Trazodone for Opiate Withdrawal

[Anhedonio]

I feel like a whiner after reading some of the posts here.

I am a chronic pot smoker of 30+ years (as well as abusing opiates with increasing frequency). As I get older, the detriment is outweighing the benefits. Pot is harder to find, poor quality or outrageously expensive. Unfortunately, I have turned to occasional heroin use as an alternative, going through cycles of use/withdrawal almost every few weeks. To combat the after effects I have been taking Vicodin (in the absence of having pot to smoke) for about two weeks steadily (max 8 5/500s, min 3 per day).

I need to break out of this cycle before I face more dire consequences. I'm already facing nausea, sweating, and other discomfort.

My questions are: Could lack of smoking be exacerbating my discomfort from the other drugs (i.e. should I find some pot, deal with the opiates, and work on the pot addiction later)?

I have heard of Trazodone prescribed for cocaine withdrawal. Is there any benefit in helping with opiates?

I'm really tired of drugs being the focus of my life, and would like to change while I still have some life left to enjoy, but after all these years, question my ability to do so. I am not at all religious, and don't like the idea of any of this 12 step ****.

It has helped a lot reading this board and seeing I'm not alone, but it hasn't got my foot out the door. Any advice would be appreciated. James

[freezing]

I went through similar detox twice with similar meds.  Each time I couldn't hack it physically.  It was physical not mental, freezing with back "fingernail on chalkboard" sensations, never decreasing, depression, could not function at home or work.  I was coming off 90mg of Methadone.  

Please keep us posted on how you feel every few days or day.  Good luck and well wishes.  I hope your experience is better than mine.  I was also on Naltrexone.  I remain still, freezing.

[pepsi4]

Does anyone know the best way to taper?  10% per day?  5%?  Any ideas?  Thanks........

[mrmichael67]

I forgot to mention some people are able to take trazadone without any side effects at all.  But, many do have them.  It is an excellent alternative to benzos, but it does have strong side effects for many.  Fifty mg is a relatively small dose and that should be stressed.....that getting away with the smallest possible dose is preferred.

[Thomas03]

Welcome to the board. Don't get down on yourself for relapsing. Recovery is not a once-in-a-lifetime religous conversion. Detoxing and living without opiates is, like most things, a learned skill. It doesn't help that you're dealing with what sounds like major depression. As most people know, opiates are the most effective anti-depressants on the planet. Too bad the cure leads to another type of illness. I'm glad you're seeing a therapist about your depression and cutting. Depression is something I know all too well. Opiates are the only thing that ever relieved my depression. I am one of those people who doesn't respond well to SSRI's such as Prozac or Zoloft. From my viewpoint, however, your cutting sounds infinately more alarming than your taste for narcotics. Hopefully, your therapist will be able to offer something to help you with that. Good luck. Keep posting!

Thomas

[jpkoz]

Hello everyone,  Just wanted to drop in and tell my story.  I am a recovering addict,  drugs of choice "painkillers"  I would take 7 or 8 80 ml oxycontin per day on top of 10 to 20 vicodin or any form of hydrocodone.  And when I didn't have any oxycontin I would take 40 to 50 vic's a day,  I am currently in an iop program "intensive outpatient program" at the start I had to detox because of the obvious withdrawl,  which deffinetly can hurt if not kill you if not done under a "doctors" supervision.  Listen there is no other way to get off this **** unless you "cold turkey" it in one way or another.  The detox I went thru was for 5 days and it made the withdrawls easier to deal with.  The dr. put me on catapres or (clonidine) which all it is a blood pressure med. that was discovered to ease the withdrawls.  In combination with dicyclomine for the abdominal crampings "helps" methocarbamol for the muscle cramping or "skin crawling" Motrin 800 for pain and immodium for the shits also  trazadone for sleep aid.  It sounds like a lot of meds and for all the addicts out there Remember the **** you were putting in your body in the first place and not worry about any consequences, Believe me this stuff is nothing compared to the Volume of Narcotics we were dumping in.  so remember that.  If you are serious about getting clean,  You need Help In some professional way or another tappering off is not the answer Because Remember The last pill you take will still bring Mr. Jones knocking Believe me I can testify to that.  You need "support" to do any of this Don't be affraid of N/A or A/A thats what there there for.  It's tuff but after the Physical part it's just mental and Believe me That's where you will **** it up if you don't reach out for that support.  This is my third time and so far so good.  Taking one day at a time and liking myself better each day.  Hope this Helps.

[hippy]

very nice to see you posting agian
after not seeing you for a few weeks.
thanx for being here.
your wisdom. sense of humor and experence
is invaluable.
peace!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
your friend --------- hippy