yawkaw3
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 03/22/03
Posts: 1193
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As some of you may know, I've been working on a FAQ about dependence/withdrawal/tolerance/addiction/etc. I've asked a few posters for their input on a few topics. Please PM me if you have something you'd like to add.
I'm posting this to get a feel for what questions you guys would like answered. A lot of it is going to be based on the PM's I get (I'm not quoting what anyone said, and if I answered what someone asked in a PM, it will remain anonymous and be rephrased). Most people ask me for a taper schedule or advice regarding dependence/withdrawal/etc. The FAQ will teach you how to make a taper schedule (all the rules of thumb, what not to do, helpful tips, etc.) and will have several examples based on difference sized-habits.
Of course there will be disclaimers saying how none of this is medical advice- it will be purely for informational purposes. I understand that not everyone can afford an addiction medicine psychiatrist or inpatient/outpatient treatment, and I would never want to give the impression that this subsitutes for that advice. It's just that I get asked many of the same questions over and over again, and this will have the answers in a convenient format so you can answer your own questions anonymously.
So to sum up, I'm looking for:
1) Questions you would like added to the FAQ (that stands for Frequently Asked Questions, in case you didn't know by now)
2) Topics you'd like covered
3) Any posters who would like to contribute (and you donate as much time as you like, if you just have one thing to add, that's fine). If you have had success getting off meds (zeusjuz, flipper, etc., if you're out there), I'd like to hear about it.
4) Any personal success/failure stories you'd like me to anonymously address in the FAQ for everyone's benefit
5) I will try to provide references in as many places as I can. A good portion of them will be from medical textbooks, but I will try to make most of them as accessible to the layperson as possible. I want this to be an in-depth FAQ, but I'm only one person, I want to back up what I say with as much evidence as possible, so please- if there is a quote from a website, or you read an article somewhere, and you think that's applicable, PM me with it so I'll have a reference.
-yawkaw
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yawkaw3
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 03/22/03
Posts: 1193
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Here is the temporary Table of Contents:
---------------------------
Table of Contents
DEPENDENCE
1. What is dependence? What is the difference between physical and psychological dependence?
2. Where does addiction fit into dependence?
3. I'm a chronic pain sufferer- doesn't that automatically mean I'm not an abuser in any way?
4. How do I know I am physically or psychologically dependent?
5. Is dependence neccessarily a "bad" thing?
6. How do I avoid any kind of dependence?
7. I am simply physically dependent- am I at any increased risk for illness?
TOLERANCE
1. What is tolerance?
2. What causes tolerance?
3. How do I avoid tolerance?
4. I am highly tolerant. What are my options?
5. What are the risks of being tolerant?
PHARMACOLOGY
1. What actually happens in the body during tolerance and dependence?
2. Can I do permanent damage with opioids?
3. What exactly are receptors? What is downregulation?
4. What are neurotransmitters? Which neurotransmitters play a role in dependence/tolerance/withdrawal?
WITHDRAWAL
1. What is withdrawal? What is the difference between physical and psychological withdrawal?
2. I've read that withdrawal is like a week of the flu. Why is it so hard to quit opioids, then?
3. What is PAWS (Post-Acute Withdrawal Syndrome)? How do I deal with it?
4. How long will it be until I feel normal again?
5. How long will it be until I can feel my original dosage again, and will I even be able to?
6. I am dependent. What are my options for quitting? (this will give an intro and then tell people to check the scenarios section)
SCENARIOS - TAPERING
[this section will have 6-7 different scenarios of people who are dependent with different goals, then it will briefly describe tapering and other options for these people, giving examples of appropriate tapers]
1. What is a taper? Is a taper right for me?
2. What are the general rules of thumb behind a taper?
3. What meds will help me with my taper?
4. I have decided or been told tapering is not right for me. What are my other options?
5. How do I make my own taper schedules?
6. Who should NOT taper? What are the risks involved in tapering?
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Other potential areas:
1) psych stuff
2) legal stuff
3) specific med condition stuff
4) whatever else you guys would like added
Keep in mind you don't need to be an expert or a professional to participate, anything you feel you can help with would be very much appreciated. Even personal stories (which again will be held in confidence and rephrased so as to hide your writing style) that you want addressed for the benefit of the board would be welcome. This is a great way to give back to the board.
-yawkaw
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Sky_Queen
Fly Girl
Reged: 12/03/02
Posts: 1967
Loc: Texas
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Yawkaw what a fabulous idea this is - looks like you have all the bases covered to me. I imagine this will give your PM box a big break!  What a wonderful contribution to the board this will be! I'll let you know if I can think of anything else to add but you've got a great outline started. Honestly, most of the questions on this board are related to all these issues. GOOD JOB!
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redhill
Banned. Flames, offending others
Reged: 06/02/03
Posts: 278
Loc: Hell on Earth, for now
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I think it's a great idea, and if there's every anything I can help with just let me know. I'd be more than happy to contribute if I can.
As far as suggestions go: I've heard about opiate users who've gone through withdrawal and faced with depression use stimulants to get a boost. Indeed, the Thomas recipe mentions the use of L-Tyrosine to obtain a mental and physical boost of energy. I've also read that some people use Provigil. I am just wondering if caffeine and stimulants such as Adderall and Ritalin can also be helpful when dealing with depression. And yes, I do understand the need to avoid addiction to these substances.
Just an idea. Best of luck on your project! Feel free to call on me if I can be of help.
Red
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potatoboy99
Permanent Fixture
Reged: 02/04/03
Posts: 1211
Loc: Deep North (East)
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Excellent idea.
Like (I suppose) many of us, I spend a lot of time hunting down threads on this topic, bookmarking them, making lists of meds to stockpile for hydro detox etc. It would be great if this information were in one place.
Yawkaw3, your posts on this topic throughout various threads over the last couple of months have been models of clarity and focus, and I'm looking forward to more of the same in the FAQ. Nonetheless I remain thoroughly ridden with ambivalence and confusion when I confront this issue in my own life!
At any rate I will contribute what I can. Thanks for suggesting this.
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debbie4884
Member
Reged: 03/12/04
Posts: 135
Loc: Michigan
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Yaw,
Although, it has been said several times in the thread, you should never tire of compliments! Great Idea!!!
You will be helping so many people with the work you put into this. Thank you for taking the time out of your life to help others! 
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Debbie
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yawkaw3
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 03/22/03
Posts: 1193
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Thanks everyone- I will get back to PM's with in the next couple days.
-yawkaw
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Dyno
Journeyman
Reged: 03/23/04
Posts: 89
Loc: Washington
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Thank You! Yawkaw3,
I look forward to all your post.
I wish you the best of luck with
your new site. 
--------------------
Wishing all pain free days D.
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snakey
Member
Reged: 05/20/03
Posts: 105
Loc: cally
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 you are truly amazing
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14stones
Board Addict
Reged: 06/18/03
Posts: 336
Loc: On the beach in California
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How is the post coming along? Any luck putting it together?
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yawkaw3
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 03/22/03
Posts: 1193
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I'm done with 'dependence,' tolerance,' and 'pharmacology.' All three sections still need to be buffed up with more facts, but the basics are done. I'm hoping to have a rough draft with all questions answered by early next week.
If someone would like to answer a specific question or a few of them, I would really appreciate that- if you could PM me with it so I may add it to the FAQ.
-yawkaw
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