I am happy to have found this web sight. I am 5 years into an addiction of hydrocodone, put to 6 500/10's a day. I am down to 1/2 a day but can't manage to CT after the third day. I went to a doctor yesterday who refered me to a clinic that wanted 6,000 dollars which I do not have. I am in the St. Louis area and will be starting a new job Monday the 23rd. I have this one week to get off these pills. My web sight I was getting them from has been closed down. If anyone knows of a doctor I can confide in and can help me with the prescriptions described in the THOMAS RECIPE, please let me know. It is comforting to know I am not alone in this horrible addiction. Good luck to you all.
Pam
Just remember when you are clean for a little while - to help the newer addicts or even the old ones for that matter. It makes me feel better just helping someone else!
I wish you all the best!
shel
We are quite the team - I need to add that to my Thomas Recipe - save you the trouble. It is good for the new members to hear from you though - you have a lot of insight that we all need!
Tim is back! Did you see his post??
luv,
me
Well i didn't expect such a thoroughl answer But very grateful Thanks Mickie
I guess you've become a regular Thomas Recipe carrying member of the group. I always like to add, "see if you can't get your doc to prescribe clonidine ane ativan, which helps for anxiety and sleeplessness."
Tim wrote said everything is fine and that he would be back shortly.
I would add Clonidine to this list. It was and is a lifesaver for me.
yes, clonidine is a big one... does take away a lot of the WD's
Did you want the actual recipe? Well here it is.
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.