on what they love to help with the pain I know its easier said than done But I LIVE IT EVERYDAY!

• Beth // Sep 12, 2004 at 3:56 pm

  After reading most of the comments, I do not feel so alone. I began taking the oxycontin three years ago. I have been off of it for 8 months. I am on Morphine 80 mg twice a day and then 60 mg. at noon. To say that morphine cuts through the pain is a joke. When I was on the oxycontin 60 mg 3xs a day I had no pain. I injured my back in 92, fragmemting my disc’s and then the surgery’s to help correct the problems. With degenerating disc desease, it has only gotten worse though the years. I just loved the pain free days with the oxycontin. I met someone and began living with him. He started stealing my meds.(He also suffers from chronic pain and on morphine at the time) I had never in my life gone through withdrawls (tho only to cigs and chocolate). What you go through with oxycontin is so unbelievable. (And of course I couldn’t tell my doc of meds missing, and getting a new refill, I couldn’t afford it) Was it a wake up call. Then after awhile the amount I was taking wasn’t enough. God help you if were late taking the meds. This by getting off of your schedule I would start to go through withdrawls. My jaw would clench tightly, sneezing, stomach cramps twitching hands and feet. This with just being late. Luckly my insurance wouldn’t pay for oxycontin. That’s when I was switched to morphine. I was givin the equivilant of what I had received on oxycontin. I still went weeks of withdrawls while on the other opids. Why I am telling others this is because of the dangers. I took my meds when I was suppose to. And yet it became evident it wasn’t enough. I may not like the morphine but at least I feel in control again of my body.

  Anything going on in the state of WA.?

  Posted by: Beth on Sept. 12, 2004

• Raven // Sep 20, 2004 at 2:26 pm

  My brother in-law is addicted to Oxy and he introduced the drug to my sister. My sister is now 7 months pregnant and still taking them. Oxy isnt as big of a problem for those who actually can read the label opposed to those who buy it from you. Because amny of you sell the drug illegally my nephew will have some birth defect. I hope all of you who sell Oxy go to prison when you get caught. It carries the same sentence as dealing heroin. I know it’s not your fault she chose to take them but it is your fault for dealing.

• Stehanie // Sep 21, 2004 at 6:22 pm

  My father was prescribed oxycontin a few years ago. After he started taking them everything was great. He lost 150 pounds because he was able to be active again. He had bone spurs on his spine. Then everything went down hill. He started abusing them and shooting up. He became deppressed and drawn away from his family. We finally lost our house and my parents got divorced. They ruined our life.

• Jennifer Atkinson // Sep 22, 2004 at 6:29 am

  How do I find out more on who is doing the lawsuit. I live in Kentucky and my story is as horrifying as the others listed. Thank you

• joe pietrangelo // Sep 27, 2004 at 5:24 pm

  who is running the class action suit my wife was doing 150 pills a month and had to be put in a rehab to get off now her memory is realy bad and cant have any pain meds see had cancer and got addicted please respond with info on law firm handleing case also would like to go after doctor

• ELIZABETH HARRIS // Sep 28, 2004 at 12:33 pm

  I’VE BEEN READING COMMENTS AND AM NOT SUPRISED ON HOW MANY PEOPLE HAVE SUFFERED. MY HUSBAND DIED APRIL 5, 2004 HAD BEEN ADDICTED TO OXYCONTIN OVER 4YRS. LEAVING ME WITH TO BOYS TO RAISE. HAVING WORKED IN THE MEDICAL FIELD FOR OVER 20 YEARS KNOWING AND WORKING AROUND DRUG ADDICTS IT WAS A USELESS BATTLE I FOUGHT TO GET HELP FOR MY HUSBAND. I FEEL THAT IF CLASS ACTION IS THE ONLY WAY TO SHAKE UP THE DRUG COMPANIES/PHYSICIANS THAT OXYCONTIN IS A NARCOTIC THAT WHEN PRESCRIBED NEEDS TO BE MONITORED CLOSELY. WHATS THE NEXT STEP???

• ashley // Oct 2, 2004 at 8:11 pm

  My daughter who is 9 yearsold had a broke arm. She went to visit her grandma and grandpa. Her grandpa takes 200mg of OxyContin a day. Well she was complaining about her arm hurting so hey gave his 9 yearold grandaughter some OxyContin. Shortly after this I arrived to pick her up. Her eyes were rolling back in her head, she was out of it and I watched her every second until it had wore off. I later found out that it was not her medicine making her feel this way. It was his OxyContin that could of killed her. He did not know that he was wrong because he was so messed up on OxyContin. My message is to let you all know that if you have loved ones on this drug than watch them carefully.

• Tony // Oct 20, 2004 at 10:12 pm

  To Ethon,

  Ethon I hope this gets to you very soon. My wife does a lot of internet searching on this topic and I do not, but she has to be able to work off site from her office and has the chance to check out many things that I don’t.

  Oxy !! That is the worst medication and I have been addicted as well. I was one of the test patients / subjects that was given the option to try it out for free when it came out a number of years ago. At first I thought like many that it was going to do the job but I had no idea that it was so terribly addictive. Prior to that I was on MS Contin and had to stop cold turkey prior to my second hip replacement surgery. It was one of the prerequisites that my surgeon made me do including a month long session with a shrink.

  My story started back in 1986 when the head of my left femor collapsed while I was out jogging along the water at the beach. I had to drag myself home on my hands and knees and took about twelve Advil before the pain subsided. December 1987 I had my first hip replacement on my left side. The pain never stopped….Weekly and monthly visits to that surgeon were nothing more than him trying to convince me that it was all in my head. Finally in 1995 I started seeing other so called experts but they really didn’t want to touch me because the x-rays weren’t convincing enough. All of the doctors I had seen in 1995 felt that I would be better off staying with my original doctor so in December of 1995 he took me apart just to look around but proclaimed that everything was ok. I continued to get worse until October 2003 when I found a new Asian doctor here in Torrance, California that had done hundreds of revision hip replacements. It took him 60 seconds to see why the implant failed and showed me and my wife how the cup portion of the implant had been drilling a massive hole into my pelvis and left me with a paper thin medial wall that had to be rebuilt with donor bone. I now have what looks like a half of a softball cup and a femoral stem that almost goes to my knee. Eight hours in that number three surgery. The right hip failed this May 2004 when he installed a total hip on that side.

  During all those years I have taken thousands upon thousands of OxyContin but I can tell you that there is a way to get off that crap if you are interested, and a way to control your pain as well. We are all brothers and sisters in this pain medication merry go round, I know that in my heart after reading your April 2004 letter.

  Try giving Dr. Rick Chavez a call at 310 798-1633. He is in Redondo Beach California and is treating me with a new non-opiate medication that can dextox you off the Oxy. May God be with you.

• bill williamson // Nov 1, 2004 at 9:18 am

  I entered the class action suit in wv over two years ago and there is nothing going on. I am still addicted and I am sitting here in withdrawl at work right now. IT SUCKS. Because my doc would not up my dosage when I needed more I added methadone from the street and failed a drug screen and was cut off of it. In the last year I have spent over 60,000 dollars on it on the street perdue phrama needs to go to hell.

