Question

poi · Veteran Member

Question

MIKEF · Guru

Hey Mike Welcome back. You can read below whats up with this drug and as addict for us prolonged use of anything can cause us to go over the edge..Check it out It says addiction doesn't occur but there is also the mental and spiritual part of overusing any drug....Congrats on 76 days ,pray you are still doing the WORK!!

SIDE EFFECTS

With large doses of ephedrine sulfate most patients will experience nervousness, insomnia, vertigo, headache, tachycardia, palpitation and sweating. Some patients have nausea, vomiting and anorexia. Vesical sphincter spasm may occur and result in difficult and painful urination. Urinary retention may develop in males with prostatism.

Precordial pain and cardiac arrhythmias may occur following administration of Ephedrine Sulfate Injection, USP.

Drug Abuse And Dependence

Prolonged abuse of Ephedrine Sulfate Injection, USP can lead to symptoms of paranoid schizophrenia. When this occurs, patients exhibit such physical signs as tachycardia, poor nutrition and hygiene, fever, cold sweat and dilated pupils.

Some measure of tolerance may develop with prolonged or excessive use but addiction does not occur. Temporary cessation of medication and subsequent readministration restores its effectiveness.

Read the entire FDA prescribing information for Ephedrine (Ephedrine) »

cdbuckberry · Guru

It sounds as though it's not good if it affects your heart the way it says .

poi · Veteran Member

Thank you. Yes I thought it wasn't addictive. Nobody Ive ever known in NA has had a problem with it. In fact I usually have to explain what it is when I mention it. I never met one person who could identify. I think I might not be an addict after all. Never did anything else really but weed. I think all this time I was really just looking to fit in somewhere but I don't really belong in NA. Ill see you all later. You are so awesome and you have always answered my posts. I have really appreciated it. Thanks and God bless.

MIKEF · Guru

Okay Mike......WE remember that is not what we use but how we react to the drug that makes us addicts... Only you know whether you are an addict or not. Be blessed and hope all works out well for you....WE are always here, smile smile smile

poi · Veteran Member

If you don't mind...what do mean exactly by "how we react"? Thanks again.

poi · Veteran Member

Ok. Ive done some more thinking. If I am an addict, perhaps the disease is deceiving me. The fact is, I took lethal doses of ephedrine daily for years. Smoked weed everyday for years. When other drugs were gone alcohol was my back up plan. If I had access to harder drugs I probably would have had issues.

Dave R · Guru

Your last posts has addiction written all over it, but only you can decide if you are an addict.
I smoked weed everyday for years too. When I couldn't stop, I realized I had a problem and went to an NA meeting with a friend in recovery.
Try going to some NA meetings. NA saved my life; it could save yours too.

MIKEF · Guru

Good morning Mike, ,blessings of this day!

WHO IS AN ADDICT....tells us "WE suffer from a disease that expresses itself in ways that are anti-social and makes detection,diagnosis and treatment difficult..(you say perhaps deceiving me?) VERY SIMPLY AN ADDICT IS A MAN OR WOMAN WHOSE LIFE IS CONTROLLED BY DRUGS.....REACTION TO DRUGS FOR US........Obsession and Compulsion...Do WE use even when we don't want ?(sick with DT'S and drink to stop shaking)waking in A.M. from a Wednesday night onslaught of an 8 ball and now need to take Qualludes or Barbs to come down for work)stimulants to get up, depressants to get down ,hallucinogens to leave the planet..........Is all we think about smoking the next doobie, having a drink ,getting twisted by whatever means necessary......WHY are we the ones who can't just use a little ,its all the way to blackout ,till its all gone and the $$$ ,we live in the Valley of the Dolls.............and that's just part of the physical scenario,,...........what about unmanageability in our lives?........Do we miss work because were sick from using? do we hide from our familys, are we losing jobs ,our personal hygiene ,are we reclusing and only hanging with the "IN' crowd??? ITS OUR REACTIONS TO DRUGS THAT MAKE US ADDICTS! not necessarilly what we use.....I can suggest you hit GOOGLE AND PUNCH IN www.na.org/ and check out the literature ,read the 1st STEP in the Basic Text and get VALID information ,not street cred.......I would highly suggest making a meeting listening to learn,let others know where your at(if you can)and be Honest open minded and willing to really go inside and see whats going on...There ain't any bigI 's or little U's here, we genuinely care, can truly identify and know based on our own evidence that there is another way to live without drugs,for most of us better than any life we have known....Keep asking your questions and seek honest ,valid answers. WE are always here but most have found face to face contact so much better. Those who get the most from our program of Narcotics Anonymous find sponsorship very valuable. .A guide through our program, the Solution ,the STEPS applied in all areas of our lives...The fellowship and the program are life changing events but like anything in LIFE, you get out what you put in ..Have a blessed and productive day....Others will be on to share their ESH (i'll let you research what that is if you don't know)My grandsponsors ,sponsor used to called THE SEARCHES treasure hunts....WE REMEMBER THAT ADDICTION IS A PHYSICAL,MENTAL AND SPIRITUAL ALLERGY THAT AFFECTS ALL AREAS OF OUR LIVES....PUTTING DOWN THE SUBSTANCE BEGINS THE HEALING,THEN we GO TO WORK... smile smile

