Propoxyphene Woes
First of all a little technical correction: The word "Nasylate" is incorrect. The correct word is "Napsylate" and simply means that this form of Darvon is "salt based".
I was first written Propoxyphene Hcl 65 Mg in 1980. This after my family Dr. and I researched a few different medications that I could take therapeutically to manage ongoing systemic pain. I learned that medications with additives, or compounds, would not work for me. Any kind of NSAID dealt me fits and even OTC Acetaminophen, Aspirin or ASA caused me to have "flushed" feelings that were very uncomfortable. As it turned out 31 years ago "Propoxyphene Hcl 65 Mg" was my "magic pill".
Absolutely no side effects and that for which the medication was indicated far exceeded my expectations without the least degree of a "high" or "euphoric" feeling, even when my dosage was increased in the mid 1990's from four capsules per day to six. Since starting the Propoxyphene I have enjoyed a career in law enforcement, been a husband and a father and obtained a degree in business. So "normal" was it for me to take the Propoxyphene almost every day of my life since 1980 that I would sometimes use up an entire months prescription and be surprised when it was due for refill - which was always a monthly thing. I never exceeded the prescribed dosage and often refused other medications post-surgery because I simply didn't need them in addition to the Propoxyphene and never really considered that a day would come when Propoxyphene would simply be taken off the market. For me, for my body chemistry, this was the most innocuous medication I had ever seen. I abruptly stopped taking it under my VA Dr's care the last week of November, 2010.
It never once dawned on me that to stop taking Propoxyphene would mean an eventual and actual "withdrawal" process just about like any other opiate. To make a very long story short and to the point, my VA Dr. prescribed for me Oxycodone to replace the Propoxyphene and that was a mistake. I simply don't have any tolerance for Oxycodone nor Hydrocodone the Rx next in line when It was obvious I was on the cusp of a life altering event. Well into the 3rd day after completely stopping the Propoxyphene and now fighting as I have never in my life known was possible with the Oxycodone and Hydrocodone I began experiencing "withdrawal" (in emphasis here because I still cannot believe I'm actually saying that word and applying it's meaning to me).
This is NOT a poor, poor pitiful me thing simply because I had to make changes in my life - this is a retired law enforcement Deputy Sheriff and former Special Forces Soldier in the US Army during the Vietnam Era. Until the moment I am writing these words a little over 3 weeks after total cessation of Propoxyphene I am still in shock. I endured withdrawal symptoms including severe restless leg syndrome, clinical anxiety, depression, panic attacks, 3 and 4 day and night insomnia, headaches, very serious face-down in the carpet weeping, and much more until:
Now if you are or have been addicted to the opiate Propoxyphene or any drug in the "Darvon" family or an opiate do I have wonderful and amazing news for you. NOW you will be glad you kept on reading. So severe were my withdrawal symptoms that I sat on my sofa looking at my phone and maybe seconds away from calling an ambulance. In utter desperation I began punching up items on Google and any other search engine I could load. My question to the main search engine, "Is there any way I can stop the withdrawal symptoms from 31 years of taking Propoxyphene?" A URL came up that pulled my teary eyes to it like a magnet - "SUBOXONE" as a humane method of enduring withdrawal symptoms of the opiate found in Darvon related medications". Here is the URL I pulled up for Suboxone:
http://www.drugs.com/suboxone.html Literally within a few hours I was sitting in front of a specialist at the VA Hospital - the only one at the entire VA campus who was licensed and trained to discuss and administer as a prescription Suboxone. (That is a condition of being able to discuss with patients and administer Suboxone. The prescriber must be specifically qualified). Within another couple of hours I was back home sitting on the same sofa staring at the clock with a prescription for 12 2 Mg tablets of Suboxone. It was approaching 5:30 pm. The instructions were to go home, take one Suboxone pill sublingually (under the tongue like Nitro Glycerin) with the words ringing loudly in my ear that were the answer to the most important question I asked the specialist - "When I take the first dose of Suboxone, what will happen to me?" His answer, very matter-of-factually given yet with a broad grin, "ABSOLUTELY NOTHING"! 10 minutes after I took the first 2Mg tablet of Suboxone and well into my "next" onset of withdrawal symptoms the most amazing and absolutely most welcome thing imaginable happened to me..... "ABSOLUTELY NOTHING"! Gone was the totally debilitating bout with Restless Leg Syndrome, gone was the headache, gone was the INDUSTRIAL STRENGTH pins and needles thing in my chest and arms - and as soon as I could ascertain for a certainty that what was happening was in fact this HUMANE relief from hell I never knew existed I once again found myself in the kneeling position on the floor totally soaking my living room carpet with tears. Tears that were in no way drug or withdrawal from drugs induced but tears of profound gratitude. I truly never even knew I was a prisoner to Propoxyphene and now to all intents and purposes I could force myself to stop just for a moment and say to myself - "You are FREE of drugs..." So dramatic was my experience and so deeply I want to reach out and help anyone I can find to experience the joy I came to know I have reduced the entire experience to an axiom... "There are times which mark our lives... moments when you realize nothing will ever be the same... and time is divided into two parts... before this and after this..."
