I have a question re: weaning

[Sammy22]

Hi Everyone. I have never written anything on this site, but I have been reading for quite some time.
I cannot even tell you how appreciative I am of everything people share on here. Like many of you, I am terrified.
I am a vicodin abuser. For about 7 months, I have been taking, roughly, 6 (7.5mgs) per day. Some days more, some days less. There are times I have went 48 hours without taking anything, and the pain wasn't horrible (although, it was quite uncomfortable). For me, the mental craving makes me crazy. However, I know there is no way to "wean" from the mental withdrawal, but I need to get off these pills. I am afraid, at this point, that the physical w/d will be an issue, due to the increase amt. I have taken over the past few months.
I have enough to begin weaning myself down, but I have no idea how to go about it. If there is anyone who can help me out, I would truly appreciate it. I just don't know the best way of doing it as far as decreasing the mgs. per day.
Thanks so much.

[mpvt]

Hi Sammy, I have to say that you have taken a first step into recovery!!
At seven months and the amounts you were abusing it would likely be best for you to cold turkey as this really is the only way for someone at your level of addiction.
I'm going to post the Thomas Recipe for you and I would like you to read it and hopefully you'll use it in your recovery.
If you can kick this now then believe me you will be doing yourself and everyone you know a favour as your addiction will just progress until you hit rock bottom which can and does alot of times include death.Good luck to you and keep in touch.....Hang in there....Dave

Pain, Addiction & Withdrawal Support
> The Thomas Recipe for Cold Turkey Withdrawal
PLEASE NOTE: I am not a doctor, simply a long-time Rx opiate junkie who has had many opportunities to develop a way to detox. This is a recipe for at-home self-detox from opiates based on my experience as well as that of many other addicts. It is not intended as professional medical advice. It is always wise to make sure none of the recipe ingredients or procedures conflict with medications you may be taking. Likewise, if you have any medical condition, disease, allergy or any other health issue, consult your doctor before using the recipe. Thanks, Thomas
THOMAS RECIPE
If you can't take time off to detox, I recommend you follow a taper regimen using your drug of choice or suitable alternate -- the slower the taper, the better.
For the Recipe, You'll need:
1. Valium (or another benzodiazepine such as Klonopin, Librium, Ativan or Xanax). Of these, Valium and Klonopin are best suited for tapering since they come in tablet form. Librium is also an excellent detox benzo, but comes in capsules, making it hard to taper the dose. Ativan or Xanax should only be used if you can't get one of the others.
2. Imodium (over the counter, any drug or grocery store).
3. L-Tyrosine (500 mg caps) from the health food store.
4. Strong wide-spectrum mineral supplement with at least 100% RDA of Zinc, Phosphorus, Copper, Magnesium and Potassium (you may not find the potassium in the same supplement).
5. Vitamin B6 caps.
6. Access to hot baths or a Jacuzzi (or hot showers if that's all that's available).
How to use the recipe:
Start the vitamin/mineral supplement right away (or the first day you can keep it down), preferably with food. Potassium early in the detox is important to help relieve RLS (Restless Leg Syndrome). Bananas are a good source of potassium if you can't find a supplement for it.
Begin your detox with regular doses of Valium (or alternate benzo). Start with a dose high enough to produce sleep. Before you use any benzo, make sure you're aware of how often it can be safely taken. Different benzos have different dosing schedules. Taper your Valium dosage down after each day. The goal is to get through day 4, after which the worst WD symptoms will subside. You shouldn't need the Valium after day 4 or 5.
During detox, hit the hot bath or Jacuzzi as often as you need to for muscle aches. Don't underestimate the effectiveness of hot soaks. Spend the entire time, if necessary, in a hot bath. This simple method will alleviate what is for many the worst opiate WD symptom.
Use the Imodium aggressively to stop the runs. Take as much as you need, as often as you need it. Don't take it, however, if you don't need it.
At the end of the fourth day, you should be waking up from the Valium and experiencing the beginnings of the opiate WD malaise. Upon rising (empty stomach), take the L-Tyrosine. Try 2000 mgs, and scale up or down, depending on how you feel. You can take up to 4,000 mgs. Take the L-Tyrosine with B6 to help absorption. Wait about one hour before eating breakfast. The L-Tyrosine will give you a surge of physical and mental energy that will help counteract the malaise. You may continue to take it each morning for as long as it helps. If you find it gives you the "coffee jitters," consider lowering the dosage or discontinuing it altogether. Occasionally, L-Tyrosine can cause the runs. Unlike the runs from opiate WD, however, this effect of L-Tyrosine is mild and normally does not return after the first hour. Lowering the dosage may help.
Continue to take the vitamin/mineral supplement with breakfast.
As soon as you can force yourself to, get some mild exercise such as walking, cycling, swimming, etc. This will be hard at first, but will make you feel considerably better.
Thomas [/i][/b]