• Pete // Nov 17, 2004 at 8:02 am

  I have read through most of these stories, and it is a very sad thing when someone loses their life to a substance. However, for everyone who started out on Percocet, etc, and went to Oxycontin, and then often to some other pain medication in an attempt to free themselves from the prior one, I can’t help but cover my eyes and shake my head. READ!!..READ!!..As ridiculous as this may sound, if you properly researched and read about Percocet, you’d realize it contains the exact same active ingredient as Oxycontin (oxycodone). For those of you who claim your doctor mislead you into taking this drug; for you I say READ!! READ!! You all seem to have the ability to post on this website, which leads me to believe you have access to the internet. Now I know there is a lot of crap out there on the Internet, but if you search enough you’ll find valid reports on any controlled substance. Especially those Scheduled by the government…This should be an obvious prerequisit before injesting ANY SUBSTANCE, (Including food, enough McDonalds and other fast foods will cause similar liver and heart problems). Like I said, I empathize with those of you who have suffered, and for those of you who have lost family members or close friends. However I also understand that some people are going to be in pain for the rest of their lives due to some injury or another. Opiates, opioids, analgesic pain relievers of all types, give them long periods of relief. Even if this relief is followed by extreme pain when your use is discontinued, you would have never had any relief if it weren’t for the medicine. Self Control is a huge issue that is being lost throughout the masses. We lay the blame on everyone else but ourselves, and feel that we dont have the intrinsic power to stop using a drug. Do you not lift your hand to put that pill in your own mouth? All decisions in life can be tough, (except what ice cream flavor to choose)and some decisions become EXTREMELY difficult when physical, emotional, or other factors come into play (withdrawal). However you ultimately MAKE YOUR OWN DECISIONS. So if you’d like to practice Autonomy like our forefathers had envisioned, then please READ!! READ!!. Educate yourself, its a powerful tool, and this will help you through many life issues. Please dont think that I am downplaying anyones misfortunes, and I understand that people have been conditioned though whatever outside factors to have a weakened will power. However if you dont give up, and work on it, you can improve your will power…at will…free will..what a concept. Goodluck.

• VAL KERRY UK ENGLAND // Nov 23, 2004 at 12:09 pm

  I was prescribed fentynal patches 25mgs 1 patch to be taken every 2 days and have been on them for 2-3yrs to help with chronic pain post cervical cancer treatment.

  When they are almost run out i get the withdrawals described on your web site and am very worried as my memory and concentration is poor. I would like to know what is the best way to come off them and has anyone had experience of ‘SUBOXONE’ as one person mentioned it seems to be some kind of miracle cure

  !!! My doctors have been very good to me but i am ignorant of the side effects

  Thanks

• Sandi // Nov 23, 2004 at 10:58 pm

  I am writing not because I want to join a lawsuit but because I have read all the stories and they make me cry.

  My mom was perscribed oxycontin (5-20mg in the am and 4-20mg in the pm) with 8 percoset a day breakthrough for cronic back pain. She was also diagnosed with COPD. The doctor has her also taking nurontin (sp), effexor(anti-depressant) Zanex(sp)also anti-depressant, welbutrin(to help her quit smoking)also anti-depressant, a sleeping pill and I am not sure what else. Anyway, my mom has always been the matriarch of the family and she was very much in control of herself (and most of the family). She was very active and full of love for my dad and her kids and grandkids. Over the last 2 years, I have watched my mom dissapear behind something that I don’t even recognize. She says some of the most hurtful things and she gives affection only to her 8 cats(which she would never allow in her home 2 years ago ) She has really changed totally. My dad manages her meds so I know she is not overdosing(what is perscribed by dr). Yet she can’t keep focused long enough to make a shopping list(if she knew what to put on it), She eats Ice cream cones in a big sugar cone(2 gallons every 4 days)alone. before that it was doughnuts by the dozen. She won’t eat meals anymore, just junk and only certain things. When she started these meds she had an inhaler to help her breathing(albuteral) now she is on oxygen 24 hours a day (and still smoking). She thinks she is just fine. She doesn’t see that she isn’t ok and she won’t hear our conserns. She thinks we are just trying to control her life when we say she can’t drive and offer to help. She doesn’t sleep at night, only a couple hours from 10 to 12am. Then she is awake all night. She has burnt holes in everything because she has altered states of consiousness(sp) in fact one night she burt a whole in her oxygen hose and turned it into a torch. She has burt herself(3rd degree) and didn’t feel it. Dad can’t sleep at night cause she isn’t safe for her or anyone else. She tells him he’s useless because he goes to sleep after my brother(33) gets up in the morning and sleeps until noon. My whole family is worried sick. To add to the stress, the dr released her to go back to work this week(as a cashier in a major dept store) and I’m really scared for her, she thinks she can drive herself to work (35 miles down a curvy, cliff road)(a real car???) I don’t know what to do and I don’t know where to go for help. My dad has talked to the dr. and told him that she talks to herself and fades in and out, has hallucinations and carries on conversations that she thinks we know what she is talking about(she acts crazy). She is a Christian woman with strong beliefs and who dissaproves of drug abuse and she really can’t see what this has done to her. I am really sad to think that my youngest child (3 mo)will never have the grandmother that my 11 and 12 yr olds used to have. If you know how I can help get mom back to herself, please I could use any info. Thanks, Tearful in CA

• kim howell // Nov 26, 2004 at 5:57 pm

  I was put on oxys for premint nerve damage and i had alot of prbolems while takin it and after taking it i would like to know what i can do about this law suite.

• Dolly, OHIO // Dec 17, 2004 at 6:13 am

  All of the stories I have read are very sad and disturbing I myself had been involved in an auto accident I had never as much as taken a tylonyl and I went to an ER Dr. who had writtten me a prescription fro 20 mg oxtcotin and as any other script given to me by a Dr. I had it filled are we ot supposed to trust our educated Dr’s before I knew it I couldn’t get out of bed without a pill nor could I go to sleep with out one I was a very active christian and a room mother for both of my childrens grade school classes needless to say I quit attending both I didn’t even communicate with my normal friends any longer my ex-husband who knew all about opiates I also trusted (how dumb can one be) encouraged me to continue use because he also got high for free he was stealing my medication and I was so fogged I didn;t even realize it. He began to bring around bad people and worse drugs and of course being fogged I used them also my own fault no-one elses I am an adult. after 3 years of drug use I got arrested many people do not believe me when I say I am very thankful for the arrest because I had got so bad I lost my job, house, and my babies. Only to use as another excuse to get high on my prescribed medication and any thing else I could find to take away the pain. I used to think I was a very strong person only to find out how weak I truely am mentally I had a life of hell as a child and allowed my self to continue as an adult. So being arrested was the very best thing that could have ever happened to me. I had no choice but to quit which eventually I began to think clearly again and woke up to realize I was an active addict. On september 20th I celebrated 2 years of being clean and sober. For that I am very proud of my-self I have gotten my babies back and I am back to work trying to go back to school which I also gave up when I started my drug abuse I have 2 jobs and a home for me and my children I also have met the most wonderful man in the world who is very supportive in my recovery. There are success stories out there but you have to be willing to wake up and realize what is more important to you. I can never thank my porole officer enough or the arresting officer for saving my life(I truely believe they did) I also know that I can never take any narcotic or my addiction will only begin again and I know I am not strong enough to come this far ahead again for all of those people who think there is no hope please just believe and begin to pray because their is and god will answer all our prayers in his time. I wish every-one who is trying to kick the oxy monkey the best of luck and pray that they will one day have a success story to tell like mine.

• Scott and Lauren // Dec 20, 2004 at 8:43 pm

  Listen first of all, I don’t need anyone preaching to me about the drug oxycontin. I feel bad for those lives got out of control due to the fact that if you are a chronic pain sufferer, then you have those who abuse it who are trying to make a buck from some lawsuit, well I am not even going to respond to that. My thing is, myself and my wife and son moved from NJ to WV, and Lauren my wife was on two 40mg’s a day of oxycontin, and she didn’t abuse it, crush it, or anything else. The problem is that she has chronic pain that will be there for life and she cannot find a Doctor here that will prescribe her the oxycontin’s it because the Doctors are scared. So now what should she do? She has to suffer in pain taking so much less of a different medication that can hardly get her out of bed. And the one Dr. she was on the phone today her Pain Management DR said I will give you SOMA a muscle relaxer, she doesn’t need that for a degenerating disc disorder. Now for some people this drug is a life saver, and for others feel that is terrible, but the bottom line is look at the bottle, and read your paperwork from the pharmacy you will see the ingredient in it Oxycodone, same as percocet without the acetametaphine. So she doesn’t need all the acetametaphine anyway, she needs the 80mgs of oxycodone and we can’t find it here. Here doctor in NJ said take all your prescriptions with you that he had given her all of her MRI’S with you and have the Dr. of your choice call me if they have any questions about your history and what kind of patient she was. So if anyone knows of any Doctors or pain clincs close to the Mid-Ohio Valley are to where she can see a legitamate DR for treatment, please email me ASAP, my name is Scott, and in the email Mention that this email pertains to the link that I am responding too! People don’t take away a drug that works for others and make them suffer for some really bad decisions that other people made that didn’t even need the medicine!!! Please I can’t help Lauren find a Dr. so if anyone knows, please email me anytime, and we will talk, thanks again,

  Scott and Lauren in WV, Vienna!

