MamaNeedsHelp

Hello all! I need to type this out so it's as if I have said it out loud, and therefore real. My addiction is to ephedrine and primarily the brand Primatene sold behind the pharmacy counter. I have been on some form of ephedra for 18 years. But the government has continuously regulated it year after year making it impossible to buy. I am currently afraid of being arrested for my addiction and that will be humiliation beyond belief for myself and my family. I am a normal woman with a family that you see at school functions, church, the playground. But secretly I take an entire box of primatene a day. Without it I cannot function. It has taken over my life and I am constantly planning which store to go to next. My information is stored in a database each time I buy this and I am surprised I haven't been tracked as a possible meth maker. Which I am not, the pills are all for me. But my luck has to be running out. I need to be off ephedrine, but I'm alone with my secret and my addictive personality. On a side note as it may come up...my health and heart are fine. My blood pressure is perfect as well. But the drug is doing a lot of mental harm to me.

Thanks for reading:-)

Mrrryah1

Glad u r here the substance doesn't matter too much, addiction is all the same.

silentrun

They used to sell those by the bottle at gas stations back in the 90's. The whole restaurant I worked in took them. I can see where they would be addictive. Sorry you are having a hard time. It was so long ago I don't remember what it was like when I stopped.

doggonecarl

Welcome to SR.

You can. You might not believe that. Your addiction won't let you believe it. But everyone here who is clean and sober had to first clear the hurdle that they didn't believe they could function without their substance.

Again, you can.

MamaNeedsHelp

Thank you all for your encouragement. Encouragement is what I need as well as just sharing my secret. Thank you for that chance!

least

Welcome to the SR family. You'll find lots of support here from people who understand.

hopefulyogi

I've been there. For me is was connected with an eating disorder and I was quite young at the time (16). But I was taking handfuls of ephedra containing pills on any given day although I wasn't even old enough to buy them and had to have older friends buy them for me. I don't think I was every physically addicted but definitely was mentally. You are not alone.

KateL

A big welcome to you xxxxx

GotGrace

Welcome. I am glad you are here!

MamaNeedsHelp

Thank you all for the welcome. Today is day 1 for me and so far I am doing ok. Actually way better than I thought. I can't help but think your kind well wishes haven't helped me. I even went to a drug store today to buy something else and did not even go back to the pharmacy. Yay! One day at a time.

Dee74

Welcome to SR Mama - there's lots of support here

D

feeling-good

Hi and welcome! I hope your day has gone well

Aarryckha

Welcome and congrats on making that decision!

We're here rooting for you!

adams

Hi Mama. Thanks for sharing. I recently let my secret out too, it's scary but relieving,
I think.... Glad you are here l. I guess we're all kindred in the sense that we all want to live a life without being controlled by and slave to some dumb chemical of whatever kind. Welcome

Beachy65

Hey MamaNeedsHelp! Do you still need support? I have the EXACT same problem. Same amount, same worry over buying it, same worry about potential embarrassment. I've struggled on and off for 24 years, with some long breaks. My physical health is fine (so far), my blood pressure is fine, but it's causing me so much mental stress and emotional anxiety! Right now, I'm trying to cut back 6 Primatene a day, so that I will quit in 10 days total. I'm on day 2. Generally in the past, I've quit cold turkey, but I'm hoping I can do it this way and skip the drama of sleeping for 3 days straight.