I need your HELP

[venus]

First I'd like to say, you all seem to be so helpful and supportive to one another especially when you have kept your addiction a secret from everyone like I have for years. I happen to find this forum while looking up oxy detox. I'm not computer savy, so I hope I can find my way back here. Okay, I'll try to keep this short. I've secretly been taking 3 to 4 80mg of Oxycontin a day for about 5 to 6 years. There are times I went nuts with the withdraw but always manage to get more. I've never been without more than one day. It makes me sick to think of the money I have wasted. I know you all can relate. I only have 4 more oxy's in my possession. So tomorrow I'll be in horrible shape unless I find someone to get them from. But I have really given this alot of thought, and I want to stop taking them. I can't go away to detox, or tell anyone. I know someone that can get methadone. I don't know how to take it, or for how long or how many mg.  Can anyone out there give me the dosage?  Or know any other remedy?  I might have to try to make these last 4 oxy's stretch out a couple of days until I can figure something out. This has to be a smooth transition, I can't miss a day of work or let my husband, children, family in on this. Can you guys help?  Well this feels good to finally tell someone!!!!

[marcatj]

venus, i don't know how much people know about methadone on this particular board.  this is the "chat" addiction forum, and while there's alot of folks who know ALOT, i think there might be others on the other board who might know more about methadone.

if you look at the top of this page, there's a link to the other forum.  it's straight up about addiction and i know some of the peeps over there know about it..

regardless, know you can get clean... alot of us didn't think we could, and many, many have...

good luck sweety....
mj

[marcatj]

... as for other remedies, there is the Thomas Recipe (punch it into the search engine on this board, or on the other board) and there is also a drug called clonidine that alot of us used (it's a blood pressure med) and it seems to take away pretty much most w/d symptoms when you take it.

if you go cold turkey, know you'll have 3-4 days a flue-like physical w/d's.  it's NOT fun, but alot of us have done it.  if you choose, just tell the family you got the flue and gut it out..

good luck, again...
mj

[dogsbite2]

I just posted too and fully understand your predicamen. The only difference for me is that I was taking the equilivant of five times the amount you are now on. I have now been clean for five days taking Bupenorphine/Suboxone. I was able to do this through a free trial in my area (NYC). You may want to seek out the same path as many studies are going on right now and are free of charge. Aside from the initial visit (approx. 6 hrs) your total commitment will probably be about 1 hr. weekly to visit the center providing you with the Bupe. For me, so far so good. Good luck to you. You already have made the first BIG step.

[Addicted2Pain]

Yes, methadone will work, if you do it correctly. You don't want to trade one addiction for the other, so taking methadone for a long time isn't the answer.

However, if done correctly, it can be a life saver. Here's what I do, but keep in mind that I don't know anything about oxycontin. I take lortabs and/or roxys...up to 300 mg's a day when I have them.

Some here will tell you not to take methadone, but I think they are mistaken. I have plenty of experience with it, and to me it is a life saver.

There are two rules of thumb to live by w/methadone.

1. Wait until you are in withdrawals before taking it. For some reason, it doesn't work as well if you don't.
2. Take as little as possible for as short of a period of time as possible. Again, you don't want to trade one addiction for another.

I wait approx 24 hours after my last intake of hydro's/roxy's. Then, I take one 10 mg methadone. I usually take it an hour before I go to work. The key is not to feel great, but to "get-by". To be able to function. To be able to work. You won't feel great, but you will be able to work.

Wait another 24 hrs if you can before you take another, same for the 3rd day. After the 3rd day, you will be 96 hrs w/no oxycontin, so it should be out of your system. This will allow you to detox yourself w/o alot of pain. Your goal should be to get thru the initial withdrawals and still be able to work. Nothing more, nothing less. Don't look for a "high" from the methadone. That's not the answer.

I take 3 ten mg pills spread out over 3 days. You might need a little more, or a little less. Everybody is different. Again, your goal is as little as possible for as short of a time frame as possible.