• judy caudill dobson // Dec 27, 2004 at 7:32 pm

  I have been on this drug since 1997, I would like to filed againstnthis and joint in to the suit. in kentucky. please let me know sometime

• Amanda // Jan 4, 2005 at 6:53 pm

  I lost my Best Friend, Tristin, to OxyContin on February 28′04. She did not overdose, she took them as prescribed, but … she died from “Oxycontin Toxicity Death.” I’m not sure if any of you have heard about this or not, so I pasted a site for you to go and read about it. Just copy and paste it in your site address spot. Here it is.

  http://www.deadiversion.usdoj.gov/drugs_concern/oxycodone/oxycontin7.htm

  Here’s just a few lines from this report.

  “The toxicology reports alone do not discriminate between the presence of any one specific product of the 59 Schedule II oxycodone-containing products available in the United States. However, there are currently only a limited number of single entity oxycodone products that do not also contain the pain relievers acetaminophen (the active ingredient in Tylenol® ) or salicylates (aspirin). Of the 7,185,000 prescriptions of these single-entity oxycodone products sold in 2000, approximately 5.8 million were for OxyContin® - 81.4% of the single entity product market. In addition, the oxycodone product Intensol® (20 mg) and an oxycodone generic product (30 mg) are the only other dosage forms containing oxycodone in excess of the standard dosage strengths. There were approximately 24,000 and 1,000 total prescriptions of these two products, respectively, dispensed in 2000. With these facts in mind, any oxycodone positive toxicology without the presence of acetaminophen or salicylates was categorized as an “OxyContin® likely” death. Oxycodone-positive autopsy reports that described tablet contents in the gastrointestinal tract that, upon analysis, could be identified as OxyContin® were re-categorized by DEA as “OxyContin® verified” deaths. Of the 949 complete ME reports received by DEA and using the above criteria, 146 deaths were categorized as “OxyContin® verified” deaths; 318 deaths were re-categorized as “OxyContin® likely”. The remainder were categorized as undetermined deaths (i.e., DEA was not able to determine whether or not OxyContin® was involved in the deaths). These data suggest that 49% (464 out of 949) of all oxycodone positive toxicology reports were likely related to the specific oxycodone product, OxyContin® . In addition, 15% of all oxycodone positive toxicology reports received were verified to be OxyContin® (146 out of 949). This ongoing effort will continue to collect and analyze reports received from the MEs. DEA can verify 146 deaths in which OxyContin® was the direct “cause of” or a contributing factor to the deaths; an additional 318 deaths lacking acetaminophen and/or salicylates in the toxicology findings most likely involved OxyContin® , as well.”

  Like a said, these are just A FEW facts from the report.

  This drug is awfully dangerous. It doesn’t matter how much you READ, you never think that YOU would ever become capable of getting addicted. Tristin didn’t even have the time to get addicted to them. The toxicity of this drug got to her first. There’s a reason that good christian people, good mothers, good fathers, people with NO PREVIOUS DRUG PROBLEMS get addicted to this drug. It’s not because they had drug problems in the past, it’s not because they wanted to. I am not blaming doctors for this drug, but I really wish more doctors would step up and help get rid of this drug.

  All of my hope is with every one of you that is on Oxy or that have a family member on it. Not only if there’s an addiction problem, but just if you’re simply using Oxy. Please keep the OxyContin Toxicity Death in mind and speak with your doctor.

  Feel free to email me anytime. This email is not meant to be malicious or hurtful, it’s more for help. I would give ANYTHING to have read something like this when Tristin was prescribed her Oxycontin. Please check out the site that I pasted as well!

  Please take care!

  Amanda, Canada

• Crystal Martin // Jan 5, 2005 at 6:41 am

  I am trying to find out if this was the firm that I had been signed on to for the oxy-contin settlement..I am involved in one of them and am unable to find the phone number to the case. This was advertised in the newspapers to join a class action suit for oxy-contin..would you please let me know if this is where I was signed up? Or are you able to tell me where I signed up? Thank you

• jamie j dahl // Jan 26, 2005 at 9:15 am

  I too, like so many others have been through the entire scenario of the effects of oxycontin, as others ,I had filled out a form with an ohio attorney,in Cincinatti,and as others,cant remember who! And have not heard a thing about the class-action suit? What do I do find another attorney? Please help us all!

• Harold // Mar 9, 2005 at 9:02 am

  I have Degenerating Disc Disorder. At first Oxicontin was Haven-sent, for the first year I went from 10mg 3X aday to 20mg 4X aday and for the first time for years I could go places without any pain. In my second, third and fourth years I climbed to 140mg 3X aday. From my second year to my fourth year I don’t remember a whole lot, I feel I lost those years. I have a 15 year old son who plays Football, Baseball and throws the Disk/Shotput. I’ve never seen him play any of his sports. Last year I decided I had to get off this or I’ll miss the most important times of his life. in Decenber of last year, I went “Cold-Turkey” and stop taking my Medication (Oxicontin). I now know what “Hell” will be like. I went through 10 days of “Withdraws” and I wouldn’t wish that on my worst enemy. I don’t know how I feel about the Law Suit, because it was my Doctor from a “Pain Management Office” that prescribe it to me and kept upping the dosage. I stop going to Pain Management Doctors because they kept wanting to “TRY” this and that on me and nothing seem to work.I’ve gone back to my Family Doctor now and he’s gotten me on 100mg of Duragesic (Patch form) every 72 hrs, Neurontin 1600mg 2X daily and Ultram 100mg every 6 hours. Now, this dosn’t releive the pain as good as Oxicontin but I won’t get hooked on it nether. As far as the law suit goes I think, if the Drug Manufactors didn’t give the Doctors kick-backs or (Incentives) to prescribe their Medications to their patient, I don’t think I would have been taking as much as I was taking. I still live with pain but I can tolerate it more knowing that I’m not addicted to these Medications.

• melissa // Mar 22, 2005 at 4:47 am

  While I understand that many of you feel out of control in your lives, most especially concerning your pain management, it seems to me that in many cases (certainly not ALL, there are indeed several of you that are just plain drug-addicted, and taking advantage of the pain management so many of us desperately need, and seek… only to be denied because of people who abuse the medications given them… so those of us in TRUE need suffer needlessly… 50-90 MILLION American’s alone!) well, it seem’s that in many cases your doctors have not described or explained TOLERANCE and DEPENDENCE of pain meds, rather than allowing you to believe you have an ADDICTION problem. Of course if you use pain medications of the narcotic persuasion, you will develop a dependence on them, just as a diabetic will on insulin… as a person suffering from depression will develop a dependence to Zoloft… a person with a seizure disorder will develop a [dangerous] dependance to barbituates or anti-convulsants [in cases like this it is of essential importance to be properly weaned with medical supervision]; when discontinuing any of these, you will have withdrawls and that is why there is a very real need to WEAN off of these meds over time. This is, again, called chemical DEPENDENCE… and there is no shame in being dependent on medication if it is required to allow you to live a comfortable, more active and full life. Tolerance is the reason many of you require more and more medication over time… this is also normal, typical, and to be expected. With opiods, it is common to develop tolerance, and in some persons it develops very quickly. It is unavoidable, UNLESS your doctor knows how to ‘holiday’ you from your medication periodically in order to allow your body to lower it’s tolerance to the drug. This can be acheived many ways, and in most cases withdrawls can be avoided… both in circumstances of ‘holiday’ and in circumstances of ‘cold-turkey’. There are many Over-the-counter medications known to help with withdrawls… Immodium caplets are actually and opiod that does not cross the blood-brain barrier. If taken in doses higher than normally required for diareah, such as 5-6 pills at a time, it will feed the opiod receptors while allowing your body to clear itself of the drug you are normally on- both physically and mentally. Nyquil, and other cold medicines, such as Robitussin, contain a substance called DXM, which is a cousin to morphine. Again, both this drug, along with the tylenol in these medicines, and of course the sleep aids like diphenhydramine (benadryl), will help your body to rest; Nyquil, etc, will also provide you with substantial pain relief. I am a chronic pain patient who is on 50mcg Duragesic every 48 hours. In most active adults, as many pharmacists will concure, Duragesic indeed wears off after 48 hours. This is NOT tolerance related, it is due to the drug initialy being intended for use in geriatrics or immobile cancer patients. People who are more active of course metabolize the drug more quickly, so it gets both in and OUT of your system more quickly. Many doctors do NOT realize this… however, many pharmacists do… mine is involved in a group of pharmacists that are trying to get the manufacturer to change the prescribing information for this drug. The poing of my personal info is… I have been on this dose for almost a full year… with NO need to be upped to a higher dosage, because I know how to take periodic breaks from the medication, as does my doctor. I will allow my patches to remain on for 72hours plus, and use NO breakthru meds in order to achieve this… I also utilize TRAMADOL, another medication that is NOT a narcotic, but does feed opiod receptors to reduce withdrawls. If you can get your doc to give you this drug, prescription only, between this, the immodium and Nyquil you may be able to escape ANY withdrawls at ALL, even from oxy. In the very least, it will take the edge off for sure.

