Severe Muscle Cramps. Can it be due to medication withdrawl?

Hi:

Generally I have a number of patients I talk to.  I felt I want to start this as a new subject because of what my situation is.  This will give me an opportunity to possibly get more responses than narrowing it down to just a few.  I can get a beter feel of what I am going through  and any suggestions on how I can deal with this.

Waking up this morning has been the worst I have felt ever with the pain I encountered.  Never in my life had I had to experience this multitude of cramps of not only legs but, left side, arms and fingers.  Now, I had cramps before but none like this and involving so many parts of my body.  First all I have fibromyalgia, spinal stenosis and  nerve damage.  Within the last few days, I ran out of some of my very important meds which is for pain and antidepressants.  Never had this problem before but since I changed insurance companies, what used to be tier2 now became tier 3.  When I tried to pick up my venlafaxine at the pharmacy, I thought that it would only cost no more than $10 like it was always.  When the price was read off to me., I almost jumped out of my pants.  Here I am being told that I would have to pay somewhat over $200 after the insurance pays.  I was told that I have to pay a copay until I meet the first level of medicare.  To me, that is totally outrageous and uncalled for.  But who is to argue with the insurance company and my insurance?  They make the rules and that is where it stands.  Now I have to put in a form for special consideration.  That takes some time according to the insurance company.  Meanwhile, I have a call in to my GP.  Hopefully, I will hear back tomorrow to see what change he will make.

The next part is my pain meds which I have been on for quite sometime.  I had a new prescription for oxicodone.  I was going to be charged $90 for a months supply.  Bringing the script in, I could not afford the full price.  I  asked to give me half of it.  I was told that by doing this, I would lose half of the prescription as narcotics cannot be divided.  This is law.  I needed the meds and I said I need it and fill it.  Then they told me that there was not enough on the shelf to fill, so they gave me 27 tablets which would only take me for 8 days.  So, I thought that the rest will be filled for the other 7 days when I came in the next time.  I lost it all and I wasn't told that from when I initally filled the prescription.  That really left me out in the cold.  Because of all these mishaps, I suffered greatly.  I called my pain clinic and they wondered why from a full script of a 30 day supply of pain meds, that I ran out.  A thought came to my head that right away I am abusing it when I was not.  Just label me as a druggie like what is done when protocol is not followed.  I called yesterday, got a recording, left a message to call me back and they didn't so I got through today.  Immediately I was told to come tomorrow and see what is going on.  Everytime I go there, I have to take a urine test to see the levels.  They will be surprised that there will be none. 

Getting back today from when I got up this morning.  Throughout the day, I had 4 or 5 episodes with severe cramping primarily in my legs.  The pain was so severe that I couldn't stand or even walk well.  To pace back and forth was what I was doing.  I was stumbling over myself.  I took several naps to help relieve the pain.  When upon waking, again my legs cramped.  Inbetween times, my legs are totally sore and feel if I bend them the wrong way, the cramps will start in again.  Now, earlier I said I had these conditions I mentioned.  My question I am posing to you is that if I am not getting the antidepressants and the pain meds, am I going into withdrawls?  Are these withdrawls causing these cramps?  I have been very cold and hard to stay warm.  I am not sweating but I had an episode of urinating in the bed.  I know withdrawls can take many different type of scenarios depending upon what meds you are taking and chemical makeup. The concern that I have can these cramps get so bad that I would have to go to the ER?  I would need some kind of relief so as not to go crazy.  Please give me your input if you have experienced anything like this. Thank you very much and please keep me posted.

mel

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