poi · Veteran Member

I continued using ephedrine despite kidney stones directly caused by it and mood issues that put me in a mental hospital. I used to smoke weed all the time even on lunch breaks from my job. I think despite what that information says about ephedrine I am addicted. And perhaps weed too.

poi · Veteran Member

Its been a long road to acceptance and tricky because no one else is addicted to ephedrine.

MIKEF · Guru

Hey poi,

Yes Mike as I have stated any constant use of a drug can put us in a state of abuse and dependence. Your taking a look inside(compulsion=kidney damage,still use?)Obsession=smoking even at lunch,can't wait to get high?...The step to surrender is the emotional acceptance of utter defeat and putting down the substance. Its also why we don't talk of any specific drug,for us ADDICTION IS THE PHYSICAL,MENTAL AND SPIRITUAL ALLERGY THAT AFFECTS ALL AREAS OF OUR LIVES. WE learn to identify with the illness and not any specific drug.Whether your banging dope or huffin computer spray the ends are the same,jails institutions dereliction or death. Some just get there faster than others....You seem to be aware of the DENIAL (and that aint a river in Egypt)MY DENIAL KEPT ME ON THE TILES FOR OVER 25 YEARS BEFORE MY SURRENDER. The fear of will what will I do,, all my friends use ,I PLAY DRUMS IN A ROCK AND ROLL BAND AND ALL MY FRIENDS GOT HIGH,WHO WOULD I HANG WITH,I'LL HAVE NO FRIENDS ETC.ETC...Eventually ,if you are fortunate, he pain will outweigh any pleasure,,many of my posse didn't make it....You are validating your own situation based on the evidence, only you can do whatever it takes to want recovery and know that is the answer for you..WE are only here to carry the message of HOPE and freedom from active addiction,ain't no magic bullet takes work and honesty.I will lift you up in prayer .Peace man,,there is another way smile ...

avid · Guru

Do yourself a favor...Re read YOUR posts as if they weren't written by you.
Then ask yourself "is this guy an addict"?

poi · Veteran Member

Cool advice. Just did it. I think its clear. My mind is tricky.

poi · Veteran Member

You guys have all helped me a lot. Thank you, I really appreciate it.

MIKEF · Guru

Hey Mike Blessings of this day.....Listen man WE do this together.WE also need you also ,to remind us without vigilance,daily work in the Solution WE could be back on the Downbound Train to Oblivion. Clean time does not necessarily equal recovery but on any given day it can be our greatest asset.Just Don't Use and all things are possible,Stick close to those not using and take it a day at a time....Peace man.Keep comin back.......... smile smile

poi · Veteran Member

Yikes. I got done playing a show last night and the thought that Id like to drive out to the country under the full moon light and get high came up. Just then, I got a text from a female coworker asking me to come over and get drunk with her! Ive been really lonely lately and havent been with a woman in 2 years so this, coupled with a using thought, had me going. I was ready to just do it. Something stopped me...and a friend in recovery was there. I ended up talking to him instead. But some part of me regrets it. Like I have to be a damn monk now or something. Ahh...I gotta work on this.

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SIDE EFFECTS

Drug Abuse And Dependence