  As for methadone, well that is a drug often not metabolized properly by patients, particularly women. If you feel like you can’t escape a fog while on it, you need to have bloodwork done, perhaps in the ER, to ensure you dont’ have toxic buildup in your blood… if so, it could actually overdose you. This happened to one of my online-pain-support-group friends. It was awful… she could have died. Not to scare you , but please consider at least checking your blood levels to be safe. I again recommend a NEUTRAL environment, NOT your normal prescribing doctors office, just in cane something is wrong and you doc gets nervous about being honest, be on the safe side.

  TO SANDI, WHO’S MOM WAS ON OXY AND WELLBUTRIN, AND NEURONTIN *AND* EFFEXOR, ETC…

  There is a VERY real possiblity that your mom’s fog is due to the Nuerontin, more than anything. That stuff, along with Topamax, leaves one in a total HAZE. I could not wake up while on it… it’s meant to be for people with seizure disorders, there is NO evidence, nor is it approved for by the FDA, that it helps Chronic pain. As for her being on TWO different anti-depressants in ADDITION, well, THAT could be it too… especially with effexor, as that is one of the old-timers that makes many people sleepy as all get-out. In addition to the Oxy, of course, it is NO wonder she is a zombie… she is overmedicated in many ways, very likely.

  Like stated above by many, there are inherent risks in long-term, long-acting opiod therapy. One of those risks is of course dependence. This is truly not grounds for suing the manufacturer. In fact, it is actions like this, as well as the few above who stated ‘I want to go after the doctor, too…’ that keep people like me, or those others in chronic, unbearable, daily agonizing chronic pain… pain that makes us want to die rather than deal with it any longer… well, it’s these frivolous lawsuits against especially the doctors that scare physicians out of their skin, and render US with nobody willing to treat us. And why? because so many people either don’t educate themselves about the risks involved, and or how to wean off these meds, and avoid tolerance… but because THEY DECIDE… many times consciously, to ABUSE the drugs in order to get high… whether taking too many pills, or being REALLY stupid and biting into them (and I have never had oxy, so I can’t even imagine this) well… it’s actions like this, that ruin what is a helpful, life-saving drug for those who are really in need of a medication that powerful and potent… all because you either enjoyed your high a bit too much, or because you were not responsible enough to realize perhaps you should not be taking this type of strong medication… or because you have a history of alcohol or drug abuse you failed to disclose to your doctor… or because you did not take the time to slowly wean yourself off the meds to avoid the hell of withdrawl… whatever the reason, can none of you be responsible adults, in charge of your own choices? It says on the prescribing info of EVERY narcotic that you MUST use caution in weaning off these meds after use of 2 weeks or longer… why do you not talk to your docs about it when you begin treatment? Why do you think yourself entitled to MONEY because YOU ended up with an addiction problem because YOU chose to abuse your medication, and take it other than as directed?

  Further, in almost 90% +++++ of ALL oxycontin overdoses… in nearly ALL of them, there are OTHER narcotics and drugs, such as cocaine, crack, heroin, pot, amphetamines, etc, found in the finaly toxicology screen… and in most, there is ALSO alcohol involved in ADDITION to the Prescribed AND illegal narcotics. How is Purdue responsible for your deadly speed-ball mix of meds with liquor and street drugs?

  They are not, that is the bottom line.

  For those with addiction problems, my heart goes out to you… but you are in the wrong place, placing blame on others. You have nobody to fault but your addiction, which is a medical illness, you must seek treatment for. Do so immediately, instead of wasting time placing blame…

  Moreover, have some empathy for those of us living in HELL every day of our lives, in excrutiating, debilitation P_A_I_N with little to NO treatment or pain medication, because our doctors are so burned out on prescribing to those who turn out to be drug-seeking addicts, that they won’t help those of us with legitimate chronic, intractible pain.

  Dependence on a medication HELPS YOU TO GET ON WITH YOUR LIFE…

  Addiction to a medication ALLOWS YOU TO ESCAPE FROM YOUR LIFE…

  THAT IS THE DIFFERENCE… EDUCATE YOURSELVES, AND YOUR LOVED ONES.

• J. STEPHEN FLETCHER // Apr 18, 2005 at 7:56 am

  HAD BEEN TAKING 40 MG 3 TIMES A DAY

  THAT KEPT ME COMFORTABLE FOR DEGENERATIVE DISK DISEASE.

  MY DOCTOR DECIDED TO TAKE ALL HIS PATIENTS OFF O.C.ALL OF A SUDDEN.

  I WAS PUT ON THE PATCH 75MG WHICH

  GIVES ME PARTIAL RELIEF BUT, I

  STLL CAN’T GET FREE OF THE O.C.

  AND THE ONLY OTHER AVALABLE DRUG IS

  HEROIN.

  OXYCOTIN HAS KEEP ME PRISONER FOR 3 YEARS AND I AM SCARED TO JUST GIVE IT

  UP. SEEMS IMPOSSIBLE.

  IF I KNEW IT’S CLAWS WOULD GET SUCH A HOLD ON ME I WOULD NEVER HAVE ACCEPTED IT. THIS DRUG IS FOR TERMINAL PATIENTS

  AT THE END OF LIFE NOT FOR THOSE WHO

  STILL HAVE A FUTURE. TRYING TO GET FREE

  IS HELL ON EARTH. STAY AWAY. PLEASE.

  IS THERE SOMEONE WHO CAN CALL ON ME ABOUT MY SUFFERING WITH THIS ADDCTION ? I AM INTERESTED IN KNOWING MORE ABOUT CLASS ACTION.

  MAYBE THIS ISN’T MY FAULT AFTER ALL. I FELL LIKE A SCM BAG.

• Becca // May 6, 2005 at 7:49 pm

  My story is a little different. I started on oxycontin about 4 yrs due to a foot surgery.I enjoyed the pick me up drug. But it was not controled, my Dr gave me as much as i wanted. Then was put in jail. So now what? Well i found a pain clinic where you could buy Bupernex which is a opiote based injectable. That was my answer. But just like the oxy very addidtive. This friggin place was a money making cattle drive for junkies. I am a mother and had a great career. Money was going towards this because the clinic was cash only. On April 23,2005 i had enough did my last shot and waited for hell. Believe me hell came, 4 nights of the worst pains and cramping i thought i was going to die. I would give birth 100 times compared to this. I detoxed at home and still feeling bad. The sad part is for the 3 yrs i went to this clinic they never asked for records, x rays, etc… but then i didnt care. There are so many addicts there getting what they want and it all comes down to the old mighty dollar. Cattle heard for junkies. I am going to make it and never look back …. GOOD LUCK TO ALL AND ONE DAY AT A TIME

• Becca // May 6, 2005 at 9:21 pm

  As i continue to read these stories i hear alot of you upset that we did not READ UP !!! But please remember nobody chooses to allow a substance to run or ruin their lives it is a very hard thing to com eto terms with and yes there are people who need this. I am pissed at all the clinics that claim to help.I just want to get my voice out there that you can overcome this.

