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Addiction: Substance Abuse Community
This community is a place to share information and support with others who are trying to stop using drugs, prescription drugs, alcohol, tobacco or other addictive substances. Discuss with others, the symptoms of addiction, addiction recovery, ways to quit like tapering and cold turkey, and withdrawal symptoms. If you are interested in general "chat", please visit our Addiction Social Community.
Addiction
by minime, Jan 11, 2003 12:00AM
After about 2 years, I finally found an addictionologist in my area. He is licensed to prescribe Subutex. It is the "new" Buprenorphine only it comes in tablet form and is much stronger than the old version. The only glitch is we cannot find any pharmacies that have it. He could buy it directly from the manufacturer but it would cost him $700 - that is the smallest amount he can purchase at one time. He won't do it. He charges $175 per hour and I'm sure once the Subutex is available it will be expensive. There are no breaks for addicts in this country. I've waited a long time for this but now it seems like it will just be a big money thing like Methadone. I'm really depressed now and I feel like there is not a lot of hope. Is anyone else out there been trying to find this medication?
I am in very little, or no pain right now, other than the headaches. From what I have been reading, these may go away once I am off the ibuprofen completely. Just taking one per day in evening.
Thanks to all here who have helped so much.
"For those about to detox, we salute you..."
Seriously, if you are planning to detox, or thinking about it, or planning on planning, or just procrastinating, I say "Come on in the water's fine."
You will never know the feeling of freedom until you go through that week of hell, but it is all worth it.
Let me know if I can help in any way.
Rex
Your posts give me so much inspiration. I am planning on detoxing starting Friday(because i'll have five days off from work--due to the flu:)I am honestly scared to death. But I know I have support, I have my boyfriend(who is going to stay home with me for those days), I have NA now, and I have this forum and all of you wonderful people. Wish me luck everybody!
-Anthony
Sharon
Here is what has been successful for me thus far:
Tons of Prayer
Going to Meetings
Call my Sponsor
Work the Steps
Reading the BIG BOOK
Reading the Bible
Doing my best to tell the truth
Telling my Doctor
Firing some friends
Remember this H.A.L.T. are triggers. Hunger, Anger, Loneliness (sp) Tired. For the most part life is a trigger.
We all must stick together if we are to make it.
As far as tapering, you are only extending the WD's. Get mad at the drugs and flush them. God's Speed to all.
Where is Thomas? Thank you for the advice on the L-Tyrosine and B6.
- Sturgil
OUTSTANDING !!! Thanks for your posts during my WD and your personal interest in my well being. Your right about that freedom, no more sitting in Dr. offices for hours, lieing about how much pain I have ect. For me, I am so grateful not to have to deal with the pharmacists, the few that are compassionate, I respect, the others there were times when I would want to pull them over the counter and say just fill the friggin script, you little dweeb. What can I say, I am an addict who wants what he wants when he wants it.
Today, I am a recovering addict taking it a day at a time and realizing the biggest problem for me is between my ears. It was my best thinking that got me addicted. It wasn't like when I was 10 years old, I said, gee when I grow up, I want to be a drug addict.
Once again, congradulations and I salute you!!!
Strength and Honor
Greg
Also, it is funny, I also lived in S.fl. and now Atlanta, wonder if I'm going West next? ;)
Peace, love, hugs, to all!
Suzie
after reading the 1st post it sounds like and impossible situation for addicts to look foward to bup as a solution.
peace hippy
How ya doin?
Rex
Suzie
- Sturgil
That is the most accurate, concise how to maintan the recovery process I have ever read. Well said and well done.
I am 34 days opiate free and am activly doing all in your post. I used the Thomas Recipe to, I hope all is well with him.
Strength and Honor
Greg
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
This recipe is designed for cold turkey opiate detox. It assumes that you can get about 5 to 7 days away from your job or household responsibilities during which you can sleep, veg and act as miserable as you feel. Opiate WD mimics the symptoms of the common flu, so, if you need a smokescreen, hide behind a bad case of the flu.
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 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.
I've noticed this forum is mostly filled with topics on opiate/pill related addictions. Anyone think it's become an epidemic? or do you think it's an old problem that just more people are coming forward with? I definitely think it's nothing new to some people, but I do think it's become more of a problem and I do believe it's an epidemic. I live in the state of Maine, we've had over 28 overdoses related to pills throughout the year, that's a state record & it seems to be hitting kids, not just adults. Which is abnormal, because pills were never really the drug of choice among teens & younger kids. I've been suffering from this addiction for years now, I'm only 20. I've gotten to the point where if I don't take them, within a day, hours, I become shaky and the withdrawal symptoms continue to get worse. I almost look at it as what a heroin addict would go through if he/she was denied usage of heroin. Which is weird because I remember back