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The Effects of Demerol Withdrawals

The physical addiction to the painkiller Demerol is present if symptoms of withdrawal appear after use is
stopped. The narcotic analgesic is used in the management of moderate to severe pain and can be addicting.
Many patients build a tolerance to Demerol, which can lead to addiction. Many long-term users find they are
unable to manage without taking Demerol and feel a growing compulsion to take more and more. The fear of
having to go through withdrawal to get well keeps many from seeking recovery.

Demerol Withdrawal Symptoms Are Wide-Ranging and Can Be Intense

Prescription painkillers have an opiate withdrawal syndrome in common though each individuals experience
is different. The most obvious sign of Demerol withdrawal is an intense physical craving for the drug once the
use is stopped or gradually decreased. Going cold turkey can bring on very painful symptoms and may pose
health risks such as seizures. Symptoms can also depend on the severity of the drug dependence. For some it
is relatively mild. For others, especially long-term users or abusers, it can be more pronounced and difficult
physically and psychologically. Other signs of characteristic of Demerol withdrawal include chills or cold
flashes, which will alternate with hot flashes, kicking movements of the legs, pale and clammy skin, anxiety,
weakness, convulsions, agitation, tremors, runny nose, sleeplessness, anxiousness, yawning, restlessness, flulike symptoms, severe depression, hallucination, delirium, cramps, diarrhea, vomiting, thoughts of suicide,
dehydration, excessive sweating, severe pain in bones and muscles of the back and extremities, confusion,
extreme irritability and muscle spasms*. During severe Demerol withdrawal the individual's heart rate and
blood pressure can become elevated which can lead to a heart attack, blood clots or stroke.
Demerol is the highest narcotic, just below heroin and methadone, which is the same as heroin but based in
an analgesic/aspirin. Morphine ranks right below Demerol. I can attest to symptoms listed above, as I was a
patient receiving for more than ten years, vast amounts of Demerol, administered by injection, on a weekly
basis. In addition, I was prescribed MS Contin (morphine), a narcotic pain reliever, Percocet (acetaminophen
and oxycodone), a narcotic pain reliever, and Soma, a muscle relaxer that works by blocking pain sensations
between the nerves and the brain. I find it interesting that many patients on Demerol feel that it works
better than over-the-counter medication. Try going to another doctor or the emergency room and see how
funny they will look at you when you tell them Im prescribed Demerol.

Take it from a person who has been suffering from Demerol withdrawals for several
years now. I experienced going cold-turkey by my doctors wrong doing. Because of
that, I have been living in hell since 2010 and I am not even dead yet. So remember
this Demerol, morphine, methadone and heroin is only for end of life!

Symptoms of Type 1 Diabetes


Type 1 diabetes, or juvenile onset diabetes, occurs mainly in children and young adults, but it can develop at
any age. According to the American Diabetes Association, only 5 percent to 10 percent of people with
diabetes have Type 1. Type 1 diabetes develops when the body's immune system kills the pancreatic cells
that are responsible for producing insulin. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) states that
risk factors include environmental, genetic and autoimmune considerations. Type 1 diabetes can have longterm effects on the body because the disease affects many organs.
Heart and Blood Vessel Damage

Heart and blood vessel damage includes heart attack, stroke, coronary artery disease, atherosclerosis
(hardening of the arteries) and high blood pressure. According to the American Diabetes Association, 65
percent of people who have diabetes will die of some type of heart complication.

Neuropathy

Neuropathy is damage to the nerves. Diabetic neuropathy leads to weakness, tingling, burning or numbness
in the feet, legs, hands and arms. According to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, diabetic
neuropathy affects more than 60 percent of Type 1 diabetics and is the most common cause of amputation
(excluding accidents) in the United States.
Nephropathy

Nephropathy is damage to the kidneys. The kidneys are the filtering system for the body. When the nerves
become damaged from excess sugar, it can lead to kidney damage or end-stage kidney disease. The Juvenile
Diabetes Research Foundation says that one-third of Type 1 diabetes patients will develop diabetic
nephropathy.

Retinopathy

Retinopathy is the progression of damage to the small blood vessels in the retina, leading to vision problems
such as glaucoma, cataracts and impaired vision. The Juvenile Diabetes Foundation reports that people living
with Type 1 diabetes for more than 20 years will show some signs of retinopathy. Twenty to 30 percent of
Type 1 diabetics will develop an advanced form called proliferative retinopathy, which can cause blindness.

Peripheral Artery Disease

Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD) develops when blood vessels in the legs become narrow due to fatty
deposits, resulting in decreased circulation to legs and feet. PAD increases the chances of stroke or heart
attack. According to the American Diabetes Association, one in three diabetics older than 50 has developed
PAD. Most people do not show any signs or symptoms; however, some people may experience pain when
walking, or have cold feet and lower legs, numbness or tingling in the lower legs and sores on the foot or leg
that are slow to heal.
These symptoms listed below, may be the first signs of an individual having type 1 diabetes:

Being very thirsty


Feeling hungry
Feeling tired or fatigued
Having blurry eyesight
Losing weight without trying
Urinating more often
Deep, rapid breathing
Dry skin and mouth
Flushed face
Losing the feeling or feeling tingling in
your feet

Fruity breath odor


Stomach pain
Headache
Nervousness
Rapid heartbeat (palpitations)
Shaking
Sweating
Weakness
Nausea or vomiting, inability to keep
down fluids

Insomnia - The Most Common Symptom

Sleep disturbances are common among individuals with diabetes. When compared with non-diabetics,
patients with diabetes report higher rates of insomnia, excessive daytime sleepiness, and unpleasant
sensations in the legs that disturb sleep. Multiple factors contribute to insomnia complaints in patients with
diabetes. In type 1 diabetes, rapid changes in glucose levels during sleep have been postulated to cause
awakenings. Another common source of disturbed sleep in diabetics is discomfort or pain associated with
peripheral neuropathy. Emerging evidence demonstrates that individuals with diabetes are at particular risk
for poor sleep quality and that poor sleep associated with insomnia, sleep-disordered breathing, restless legs
syndrome, and chronic pain may exacerbate diabetes. Sleep disturbances are common and can be
detrimental to the health, mood, and quality of life of people with diabetes. Sleep-disordered breathing,
pain, restless legs syndrome, primary insomnia, and lifestyle factors all contribute to a high rate of sleep
complaints in this population. Remember, diabetes is a lifelong disease and there is not yet a cure!

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