• Becca // May 6, 2005 at 9:32 pm

  THIS GOES OUT TO HAROLD !!!!!! i know what you went through and feel for you. I also have a 13 yr old son and during the nights of HELL he gave me the strength.

• JC // May 20, 2005 at 7:11 pm

  This goes out for anyone taking strong pain killer’s Ok & it goes just like this without no lies or misunderstandings of the price you will ahve to pay for taking pain kiler narcotic’s, if you’ve had surgeries on any of your bones? and they start giving you addicting pain meds, you’d better be off them before 2 weeks is up! after that ya gona get hooked! and then pay back is a bitch they say! this si what happens to you! you begin to get shakes all over with huge goose bumps, then folling by extremely serious red hot burning flashes all over you entire body! you will be running to the bathroom 24 hours non stop! throwing ya gutz out and craping diahera at the very same time! which your head and butt both don’t fit in the tolitel bowl at the same time! meaning you’ll have a choice with way you want to let out the relief for the moment? or your body will not be able to hold it off till you make it to the bathroom! it gets real ugly! then twitching begins horribly to say! and you’ll be up without sleep for days uncounted! and all this will continue for weeks & perhaps for months, and you will get awfully weak & very sick with flues symptoms ect. and real serious dizzy speels & huge hang overs all day & night till God only knows when Ok now if this isn’t a beaten of your life? I don’t know what is? your gonna be praying for God to either kill to end this terrorfing experience to end! and it don’t end! it’ll go oin for months & months & theres nothing yo can do about it! now this is way more torture than Jesus Christ went through the 3 days before they hung him up on that cross to die! are you ready to pay that price? well I just did, and never ever again will I ever take Morphine or Kadian Morhine sulfate & Ms cotin, its been over 3 1/2 weeks now for me! and I,m still suffering terribly form all the withdrawls & still running all day & night to the bathroom!!!! and living off 3 hours of sleep if i can even get that much a day? pian killers are called pain killers for that reason! they kill you sooner or later!why do you think their called pain killer’s, but only one pron buddies out there! the pain manament doesn’t tell you about this awfull experience your gonna have to deal with afterwards, after he prescribing you extra strong pain meds Ok why do you think they are always open and in business? To keep you addicted & paying the bills!!!! Be smart! get off of them, go to a detox, most of them are free! at almost any local hospital, do the 7 day detox! don’t try to fight it at home! its very dangerous & dum! but be very careful not to tak showers in them detox places, as they don’t clen them very well & you might wind up with another serious problem! if ya know what I mean? take bird baths in ya room in the bathroom their & be safe if your already have a good clean bill of health from ya doctor, such as Aid’s free! ect. if this doesn’t scare you to death? I feel very sorry for you! get professional help at a detox center and get your life back once again & live free once again! Ok now I think you get the grand picture to what to expect in what is going to happen to you now from detoxing withdrawls from narc’s pain killers!!! Good luck now, Coz its a real living hell you’ll never ever forget for the rest of your entire sweet and once happy life! youonce had before you go into this big awful mess! But don’t give up! go detox & save your own life! no one will do it for you except ya self people! bye noe.

• Bob // May 22, 2005 at 10:27 pm

  Posted by: melissa on March 22, 2005

  i agree with everything u said melissa,aint nobody putting a gun to your head making u take oxy,or any other opids,ive been on them for a real long time,due to my dumb ass drinking and hitting a car on my cycle back in 1987,if it wasnt for the meds id put a gun to my head,cause im pretty much house bound,i have a big building that i had built,a stage and all,and had over $20.000 worth of music equipt,playing guitar or drums is a hobby,but not like it used to be,due to my then 28yr old son who was the front man in our band had got all jacked up on crank,crank,u name it and it costed him his life as in nov,14,2001 he put a shotgun to his head,i went down that drug road,but got help when i was 20,and been clean from the old 60s street drugs,but shooting drugs from age 13 till i was 20,fried my head,ill tell u what i have to take daily to get through it,plus dealing with the loss of my only son,im 53,if it kills me ill be out of this pain,i take 160 mg daily,4percocet 5/325 daily.lorcet 10/650 4 daily,xanax,2mg,4 daily,valium,10mg,3 daily,adapin,50mg,4 at bedtime,altoprev,60mg,1 daily for blood pressure,and ya theses are additive,im a big boy and i made the choice to take this,theres days where i dont have to take so much,but theses junkies that are chewing or snorting or shooting them are messing it up for the people that have to have them,i had some buddies that i let go cause there doing just what i had said about abuseing there meds,most of u are blameing purdue cause u got hooked on it read what it says before u take something,i have a medical book that check up on different meds,cause back in my 20s i was just being used as a ginne pig,and had alot of bad effects from some of theses drugs they were trying to give me,so i got the book and read all the side effects of the drug,im in bad shape or else the judge wouldnt have gave me my disabilty some yrs back,i used to restore old cars into show cars,but due to the bike wreck that put and end to that,and ive always had ponytail way below my but,but and hour taking a shower doing the shampoo and cream rinse thing for and hour,then another hour getting the tangles out,my back just couldnt take it anymore so id leave it in a ponytail and cut it off,i love long hair ever since the beatles came out,i never felt right without my hair so bout a year later id start letting my hair grow again,so after some yrs id have another tail,then the back thing started back like before,then id cut it again,plus the older i got the pain in my lower back legs and spine,was getting real bad,so i had just 2 of my tails hanging on some of my leather work that i used to do in my logcabin my son and i built in 1990 down here in the ozarks,id hunt and trap my own deer and other varments,then id skin them out and tan there hides and eat the meat,but 1996 that came to a hault,my legs just gave out on me,i ended up walking with a cane,plus my oxygen count was low so now im on oxygen,not constant but i know when i need it,im just glad i have medicad,theses drugs are outrageous,id do the same as my son had did if i had to pay for them every month,i just cant get that u are trying to get things banned,i dont see it happening,but one day when you need what ever it probably wont be there,sorry bout the rambling on,but i set in my building day and night not having no one to talk to,cause like i said theses guys i thought were friends are just junkie freaks,oxy heads to the max,i dont hang with thoses type of guys,ya and i seen them sick after 4 days not having there oxys,they looked like death,and i look for them to be in the local news here that they had overdosed and died,i tried talking to them but they dont think it could happen to them,i said my son thought the same thing,well i hope that all the people that really needs there meds get them,not the abusers that have gave meds a bad rap,and the dea has taken charge,u used to get your refills a few days ahead of time,but the dea has put a stop to that,among other things,later,peaceeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee,hairycreature,mon,may,23,2005

• Jane // May 25, 2005 at 10:13 am

  THERE IS A NEW DRUG OUT FOR PAIN AND ALSO USED TO DETOX YOU FROM OPIATES !

  READ ON PLEASE………….

  I have been on Oxycontin and MS Contin for 8 years. Currently I take 400 mgs. of MS Contin daily.

  For those who have true INTRACTABLE pain, opiates give them life and hope!

  Honestly, I cannot even walk or dress myself due to severe pain. The MS Contin allows me to function..But that is it- just function….DUE TO THE HIGH DOSE I HAVE NOW REACHED…

  Narcotics enabled me to send my daughter to college, run a business and keep my life going - after seven spine surgeries.

  HOWEVER, I have reached my limit as to the amount I will take (or can tolerate and stay awake any longer) as the side effects are becomming too bothersome, mainly sleep disturbance and excessive daytime fatique. All opiates in high dosages will cause sleep disturbances.

  When I was taking 120 mg of Oxycontin a day the side effects were minimal. AFter 8 years and increasing tolerance, I have reached MY limit. Your may be much higher as I have other medical issues and I am on other medications.

