[Robert_325]

I need some major help! I spent 40 yrs on pain meds. The last almost 15 years it was from close to 40 Loricet a day, that progressed to 25 Oxycodone ( 30 mg each ) and 20 plus Loricet and a big pile of soma, xanax and klonipon. That was in 2002. I checked into detox and finished treatment program. I had seizures, was in and out of hospital, finally was sent home after over a month in hospital. Have some major chronic illnesses where the Benzos really "helped" me.... WHAT A JOKE. I know I over-used vs my prescribed dosage, but not all of it was my fault. I do own my part though ... not blaming doctors for everything.

I had some problems last fall and after almost 4 years clean, I can't believe I started on Loricets again. It just got to me with the pain from past surgeries. Nearly killed myself on Soma, Benzos and Loricets. Don't even know what I took. Opiates and Benzos ... SHOOT ME PLEASE!!! I went back into rehab on New Years Eve. I had been in for only 4 days and dr came to see me after the holiday. I was sick as a dog. Said he was going to get me out of w/d. Sounded good. Loaded me up on Suboxone and Seroquel. In a couple more days I was ready to go home. Felt great. Did not know what Suboxone was (or Subutex as I have). Was trying to get clean, not higher. I need some help ... PLEASE. I am getting too old for this. I've been through opiate withdrawals before, but nothing like this. I have regular opiate w/d smptoms, but lots worse this time. And also have this feeling of being walking along with feeling like out of the blue, someone has just stabbed me with a knife and shot an electric charge through me. I mean it is bad painful. The jerks or jolts will lift me off the floor. Now I am faced with getting myself out of this one.

I swear I will never do this again. I don't know how many more times I can clean up without dying. I have sat here and read right here for days over the last week. This is really a great forum. Hope someone who knows more than me will throw an old man a bone!!! Help guys or ladies.

I would rather just fight, not really. I pray I will never do this again. I still want to get healthy again and believe I can. I would so appreciate some help. I so respect everyone's experience and level of knowledge. Again ... please someone tell me what you think I should do next.

Here is my question. Do I do a Short Term Rapid Detox or Long Wheening Detox? I want this over with. What should I keep on hand or do I have to go thru rehab again? What meds or supplements do I take? Am I safe doing this at home ... live alone, or do I have to go a rehab facility? I will if you tell me to after several posts. Thanks for any help you can give me. Thanks again.

Sincerely,

Robert

[Robert_325]

This post sounds awful. Sorry, I was doing really badly last night trying to not use the Suboxone or the Seroquel. It was a bad night. I finally gave in and took the Suboxone, or Subutex, also my Seroquel and went to sleep some for a while.

Wanted to add a couple things. My first use of pain meds was not doing them on the street. I was young. It was from injuries and illness. Same as lots of people, but I sound like I have been a derelict on the street my whole life or something in this post. That is not the case. I have had many very good years too. This did not really get bad until the last 10 - 15 years. I also want to get off the Seroquel. I read what this site said about Seroquel and that is not me. I don't like the side effects of the Seroquel either. I just want to be done with everything except my blood pressure meds and such.

I have had to take the pain meds from chronic injuries and illnesses and have tried to stop for some time. I am going to do this. Once I get off the Subutex, this will be it for good. I won't do it again. I am so sick of it.

I know I have lots of work to do after I detox. I just need some help dealing with the detox and I already have a game plan in force, as well as a support group for recovery work after I get through this. I have support from my family if I do this at home as well as if I go into the hospital.

Do you guys think I should try to do a rapid detox after so many years on meds? I have just never had w/d symptoms before like I have now on this Suboxone. I am taking 8 mg daily right now ... 4 mg in morning and 4 at night. I have not been trying to get high off the Subutex. So I have not abused this like I have read from several of you. Should I get rid of the Seroquel while detox from the Subutex or wait until I am over that and then deal with the Seroquel? And would you try to do this at home or go to the hospital if you were me? I really want to do it at home if possible. Your help would really be appreciated. I am as sincere as I can be. Thanks.

[ymccormack]

Robert....I'm just writing to let you know that I read your post and know you can beat this.


A rapid detox from subutex at home sounds iffy to me. Just my opinion. I suggest that maybe a taper would be best in this situation - but with a plan - maybe over 6-8 weeks. As for the seroquel, I would tackle that after the subutex -- not during. It's only going to make it more difficult..you know?

The best person to answer this is Dave (MVP)...he is extra helpful on issues of long term addiction. Dave??

Anyway...Good Luck...Keep Posting....

YM

[Robert_325]

Thanks YM,

Hope I hear from Dave too. I really appreciate your help though! I am a hard headed old man. Been up and down this road a LONG time.

