At one time my doctor had me on up to three Valium a day, Soma, and Hydrocodone. Then switched me to the same regime, but switched the Hydrocodone to Fontanel patches. I never felt drugged or any of the things the medical community is claiming now. I now take just the Hydro. and Flexiril. X... I took myself off some of the meds because I was becoming, what I thought, was too dependent. I know some people have problems with pain meds. Some are hypersensitive, but I have a feeling that many overdose on meds to either stop the pain entirely or sleep thru it. They supposedly have stopped the pill mills. But, the big problem that all that money needs to go to is the illegal drugs coming from China and the Drug Cartels. I was a practicing nurse until I came down with Fibro and CFS. It is like what is said about guns, People choose to overdose, not the patient or the doctors I am afraid that people who overdose on their meds and run out of them and the people who are cut off will only turn to illegal drugs and open up a whole new market. I heard the President say the other day that if a person needs the meds for pain; they will get it. This whole drug thing is a result of a society that is turning upside down and people who are getting confused with all of the so called freedoms to do their thing and not respect themselves or anyone else. They are tuning out like some of us did with alcohol. Drugs are a serious and sometimes permanent trip. And, what happen to personal responsibility for your choices? I apologize for getting up in anyone's face; I am just so tired of the whole thing. We are so blessed to live in a country where people like us can get proper care and medication. Just saying it is a mess.
I way off the topic and forgot to tell you that after all the meds I have been on and taken myself off (which meant not even wanting an Rx for them any longer)I called my Dr. the other day to ask to change my low dosage to one more for nighttime because I hurt more in the winter and am older with Arthritis. All the meds for 20+ years and his PA calls back and tells me that since I take the Xanax PRN for Atrial Fib & sleep; I cannot increase my dosage because it might drug me. What? Please!!! This is all happening because there is not money to be made with Valium and Xanax so the Pharm companies are pushing the new drugs . Valium and Zanax have very little side effects,but the new drugs causes everything from skin irritation to driving and not remember. It is a race for the money and pharmaceuticals are making up to 23 billion on new meds. Think about it. OK, I quit, Thank you for letting me vent. It is disturbing. Not me, the situation, Honestly I am not really disturbed sometimes I just get so tired of the whole thing.

Too tired to proofread this. I hope there are not too many errors.

Thank you for your help. Although I did not have any of the side effects mentioned, I understand the reason for removing flexeril from my therapy. I however am not doing well on its replacement. So, onward with the clinical drug experiment that is my life - and yours. Best wishes.

Thansk for the Hug! I was really workedup, maybe I needed a hug.

I looked it up. it can cause serotonin syndrome. which may include symptoms such as confusion, hallucination, seizure, extreme changes in blood pressure, increased heart rate, fever, excessive sweating, shivering or shaking, blurred vision, muscle spasm or stiffness, tremor, incoordination, stomach cramp, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. I never knew this and I was taking the same thing. In fact he took me off my robaxin,cause he said it wasnt working and put me on the flexeril. Well I see a new pcp tomorrow. will see what she says.

Yeah always get the pharmacy to back you up. They will support their patients usually. They don't like doctors or nurses making dumb calls like that