  NOW WHAT—BUPRENEX….to dextox and hopefully replace the full opiates. I beg all of you, those who want to detox, those who want to change to a safer PAIN drug to research BUPRENEX or email me directly for links…It is not just a herion detox drug—-it is a great pain medication..

  The drug is called BUPRENORPHINE….It is still a PHYSICALLY addicting drug, however, there is no FEEL GOOD property so it is not a drug that any type of addict would abuse. NO HIGH - - but pain refief!!!!

  I have always been a responsible pain patient. I have never run out of drugs, lost my drugs or increased my dosages… Same doctors for 8 years, do not doctor shop…People who take a month’s RX in 2 weeks are either addicts or undermedicated and suffering severe pain. Only person who are suffering from true pathology and severe intractable chronic pain should be placed in long term narcotic therapy.

  Those who do not abuse narcotics have NO problem when they stop taking them –only if they stop the proper way. That is tapering VERY SLOWLY 10% of the dose per MONTH………OR……….using BUPERNEX - UNDER the care of a detox physician or actually going into a in patient detox center to detox.

  PLEASE NOTE there is a medical difference between addiction and physically dependant….The addicted persons require on going help (phycological) to fight their additions.

  Medically dependant pain patients detox very quickly - with no desire to take narcotics — as they were ALWAYS only using them for pain…Less then 3% of all chronic TRUE PAIN patients become addicted mentally.

  Everybody becomes physically addicted. Everybody knows that BEFORE they put a narcotic in their mouths. So why the lawsuit?? Again, TAPERING down solves the physical dependance when the pain is resolved.

  I wish everyone well in their fight with narcotics - whatever that may be. I judge no one and will remind all of you that only the BIG PAIN KILLER in the sky can help you through lie!

  God Bless

  Jane

• Sheryl // Jun 6, 2005 at 12:25 pm

  I have been reading all of your negative responces to people who are addicted. To all of you Holier than thow how can sit there and put people down. Ever consider the Doc’s in these situations??? I went to a pain specialist and a pain mgmt. program. The “Pain Specialist” advised me that with my nerve pain from 2 back surgeries I should stay on Opiates and put me on the Oxycontin when I was there to stop Opiates all together and find other ways to deal. So to all of you, everyone has a unique situation, so think about it before you sit there and judge others, your not God! As far as I’m concerened when this damn Oxy came out, and still it’s all a money maker for the Pharm. Co’s., and the Doc’s. They were and still are prescribing it to every Tom, Dick and Harry. Money talks….My own stupid Doc has been prescribing me with both Oxy, and Methadone, and is now retiring. I had to let him know that I’m on both and that I want to get into a detox (inpatient), he has me on such a high dose of Methadone that I can’t even get into a program until I’m down to 30mgs. a day, and my doc has my instructions 5 pills 3X daily!! I can’t wait that long to get into a program, so I’m cutting out the Methadone and using the Oxy only. Please don’t sit there and judge, and stand up for the Pharm. Co. who make billions off of us “addicts” as many of you put it. Do you think they really care about us?? Do you think they would pay the $13,000.00 do get into a 28 day inpatient program to get off of their addictibe medication?? Do they warn us how deadly, addictive their med’s can be, espc. the Oxy? I never read on my label from pharmacy highly addictive,if you stop use without weaning you can die!! I thought I knew every pain med out there, but when I was put on Oxycontin I had no idea what it was, except the specialist told me it was much better than percocet because it didn’t have the tylonal in it which for a chronic pain patient for long term can damage your liver. Then to also put me on Methadone to try and back off the Oxy after I had learned more about it, I have found out that Methadone is the #1 hardest med to detox from. 2nd. is Oxycontin, 3rd. is Heroin!! That makes me sick that I’m put into the same category as Heroin. I never bought my medcine off the street like a drug addict, mine was given to me by my doctor, But all of you sticking up for the drug companies make the rest of us sound like street junkies. You all must work for the drug companies. So, until you walk a mile in any of our shoes, hold your mud, which means basicly, keep your negative comments and try to be supportive. Espceially to people like me who was just rying to find out exactly what I’m in store for when I go into detox next week. Either be supportive and positive for people who lost control as their tolerence went up and are now trying to get our life back after going to hell and hopefully back to God. I pray for everyone out there who is going thru the same battle as I am, and as far as the critics go, Oxycontin, Metadone, should only be prescribed to the Cancer patints who are suffering such a tremendous pain, but do not have a future. Let thenm die with dignety. As far as these damn Methadone clinics, and Doc’s who are now using it more and more for chronic pain becuase it does last so long in your system, let them also pass a law on Methadone too. It also should only be used for Cancer patients, or anyone suffering from a non-curable disease. As far as Heroin users, these methadone clinics should only have in-patient short term Methadone use. No one on Heroin should be prescribed an even worse drug to get off of than Heroin, and should never be able to handle their own med’s. I bet all of you critics drink alcohol too! Alcohol should be as illegal as these drugs. I think anyone who drinks is using a drug to dull the pain, even if it’s a glass or two of wine every night with dinner, alcohol is a drug too. God Bless to everyone who is in the same boat as me. Sheryl

• Jools // Jun 21, 2005 at 6:14 pm

  I’ve looked into the buprenorphine detox but am having no luck. Either the certified physicians aren’t taking new patients or they don’t know what I’m talking about or want to help me. Any suggestions on how to detox with the bp legally, and without health insurance?

• sharon // Jun 21, 2005 at 10:04 pm

  I was on Oxy for years due to severe pain in my back after an accident at work… three back surgeries later, i had no choice but to medicate…so they put me on that terrible pill and said my life would be whole again… well with pain, comes depression too so between the pain doc’s and the phyc. doc’s, i lived on pills… as I got sicker and sicker…I was not sure if i was even going to make it…I went to the hospital with some strange pains in my gullbladder… ended up loosing it, not sure what happend they said, seems the gullbladder was just sludge, when asked if it was sent to the lab, or if there were stones, my husband was told we don’t know, we just through it out. Now tell me why i didn’t get better after that, i continued to grow sicker after the gullbladder was removed… couldn’t eat, pain was getting worse, doc told me i needed to get off the oxy, to have surgery… well what good was that, it had already turned things to mush litterely… I started loosing so much weight that i saw another doc… always bright yellow , like antifreeze bile comming from my liver…so hard to live that way…I went to the other doc. and he did a scope, both ways, two times… first time nothing, irritable bowel they said meds, and more meds… well then more weight loss, great to loose weight, but why… still couldn’t eat…so went in to the hospital after some tests and had my Liver cleaned out of the sludge…I asked questions, and I followed the whole sickness, still not sure if the liver made the gullbladder bad, or visa versa, but will say after my surgery, the doctors where acting funny. I started having problems getting my perscripts… even was made out to be a drug addict just looking for the oxy…Not so, was taken off oxy. cold turkey for 30 days from the doc who got me on the ammounts…missed an appointment and they would not give me another for 30 days…was missed due to being given wrong date, so i was late…funny how that works huh… well I went to family doc after 2 days because i was ill, wanted to die…he gave me one months worth till I could get into the pain clinic of another place…i went they said they would call and tell me, well the old pain clinic called and asked if i wanted to keep my appointment… of course i did untill i could find a doc that would take my case…not that i wanted several of them…was so sick i didn’t want to die like that…well that made it look like I was doctor shopping…so not true… but was refused by my doc, and the new one to be put back on it…i was in deep trouble now…hooked on a pain killer, liver was a mess, and no pain killers… took me 3 months to get where i felt like i might live…Had my liver opperated on to remove the sludge… all hush hush I feel… I feel by the grace of God i got off those, or I would be dead…Have your liver enzimes checked by more than one doc…it might save your life…ask for tests to make sure… and demand to see the results…Still pretty sick with the liver… but i do not take any pain killers at all…i now live with the pain, and the liver too…don’t count on a cover up not happening, it happens everyday…Now find a lawer that will help you prove you almost died from the stuff…I don’t know of any that wanted to do it… or maybe it was just the Ohio thing…still sick in Ohio…

• Steven W // Jul 6, 2005 at 4:51 pm

  I have been on oxycontin for about 3 years. I sarted out with 40mg twice a day and now I am prescribed 320mgs twice a day. the withdrawls I have after not taking any oxys for about 12- 16 hours are horrible. I was wondering if there is anything to take the edge off the pain of withdrawls. thanks for any help you can give.