I felt really badly when I made this first post and better of course this morning after taking the subutex again last night and taking it today. I think you are probably right about me cold turkeying this deal with all the history I have. I am not out to impress anyone, I just want to do this right. It really doesn't do any good to complain about being where I am now and being mad at the doctor. It was all of my bad decisions that got me here in the first place. I am to blame, if I am going to cast blame. Of course that is not constructive. It just makes things worse.

Dave if you read this I would love to hear what you recommend for an old idiot like me. I appreciate any help anyone can offer who has done this before me. I know I am going to beat this thing this time. I am not allowing myself any other outcome. But that is no reason to intentionally put myself through extra torture if I can keep from it.

I will be so happy when I am totally cleaned out. I have been there for several years before and it beats worrying over this stuff so much. Thanks again for your help and anything anyone else can suggest, well I just say "THANKS" in advance for taking a few minutes to make a suggestion.

Good luck to everyone going through this nonsense. Looking forward to seeing everyone on the other side with all the cobwebs gone.

[Charliez]

Robert, I was not on opiates nearly as long as you but 5yrs was enough time to be addicted pretty bad. I started on suboxone aprox. 5 months ago & it sounds like to me your dose needs to be raised a little. Now this is just my experience I feel first you need to decide if you want to take the sub or not then if so you need a little more daily .I am currently taking 16mg. a day 8 mg. morning & another around 6 in the evening 12hrs. apart. just like that can't fudge any . This is strong medicine don't let anyone fool you it does work I have felt no wd while on it I have no idea about the seroquel . Another thing were you into wd at least 24hrs. before starting the sub? Because if you were not that may take you a little longer for the sub to work. 24hrs is what is recommended anyways you are past that I guess. So ask for the 16mg. a day taken 12 hrs apart .Now I will tell you what I was unfortunately not told you will have to slowly get off the sub then & it does produce wd just like anything else. Hopefully not as bad but 4-sure. I will be checking back daily let me know how it goes. We are in the same boat my friend....

[Robert_325]

I have admittedly gotten kind of confused with this medication. Never thought that would happen. lol I go see the doctor next week. I called his office and unless it is a total emergency they asked me to keep that appt as he is over a couple of hospitals plus regular patients. Did not want to move my appt to this week unless I was suffering from something and it was an emergency.

Charlie ... in answer to your question, yes, I was into withdrawals big time before starting on Subutex. I was actually starting my 5th day in treatment. Guess that upset me because I was at or past the very worst of my wd when I started on this. Another couple of days and I would have been somewhat better I know.

I guess the best thing to do, unless I want to make everyone mad at me, is to maintain on what I am taking till that appt next week as I don't want to run out of medication. I will then talk to him and ask what the deal is about the Subutex.

Thanks so much for your help. I just want to do this thing correctly so I can get off all the meds as quickly as possible with the least amount of discomfort. I am getting too old for this nonsense. Thanks again!

[mpvt]

Hi Robert!:
You certainly have had quite a time with your addiction and really you done well.
You already have the tools to stay clean as you've already demonstrated.So what you need to do is a detox.Suboxone or Subutex is buprenorphene and is becoming the gold standard in drug assisted recovery from opiate addiction.
As you likely know buprenorphene has an extremely long half life and it also has the highest affinity to the opiate receptors in your body.
So a sloooow detox is always the best way to go with buprenorphene or methadone.I didn't see what your daily dose was or how often your taking it??
I can tell you that when you make a decrease in your dose you should wait at least a month before making another decrease.This way your receptors get a chance to adjust to the changes your making.
The chemical balance in your brain and body is changed after chronic drug abuse and it needs alot of time to revert back.
SO take your time,eat a high protien diet while detoxing and go out for a morning and after supper walk.
Walking is a great way to stimulate endorphin production which either slows down or stops when we are abusing.
So take this and the tools you already have and go for it,use your support groups as much as you need to.Good luck to you and if you can keep us up on how your doing......Dave

[Robert_325]

Thanks Dave,

I made another post on subuxone withdrawals, but you answered that question here I think. I will be seeing the doctor next week. I agree it is time to start my detox now!!!

I mention in the subuxone withdrawal post I made this morning that I also took some Benzos not too long ago for longer than I should have. I know I screwed up. I should have them sufficiently out of my system when I see the dr next week. At that time I will talk to him about the info I have picked up here and set up a plan for decreasing my Subutex consumption back from the 8mg a day I am now. I will do it slowly as you suggest and see if I can do this smoothly. You know us addicts want everything right now. One of the reasons we are where we are today. Thanks for your help!