Is now the time to detox?

[HowtheHeck]

I am new to these boards and am grateful for the bit of info I have received in such a short amount of time.

I have been taking Lortab 10mg/500 for chronic back pain and subsequent surgeries for the past couple of years.  My dosages have increased to between 6-8 tabs a day and although it is not 20 tabs/dly it has been enough to get my body addicted.  Since a last surgery my pain mgmnt. Dr. has included Oxycontin, 1 tab 3 times/day.

I have been W/O any meds for the past 2-1/2 days, not by design, but because I ran out prior to my Dr. appt.  I have had 2 days of horrid w\d symptoms complete with diarreah, insomnia, RSL, anxiety, etc.  My question is this, since I have 2+ days already under my belt should I try and continue detoxing with the help of my Dr. or should I wait until after my hopefully last surgery which is 2-3 wks away.  Will detoxing after the surgery be any less if I cleaned out my system prior, or will the w/d's be the same whether I stop now or in a month??

Hope this makes sense.  Thanks in advance.

[AddictedLovers]

first off...welcome...and thats a good question...i am in hour 11 of w/ds...so i feel for you...are you going to have to take meds after your surgery...i dont know if that would mess you up or not...but i would say day 2 is great...and if you can do this with your dr then do it..

i know someone will have a better answer for you than me...but i did want to say that i was very proud of you...

love, natasha

[beachtowel]

Welcome.......
surgery is a excuse with Validity and one of the few that there are.
Finish with the surgerys then worry about detox. You might want to look into Subutox or Subutex when your healed and ready to stop......


1. What are Suboxone and Subutex?

Subutex and Suboxone are medications approved for the treatment of opiate dependence. Both medicines contain the active ingredient, buprenorphine hydrochloride, which works to reduce the symptoms of opiate dependence.

2. Why did the FDA approve two medications?

Subutex contains only buprenorphine hydrochloride. This formulation was developed as the initial product. The second medication, Suboxone contains an additional ingredient called naloxone to guard against misuse.

Subutex is given during the first few days of treatment, while Suboxone is used during the maintenance phase of treatment.

3. Will most prescriptions be for the Suboxone formulation?
Yes, Suboxone is the formulation used in the majority of patients.

4. How are Subutex and Suboxone different from the current treatment options for opiate dependence such as methadone?

Currently opiate dependence treatments like methadone can be dispensed only in a limited number of clinics that specialize in addiction treatment. There are not enough addiction treatment centers to help all patients seeking treatment. Subutex and Suboxone are the first narcotic drugs available under the Drug Abuse Treatment Act (DATA) of 2000 for the treatment of opiate dependence that can be prescribed in a doctor

[Marce4]

Hi and welcome to the forum. First of all, if you are taking more than prescribed and your body has built up a tolerance, the anesthesiologist at your surgery will need to know that prior to putting you under.  If you can stand being off them c/t you should start to feel better at day 4. There are ways to help with some of the symptoms as you can see from other earlier posts.  

They will only give you a limited amt of narcotics post op so if you have built up a tolerance to opiates, they will not keep you as comfortable. You will probably need them so if your clean the opiates out of your system now, (you should probably inform your Dr.) they can give you enough after the surgery to keep you comfortable.  Maybe someone could monitor your meds afterward and give them to you as prescribed. I don't honestly think you could do surgery without some kind of narcotics.

This is purely a suggestion, but I think you should do this with a Dr's assistance. Others may have other ideas. I know how hard this is, but you are on Day 2 and you will feel better.

[Roofus44]

Hi! Welcome. There are a lot of great people on this site that are here to listen and support you. I'm like you was hooked on Lortab and at about the same dose. I say if you've gone thru the last 2-1/2 days then stick with it...the worst part is almost over. You are doing great and most importantly you've realized that you've become addicted. I think detoxing after the surgery will probably be about the same as what it is right now, maybe not as bad, if you can get everything out of your system before the surgery. Keep posting and let us know how you are doing. We're here for you!

[HowtheHeck]

Hey guys, thanks so much for the advice, info, and words of encouragement.  I had my Dr's. appt today and after taking everything into consideration I am ashamed to say I punk'd out from doing the c/t thing.  2+ days of pain, insomnia, and total angst was enough for me to realize I will indeed need my Dr's. help when going through w/d.

I will, however, definately taper between now and my next surgery so that hopefully it will ease the w/d symptoms when I am recovered and begin the detox process again.

I am so grateful to have found this forum, having gone through what I have already gives me an idea of what I can expect and that helps, also reading that there are others out there going through the same thing helps me feel less isolated.  I feel like I can do this and will do this and will take my life back.....can't wait til this next surgery is over with so I can get started!!

Many thanks to everyone :)