• Steven W // Jul 7, 2005 at 7:57 pm

  I am wondering what is being done in Michigan to stop the madness and hell of oxycontin?( the crack of the 90’s and 2000’s ) I am prescribed 240 80mg oxys and 240 30mgs of roxicodone per month and I cant get off this stuff. I have been a drug and alcohol couns. for 7 years and never thought this could happen to me. I like many started off with a low dose and over the last 2-3 years have been increased.

  I have heard I am on prob the highest dose possible.What can I do? if I stop the withdrawls make me want to die .I dont sleep or eat. I yawn constantly and have severe diaherra. Please help is there and over the counter med that can help or a combo of meds to stop the withdrawls?

• Kevin // Jul 20, 2005 at 8:54 am

  I just dont get it, I feel sorry for those of you who are having so much trouble with OCs,but I have to agree with the guy who said you must be abusing them. I have been taking 20mg 2x daily with 5mg oxy IR for 5 yrs.I might have taken 3 a half dozen times . In the past 3 months my nephew has stolen my meds 3x,each time I reported it to the police and my Dr and had to wait 1wk for a copy of police report in order for my Dr.to refill my meds.This last time I was told by Dr that he could not refill even with police report.That was on 7/6/05.The point is ,I never abused my meds and I,m okay.That doesnt mean I,m not in pain ,but I’m not going crazy either.I’m not out on the street looking. Its been 14 days,surely I should be a mess by now according to what most of you say. Its just not the same for all of us I guess. I cant believe any of you are trying to act like you didnt know any better.

• Jackie Marlowe // Jul 21, 2005 at 7:44 am

  I am a legal assistant in Texas. What I have found the most disturbing in my quest for someone to take responsibility for the destruction of my husband and our family due to Oxycontin — is THAT THE DOCTORS PRESCRIBING THIS MEDICATION, HAVE FULL AUTHORITY TO TURN THEIR PATIENTS INTO ADDICTS. They have a free ticket to turn you and anyone else into an addict - AND THEY ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE as long as they “prescribed pain medication to a person in pain”. In our instance, only Purdue and the physician were made privy to the side effects of this medicatoin - wrote a prescription for pain —- it was simply like a pediatrician writing a prescription for your kid’s earache. He was a pain management doctor for God’s sake — I have researched for 5 years — I have consulted with attorneys — This current class action will have to go to trial - all others will be watching the outcome. It still amazes me that a physician HOLDS ABOSOLUTELY NO RESPONSIBLITY ALL THE WHILE PRESCRIBING MORE AND MORE OF A MEDICATION THAT IS IN ESSENSE GOING TO MAKE THE PATIENT WORSE — Not only, if they are lucky enough to live through the hell, if they finally get off the medication - they are still in pain. (Seems like a situation where everyone makes money — but….the price i paid was too high)

• rae guercio // Jul 31, 2005 at 11:25 pm

  I have been on oxycontin for four years 20mg 4x a day, recently the nurse practioner added percocet 4x aday for break thru pain. I have had 2 surgries from L5 to S1 I have 10 srews and 2 rods. I have been going to this pain management facility for 6 years and at first I saw the doctor and he gave me epidural and facet joint injections and then he suggested I take methadone which I refused to take and then Oxycontin so that I could live a normal life without pain which is not true. I did function more but the pain is always there. Hee became the director so I never got to see him only, when I would get epidurals. The nurse practicioner would give me my scripts. Last week I got there 20 minutes late and I was told that I had to make another appointment and come back but after driving 25 miles to get there I was not about to take this without an argument and I insisted that I wanted to see the doctor. To make a long story short I made another appointment and was tod by the nurse practioner that being late was not acceptable and that maybe I should find another doctor, two days later I got a letter telling me that I should find another facility and that they could not treat me anymore. I just cant believe that they could do this. After 4 years of these people putting me on all these meds and just like that they decicded to ruin my life where can I go now who will pick up the peices. The realization that have this control just blows me away. I really didnt know much about oxycontin unitl I went on line and when I realized what the consequences are and all the horror stories I have read I am sick. It just so happens I never used all the percocet she precribed so I have something to fall back on but I am so afraid and I just dont know where to turn. It seems to me that this is a malpractice. Can anyone help me or advise me. I am 68 years old and I have never taken a drug in my life. PLEASE HELP

• deb surace // Aug 14, 2005 at 10:08 am

  my dr got me addicted to oxy then drop me as patient left me cold and dry

• Sue // Sep 1, 2005 at 3:58 pm

  ok here it goes i’ve read most of these and have to agree alot of ppl who say the ones going threw hell must be abusing. I suffer from fibromyalgia med. case i believe i feel like hard case. I use to take drugs when i was younger and abused them got off it and did well…Now i’m 42 yrs old and back on drugs by no choice of my own but i have kids and a husband and have to be able to function. I can’t function at all pretty much without the help of my meds. I’ve been on hydromorph and dilaudids then switched by dr. to kadian oyxcocets(percs) , switched again to oxycontin and oxycocets. the problem is they work for a few months but then it seems like nothing works again. I don’t know if it part of my health problem as we have a high tolerance for meds i refused anti depressants as i feel i’m on enough drugs and believe me i wouldn’t take anything if i could. As for the withdrawals well ya i got them but u have to be properly weaned by ur doctor i currently am under 3 drs care. after this appt on the 6th of sept i hope to be only dealing with 2 dr.s as the 2 i want i fully trust they work with me and help me wean to the other meds. whereas one dr. just told me to go with the flow pretty much and guess. not those words but close enough. so no trust left with him as i suffered. i take 40 mg oxycontin twice a day and approx 6-8 percs a day for breakthrew .. now why i say addiction and abuse .. i have many friends who have been on oxycontin and i was scared to death and it took the drs along time to get me to switch over. as i seen what happened but i know for a fact as i watched them either take alot at once or snort them.. i take them the way they are suppose to be taken. i don’t get a high whatsoever it is not why i take them. so i think that is what the difference is.. when they do switch me off i will come back and let u know what happens u never know i may have the same problems or i may not go threw what alot of u have gone threw. just my opinion and my heart and prayers do go out for the addicted ones as i’ve seen what happens .. and yes they my friends have effected me also with what has happened to them.. but plz unless u know for sure don’t give the pills a bad name and make it harder for the ones who really need them .. such as myself. signed tormented by pain daily i just want to be able to cope.

• Sue // Sep 1, 2005 at 4:27 pm

  sorry i forgot to add i also tryed the patches fentanyl i believe i was allergic to the adhesive and it didn’t work. 100 mg i don’t get the nods or anything i live an almost normal daily life now on oxycontin and oxycocet without meds i can’t walk or move my hands or neck etc. and my back rips with pain. i am really immobolized without the meds. now i can take care of kids and husband not fully but at least i can still do some things. i don’t feel like a burden most of the time i just take my time. I feel bad for those who can’t get proper scripts because dr.s are scared i can relate as my doctors are nervous too i have to keep a log on pain level and what i am taking. for their safety as well as mine. and do periodic drug tests i have no problems with this. never have lost prescriptions or had them stolen. i still don’t get enough meds but i’m happy i get what i get. may god be with those who need them and help those that don’t.

• Dan McDice // Sep 11, 2005 at 3:55 am

  I am male 21 years old. I been on oxycotin for 1 year snorting 80mg pills everyday and man does it feel good. I beat my wife because she works at a pharmacy, and if she doesnt bring my prescription i go crazy because of my temper. The pills are very addictive but when snorted I become relaxed and in paradise. I wish I had an unlimited supply so that i could rail 2 a day instead of one. Please help and send me a 100 count bottle for a man with back pain. Please.

