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Tapering off duragesic??
by Linco, Jun 10, 2003 12:00AM
I've posted here before and gotten some wonderful input. I'm currently on the 25 mcg. patch with about 2-3 vic 5mg for BT pain. I want to wean off but tried once for 5 days and couldn't take the withdrawals. If anyone has done this before and has a method that might ease the discomfort, I'm really desparate. The stuff frightens me!!
Thank you. Linda
Thank you. Linda
Let me see if i can find it posted lately and ill be back to refer you to the thread.
Peace..
Suzie
http://pub177.ezboard.com/bpainaddictionwithdrawalhelpandsupport
Peace...
Suzie
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 and Magnesium.
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:
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.
With breakfast, take the mineral supplement.
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.
PLEASE NOTE: If you have any medical complications, first check with your doctor before detoxing to verify that this regimen is safe for you.
A lot of people have used this and it seems to work. I don't know anything about the patch, but I tapered down and then used a modified version of the recipe above. Since I tapered, I was able to work, etc. One thing that I added was a good calcium and magnesium supplement which I started before the detox. I used CalMax and could actually feel a difference about 30 minutes after I took some. A lot of addicts are low in magnesium, but both calcium and magnesium can be hard for the body to digest -- that's why I say to find "a good" supplement. The valium makes all the difference in the world. Also, having a positive mental outlook makes a BIG difference. In my opinion, half of the withdrawal is in your head -- well it was for me! Good luck -- let us know if we can help. If you are serious about this and can't get Valium or something close, post your email address and I'll see if I can help you out. Peace to all...
Duragesic (fentanyl) is a tough taper-- Even from the 25 Mcgm level. My suggestion would be to ask your pain management doctor for hydrocodone (vicodin, or similar opiate) 10's, 7.5's then 5's to take the place of the Duragesic Patch. Although you may "Taper" by leaving the patch on for 3-4 days, it still loses effectiveness, and should be SLOWLY weaned off of. As you may already have heard on MedHelp, "The lower the slower." --Meaning that the lower the dose that you have tapered down to, the slower you take off additional milligrams of the opiate medication daily/weekly. MANY of us cannot successfully "Taper" and if you happen to be one of those people, the "Thomas Recipe" is the BEST thing you can do for your stressed out system while experiencing a "Cold-turkey" [immediate stoppage of all drug intake] type detox.
Jess
I thought that keeping with the "Nirvana" theme was appropriate~!
I was in a conversation thread, which was helping me immensely...if even just getting things out in the open. But now, when I go to respond to people it say the conversation is closed! So is that it? I'm done and that's all I get? Or do I have to be rude and interject (like this) into someone elses question?
I tried to post a NEW question...but 'no go' there either.
Am I missing something?
LEAVE...and be thankful that you did. Cause your kids and family will be thankful in the end that you did it.
It is never selfish to make your life better.
Sometimes it takes leaving your current "safe zone" to getting clean and staying that way.
This is something that I recommend to ANYONE who has easy access in their current environment. If you need to move-on, do it, and do it now...
Sometimes a change is just what people need.
I will be honest. If I ever had access to "outside" sources other than the one doctor I have always seen, I don't think I could trust myself if an "outside" supply was available. The ease of it just makes it too easy.
Do what it takes. Do it for you. In the end, it will be better for you, your family, your children, and most of all your grandchildren.
Regards,
Chezz
H.