[Sammy22]

Thank you so much Dave. You really believe I should just stop cold turkey? I do have xanax, so I will be able to follow the recipe. I am actually taking some time off work (1 week), so now is my best time to do this. I really appreciate your feedback. No one in my life knows about this. I own my own business and I have held it together, suprisingly enough. I definitely don't want to get to the point where I lose my business or anything else. I have suffered from addiction all my life, and have always managed to stop using for a few years. It seems like each time I go back, I use something else. I never had a d.o.c. It's whatever's on the table and this has come to me very easily. I will admit, I am really scared. I need to stop this now. I can't believe I am doing this to myself.
Thanks again.
-Sam

[Dave87666]

I'd follow what MVPT said as well...Since you have only been using for 7 months and a pretty small amount you should be just fine going cold turkey eith very minimal amount of w/d symptoms..Just make sure that durring that week you get plenty of bed rest,take nice hot baths to sooth yourself,and start with NA meetings,and keeping on this site..These types of things will help you with cravings..Im 7 months clean from a VERY heavy heroin habit,and get cravings all the time all I do to help is keep in mind how much cllean time I have now(longest I've ever had from dope) and must say that it really helps me out alt to think about how much I'd be wasting if I went back..Good luck and keep in touch on this board its a really great place with alot of great people!

[Sammy22]

Thanks.. Today has not been a good day. Just feeling really down. Truth is I want to use..That's all I can say right now.

Thanks so much for your replies. They mean a lot.

[meblockhead]

Hi I am new here and was reading your post. Just wondering how cold turkey was working for you? My dr is currently weening me now I am only 4 day's into it at this point. But I quit cold turkey a while back and for 8 months I was clean then when I relasped I started taking twice as many as I was before. So anyways just wondering how that was going for you. Thanks Shirley

Hi Everyone. I have never written anything on this site, but I have been reading for quite some time.
I cannot even tell you how appreciative I am of everything people share on here. Like many of you, I am terrified.
I am a vicodin abuser. For about 7 months, I have been taking, roughly, 6 (7.5mgs) per day. Some days more, some days less. There are times I have went 48 hours without taking anything, and the pain wasn't horrible (although, it was quite uncomfortable). For me, the mental craving makes me crazy. However, I know there is no way to "wean" from the mental withdrawal, but I need to get off these pills. I am afraid, at this point, that the physical w/d will be an issue, due to the increase amt. I have taken over the past few months.
I have enough to begin weaning myself down, but I have no idea how to go about it. If there is anyone who can help me out, I would truly appreciate it. I just don't know the best way of doing it as far as decreasing the mgs. per day.
Thanks so much.

[meblockhead]

I hope you didnt use. No matter what get ahold of me I am going throw detox at home. Right now 4 days in. But I went to my dr. I was scared too. But then my dr. set me up with a plan and put me on Clonidine 1mg twice a day. If you still want to quit or are still going through with the prosses maybe we can help each other. I want to use all the time. Trying to just take 1 min at a time and hope that some day I will get to at least 1 day at a time. I hope you made it. let me know. Shirley

Thanks.. Today has not been a good day. Just feeling really down. Truth is I want to use..That's all I can say right now.

Thanks so much for your replies. They mean a lot.