• Jennifer // Oct 13, 2005 at 3:14 pm

  I had spinal surgery for scoliosis about 7 years ago. Ever since the surgery my pain seems to be getting worse and worse. Having two children since, hasn’t helped. I went back to my surgeon as well as several other doctors in search of an answer. But, to this day they have no answers for me. I finally went to a pain specialist a few years ago. I explained to her that at that time at the age of 24. I had three children. Most of the time I was not able to pick them up without severe pain. I had taken them to the park a few days before. I chased my 2 year old and picked her up and swung her in the air.I came home and cryed for the rest of the night because of the pain. I told her I don’t know what I am supposed to do. I can’t just stop being a mom.I can’t quit my job. Unless my family decides they want to stop eating. She perscribed me oxicontin and loretab for break through pain. I was finally able to live a normal life. I definitly still experienced pain. But, the pain was not taking over my life, and ruining the lives of my family. Well, it has been about three years now. My husband recently changed jobs. Our insurance was through his employer. We have insurance. But, it has changed to cigna. They have so many rules and only certain doctors that you can see. Well ofcoarse my doctor is out of my network! I still go to her, but,I have to pay out of pocket. I just now found out that they have denied my doctors authorization for my oxicontin because I am prescribed more than 180 pilss. Wich is the max that they will fill. Now in about 3 days from now I will be out and beginning with withrawls and my exruiciating pain. I wont even have anything to wean myself off. After 3 years I have to quit cold turkey, and I will have three children under my supervision in the meantime. I don’t know what I am going to do. If only the insurance people could go through just 1 day of my pain, and 1 day of withdrawls.I don’t want to live through another day of the pain I had to suffer through before I had a little help fom this medicine to get through my days. What can I do. If anyone has any answers,please contact me. Every day that goes I am laying here suffering.Contimplating if I should just end it all.

• carrie // Oct 25, 2005 at 8:54 pm

  I have read these stories because a woman that i knew was also addicted to the pain med oxycontin (not sure of the spelling) I am truely sorry to all of you who have had these experiences and as a recovering addict of other prescribed drugs i can sympothize with you!! The reason i am writing this is that it seemed the only ones defending the drug companies and the docs who prescribed them are those who are still caught in the addiction itself…lots of you said it was only because of abusing the drug that you were having these problems…did you not read all of these?? Some were abusing them but alot WERE NOT!! The woman who died only after taking two of them!! These people were telling you that they were taking them only as prescribed!! As all medications,each person reacts to a drug differently…there is a drug that did nothing for me when i was an addict but made someone else slur thier words and could not function…it was not for abusing them…these factors should have also been taken into effect by these companies…alot of people who took these with serious consequences were diebetics,that should have also been taken into account when they tested this drug..did they? So those of you who are taking the drug,yes maybe they are dulling your pain but have you realized the cost yet or because of the way your body reacts have you not had the chance to experience the bad effects of these pain medications….and those of you who said that a person would not experience these effects because they only take them as prescribed…have you gone 30 days without them to see if you wouldnt go through withdrawels after a long time going without?? All im saying is please dont judge all of these people as addicts!! I was an addict and i abused many many prescription drugs and none of these did to me what oxycontin (SP?) has done to these people and i took many many many times the amount that i should have!! So defend the fact that you have not experienced these (yet) but dont defend the people who did not lay all the cards on the table about this drug…they only said what they wanted to and withheld much information! Good luck to all of you and your chronic pain also!! Oh by the way, the doctor that over prescribed me these meds for years and years just died of an overdose himself so the docs are being hurt by this drug also!!

• Elizabeth Green // Oct 29, 2005 at 3:15 pm

  I have suffered with back problems since the day I can remember. 3 years ago I had gotten pneumenia and was hospitalized because my Dr. thought I had an emboli in my lungs. It turned out to be pleuresy, and I had 2 more relapses within 2 months. While I was in the hospital for the pleuresy, I started getting strange, electrifying pains throughout my body. It was as if electric currents were going haywire within my entire body. My Dr. ran every type of test possible but could not find any diagnosis. He sent me home saying I had fybromiagia and he also thought I was insane. Several days later, my back gave out. I could not walk. The pain was excruciating. After visiting several different Drs. it was apparent that back surgery was necessary. L5- Si with fusion. Unfortunately, my bones never fused and the pain I was in was 24/7 around the clock. I was given every type of pain killer known to Drs.In addition, I was also given Xanax, Fentalyn patches 3×100 patches changing them every 48 hours. I was also given Ativan, Dilaudid, Morphine, Methadone and sleeping pills. My pain still remains chronic and my quality of life is poor.

  I currently take 3×80’s of Oxycontin 4 times a day. That amounts to 960mg daily. I take Dilaudid for breakthrough pain and Zoloft 2×100 for depression. I always forget to take my meds and realize it when my level of pain climbs. I don’t think I am addicted to the meds because I take them for pain only. My family thinks I am addicted and I was called a junkie from several people. I know compared to many people I am blessed because I can walk and I am otherwise in good health. I see people with no legs and horrific medical problems and I feel bad for complaining about my pain.

  I think most of the people taking Oxycontin are aware of the danger and terrible side effects but take them anyway because the pain outrules the danger. People that are now involved in lawsuits have noone to blame but thenselves for taking the meds. We are too foolish to accept this so we blame the drug industry for lack of being honest with themselves.

  I have two options now. Another surgery which involves going through my stomach and back removing the screws and rods and trying again to insert them properly or going for the morphine pump. I even tried the “thing” Jerry Lewis raved about but it did not work for me.

  Painfully yours,

  Elizabeth

• MIKE // Nov 4, 2005 at 9:29 pm

  i have read all the alleged bad news stories here and i have to disagree. i have degenerative disc disease fibromyalgia migraines carpal tunnel and more.im 48 yrs old all my life i have done hard work but now i cant work anymore. im fighting with workers comp for a settlement but i will be waiting a long time.for me surgery is no way.i did epidurals i took vicodin and vicoprofen some neurontin etc for years.LET ME TELL YOU all of this is much much worse than ms contin or oxycontin. all the other stuff will ruin your kidneys liver and teeth. pure morphine is easier on yor system. i dont get high on it i take two 20 mg pills a day and it makes all the difference in the world i still have pain but its significantly reduced. do i care if i get addicted? NO I DONT it isnt any worse stopping this than quiting smoking in fact two weeks of percodan after periodontal surgery helped me quit for 8 yrs!. yes some day i will have to get off it but right now its not a big deal.it bacame a big deal because of all the conservative nonsense about how bad it is but thats because there are people that do abuse it and hurt the peeople like us who really need it.you cant just outlaw potato chips because it makes some people fat right? see my point?i actually do ok with chiropractic using an inversion machine sitting in a hot tub 3 times a day and simply not doing any heavy lifting twisting bending climbing or have too much stress than its manageable. unfortunatley workers comp cut off my chiropractic and only wants me to du fusion i dont want that and they dont like it i dont care too risky! i want to settle and go overseas for at least two artificial disks but of course they dont like that either. the ms contin has gotten some of my life back and if an employer would let me work taking it i would go back to work.yes at first it impaired me some but now muy body has adjusted to it and yes eventually i will have to go on highrer dose but so what? there are many maNY more worse drugs out there than this one including legal ones alchohol and tobacco are the worse by the way. ok i might be pissing some people off but its like this one vicodin es or vicoprofen costs insurance co about 7 cents an oxy tab is about 10 dollars or more/do they care about your liver or kidneys? i think not sorry but its medical and politacal politics and its mostly about money not treating pain for many who need it. it also helps your mental health and gives you some energy so whats so bad about it?many pain patients resort to needles methamphetamine alchohol and other nasty things just because most doctors are afraid to prescribe for fear of the dea givint them a bad time sorry but oxycontin ms contin isnt so bad of course thats myopinion and personal experience the only bad side effect i get from it is some constipation and some add but i think i have that anyway. i would post my email adrr but its the same problem people will abuse that and spam me. i hope my doc doesnt cut me off if he does i will try to go to fentanyl patch herniated discs and chewed up facet joints hurt! fusion is risky,epidurls are risky and i dont think they work either

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