I don't get a high from the methadone, so no chance for addiction. I don't take enough to have withdrawals from them. Also, you will not be putting off your oxy withdrawals as many think. After 96 hours of not having any oxycontins, your body won't all of a sudden decide to start withdrawals. They will start as soon as you quit feeding yourself the oxycontins. The methadone just make them bearable, but they don't put off the withdrawals.

Follow that up with some counseling, like NA. At the very least, come back here for support. If you don't have some sort of support system afterwards, the chances of relapse go way up.

Methadone does work, I promise. I have had plenty of experience with them.

[venus]

Thank you all for your quick responses. After I had posted, I checked out some other sites and couldn't find my way back. It took about 20 minutes lol. I feel better already knowing theres people out there that understand, have been there and willing to help. Dogsbite2  that is awesome you found the program to participate in, Bupe and Suboxone are very promising for getting off this ****.You are definately there!  Addicted2Pain I'm with you on the Meth.You are so right, I don't need another addiction. I need to get thru the first couple days, just enough to function. I hope this dude comes thru tomorrow with the Meth so I can start being normal. I don't know what normal feels like, I'm kind of scared. MJ thank you for your encouragement, if this dude doesn't come thru with the Meth I guess i'll say I have that nasty flu bug, the new one out that makes your legs jump all around!Thank you guys for caring, I'll get back to you all soon and  Thanks a million !        Venus

[Ga Guy]

This is a work in progress...something I've been working on off and on for the last couple of weeks. It's not considered complete, but has lots of info from lots of sources. If any of the "old timers" have anything to add, let me know and I'll add it to the document. I hope to use this to post a general "how to" every couple of days or so.

Listed below are suggestions for detoxing and quitting an opiate addiction. They are just suggestions compiled from the detox plans of people that have gone through cold turkey detox before. They are just that, suggestions, and any detox plan is best when done under a doctor's care. Consult your doctor before trying any of the suggestions below.
This is prewritten for anyone who is beginning, or planning on beginning, a cold turkey withdrawal to opiates. This includes drugs such as tramadol (Ultracet and Ultram) codeine (Tylenol #3, #4), Darvocet, Hydrocodone (Vicodin, Norco, Lortab and derivatives),  Oxycodone (Endocet, Percocet, Oxycontin), Morphine, Demerol. Fentanyl, and Dilaudud. There are many other opiates not listed, so if you don’t see it listed, you can still use these suggestions if it’s an opiate based addiction. None of these apply to benzodiazepine based addictions. These addictions should never be dealt with by going cold turkey. Always consult a doctor for a detox plan for benzos.

First of all, opiate withdrawals are uncomfortable, but rarely life threatening. You may think you’re going to die, but most of the withdrawal symptoms are just very uncomfortable. If possible, take some time off work or schedule a week or so in order to fully detox. You will honestly not feel like doing much anyway. Opiate withdrawal symptoms usually start 12-24 hours after your last dose. But, the timing of withdrawal symptoms depends upon the drug taken, length of time you’ve been taking it, and how you react to medications. The physical withdrawals usually last 3-7 days, with days 3 and 4 being the worst. Once again, this is all dependent on the person. You can expect these symptoms. Dilated pupils, diarrhea, runny nose, goose bumps, abdominal pain, stomach cramps, sweating, agitation, anxiety, nausea, vomiting, leg cramps, general aches and pains, and sleeplessness. This list is not absolute. You may experience all of these symptoms, only some of them, or other symptoms. Again, we are all different. Below is the famous Thomas Recipe. It gives some general information along with supplements that help with the withdrawal symptoms. The only thing I would add to this list is a blood pressure drug named clonidine. It effectively lowers the blood pressure and lessens many of the withdrawal symptoms. Most any doctor will prescribe it if you’re honest as to why you need it. Discuss dosages and frequency with your doctor.

Thomas Recipe:

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 (immodium) (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 (immodium) 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.

[venus]

Did you guys get my thanks letter? It is under my first post.  Yeah, I'm not that good wirh the computer yet!