Go Back   Drugs.com > General Discussion Boards > Featured Conditions
Forgotten Password?
Register FAQ Calendar Search Today's Posts Mark Forums Read

Featured Conditions We welcome you to share your experiences. Current Topics: Painkiller Addiction, Anxiety, Panic Attacks, Depression...

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 09-04-2009, 11:36 PM
New Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2009
Posts: 2
Default Opiate Addiction..(how do i get off them)

Hi. I have been on oxys for about 6 months now and I am getting into them really bad. I am taking about 200mgs a day (snorting them). I want to get off these so bad, I have to its taking over my life, my world revolves around oc's now and im only 20yrs old. Im getting into debt because of them. I tried going cold turkey but that only lasted about one day because the withdraws are so bad. I need anybodys help or advice on how to get off these. Im taking the next week off work sept.7 thru 11 to get over my addiction. I have talked to a couple people and everybody seems to have a different method from cold turkey(didnt work to well for me my first try) suboxen, methadome,subotek, etc. Any advice would help thanks.
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 09-04-2009, 11:50 PM
Platinum Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2008
Posts: 3,457
Default

Hi sue
I was so addicted to oxycontin a year ago.I quit taking the oxycontin and did a taper with vic's and when I got down to a low dose I quit, I still had a couple bad days but it was sure worth it...
I had to have surgery a couple months ago and had to end up taking pain pills again and did the subs this time it was pretty easy...those are really your only choices,except c/t...but that is thr fastest way out did you use the Thomas recipe when you quit last time it will help a little if you want it I will pull it up for you...
keep us posted on how your doing we would love to help...
Talk to you soon, Melinda
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 09-04-2009, 11:59 PM
Banned
 
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: queens, ny
Posts: 679
Default

If you have only been using for 6 months total, then I would definitely rule out methadone first. That is an addiction that will be with you for a long time to come. I would also rule out suboxone and subutex because you've only been using such a short time. What that leaves is either tapering off the pills or just going cold turkey. There are alot of people of these threads who have done that successfully. (I never did). I'm sure one of them will answer soon and tell you how they did it. I cannot tell you how to do it but just advise you on how NOT to do it in my opinion.
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 09-05-2009, 12:01 AM
Banned
 
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: queens, ny
Posts: 679
Default

LOL There you go. When I posted my answer there were no answers yet. I told you someone would be on real soon to help you and by the time my post showed up, there was Mel to the rescue.... THere are alot of r eally nice and helpful people here...
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 09-05-2009, 01:45 AM
New Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2009
Posts: 2
Default

Thomas method? what is it i am willing to try anything to get off these things..one thing i am worried about is how long it will take to get my energy back? my job is pretty physically demanding that is part of the reason i got into so bad was it made my work a lot easier

Last edited by sue203; 09-05-2009 at 01:48 AM.
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 09-05-2009, 03:34 AM
Platinum Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2008
Posts: 3,457
Default

here you go...


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"
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 09-05-2009, 10:28 AM
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2009
Posts: 618
Default

sue:
Welcome to the forum.
I was also an oxy user -for several years - at about 100mg. a day.
This last attempt at getting clean, I went cold turkey. I had a 5 day, short term, medication regime prescribed to me by my doc to get through the first few days that are the toughest. Some clonidine and valium. It worked, but not w/o some pain and sacrifice. The short term pain is nothing compared to the freedom you will have.

Everything that I read on this site tells me to take methadone ONLY as a last resort. That stuff seems like hell to try and kick.

Since you have a few days to go through w/d without being at work, school, etc. use the time wisely. What ever method you choose, we are here to support you.

Wishing you well.

Mottam
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 09-05-2009, 06:23 PM
Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2008
Posts: 164
Default Initial taper

The thing that used to help me when I knew I was going to run out of oxy's was to gradually taper before I ran out. Ideally, you would taper to a much smaller amt than 200mg before your week off. It would help reduce the intensity of WD symptoms...it always did for me.

But...If you are ready for all the hell that comes with CT, a week would be enough to get the worst days out of the way. For me, it always got easier after the 4th day. You just have to be ready and be honest with yourself that it will indeed be hell, but that you are also sticking with it once you quit. Using again will only make it harder. It lowers your confidence in your ability to do it, and it causes the process to take longer.

Spend a lot of time on this forum, both to post your stuff and to read other people's experiences (this really, really helps). Try some of the things other people did to help you out of really tight spots.

Lastly, do NOT expect anything but hell the first few days. This way, you will not be disappointed with how it goes.

Good luck.

Last edited by klopper22; 09-05-2009 at 06:28 PM.
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old 09-05-2009, 08:36 PM
Banned
 
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: queens, ny
Posts: 679
Default

Sue, I would definintely iwthout a doubt go with what the good people on this thread are telling you. It will be tough for a few days but after 6 months it would be a shame to go the methadone route which is way more addictive that your DOC and people seem to stay on for years. Sub might be OK is you following the taper plan advised by Robert here and got on and off FAST but that would only be if you found it ABOSLUTELY IMPOSSIBLE to taper or go C/T with the Thomas Recipe. Six months isn't that long. You can get off in the week you have off work. NO METHADONE.
Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old 09-06-2009, 06:42 AM
Member
 
Join Date: May 2009
Posts: 148
Default

Hey sue

I quit cold turkey from oxy as well. As a few people have said, 200mg is a high dose to quit cold turkey from so it might have been better to taper down a little first but as you've already booked the time off you might as well try. I found tapering really hard - it was like death my a thousand cuts but I did manage to reduce my daily mg's before going c/t.

One of the purposes of the Valium in the Thomas recipe is to help you sleep. I found trying to sleep through as much of the pain as possible to be helpful during the first few days. It was smart taking some time of specifically to go through w/d. If you can't get any benzo's you can also try Ambien or even some OTC sleeping aids such as melatonin.

Keep updating your thread too. I found the people on here really helpful and supportive. I'm not sure I believed I was going to quit but their advice motivated me.

Also, if you have time, read some of other people's threads (there are plenty about quitting Oxy). Mine was called becoming addicted to Oxycodone. I can't believe it was me writing when I read it now...
Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are Off



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 10:20 PM.


Powered by vBulletin®
Copyright ©2000 - 2009, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
SEO by vBSEO ©2009, Crawlability, Inc.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18