Weening off opiates

[Juliejulez]

I need to know if its better to try to ween down off opiates or just go cold turkey. I take about 70 to 100 mg daily for about 3 years. I really want my life back and feel like this is ruining my life. I see so many families being destroyed by this. I think about my life in the pre pill days and I was a much happier person and being chained to this addiction is horrible. I find myself thinking I will cut down tomorrow and keep making excuses to delay this. I work from home so I don't have to worry about going out of work. I just don't know how bad this will feel or how dangerous. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

[JessyeMc]

I am tapering myself off of hydro 10's now & then I'm planning on quitting cold turkey. I know it's going to be so hard for me, I have the WORST withdrawals! Stay strong :)

[jwheeler672]

To Hardforme
What day of withdrawls are you on. I am on day 3 and its been the worst with the nausea and running back and forth to the bathroom. Someone please tell me that after day 3 it gets better.

[Hardforme]

Im the same wayy.

[jwheeler672]

Hello and welcome to the forum. I decided to go cold turkey because I would also tell myself that I would taper the dose down but honestly I would just find myself going back to the pills and taking another and then telling myself I will stop tomorrow and this went on forever. I finally woke up one morning and decided this is it I am not taking these pills anymore because they can ruin my life i got tired of running my life on when my next dose of pain meds would be. So I just quit and its now day two and I can tell you Im starting to feel better already. I did however take pepto to help with the stomach cramps those were the worst the 1st day and I take benadryl at night to help me sleep and im taking lots of vitamins. But you have to know that deep down inside your ready to kick the habit because I truly feel that if your not mentally ready you will return to saying ill take just one then that ugly monster reers its head again and your back to square one. Just keep thinking of how much better you will feel when your off them and just keep looking in the mirror and telling yourself I CAN AND I WILL DO THIS. Best of luck to you keep posting theres lots of great support on here let me know if you need to talk. Im pulling for you...

[bama88]

How are you holding up?

[Momekit]

God Bless YOU stay strong--and we are PROUD OF U !!!!!!!

[Juliejulez]

You sound like your doing great!! Keep up the good work.

[LostNoMore]

You don't have to be clean to go to NA or AA. They ask that you not bring any drugs or paraphenelia to mtgs. the only requirement is a desire to stop using.
So you can go while you taper, no biggie. Good luck. Be patient, and take it easy on yourself.

[ricart70]

I would set a date that is in accordance to your taper schedule that is the day you will be at 0 pills.IMO  there is no valid taper that does not have a day 0  .Good luck to you and keep posting to let us know how you are

[gg636]

Hi and Welcome!

Just to be here is a huge step in the right direction.  I have been tapering off Lortabs for a full 2 weeks and working on my 3rd,  Stay positive and you have to really want to do this and it can be done.

I have only had 1 7.5mg today and I am going to try my best not to cave in..

Good Luck

[Juliejulez]

Wow, thanks so much for all the replies. The cold turkey sounds scary so I will try to taper first. I'm so encouraged by all your words of wisdom and success. You should all be very proud of yourselves. I know it will take a lot of will power but I think I'm ready to try. I want to be the person encouraging someone to take the steps to a better life. I am taking the advice and will be reading as much as possible on the site. I will keep you updated on my progress and hope to be telling you good news soon, I don't want to drag this out any longer then possible. I may even try outside meetings but I'm not sure if you should go until your completely clean. I will read on that too. Thanks again for all your help and caring, it means a lot . Julie

[bama88]

Another thing...post here..stay here and read. This will be the best desission of your life!! And know that your not alone

[bama88]

Another thing...post here..stay here and read. This will be the best desission of your life!! And know that your not alone

[bama88]

Opps. Hit submit.
2. Must have a positive attitude because of intensified pain and emotions...
3. Use the thomas reciepe for helping withdrawl symptoms.

In my opinion i cold turkeyed...i cant taper. I fail. And what detox rehab uses a taper plan? Doctors will tell you either or depending on their belief and experience. I would encourage you to seek the advise of a medical professional.

Either way is hard. Theres no easy out of this. None. It takes willpower and support to get thru this.
Along the way its recomended 90 meetings in 90 days..na/aa. Or other support group.

Good luck in whatever way you choose....i jumped from a 120mgs+ of oxycontin....im at 80 days with one slip up. If i can do it so can you...youve got to want this. Thats key...whatever you choose choose one and stay tje course.....hope this helped...bama

[bama88]

Hi.. And welcome to the forum....
To taper or jump is a question only you can answer.  Theres alot of.different factors to consider.
1. If you choose to taper can you trust yourself not to sneak an.extra one here or there?  Or is there anyone who can help hold your meds and dole them out to you so you dont get.tempted taking an extra one..
2. Tapering is easier on your body...so.the withdrawls arent as rough on the body.
3. Youve got to set up a taper plan..we are not allowed to.give you one out...but the best advise would come from your doctor
tapering takes alot of focus..support and lots of willpower. Mostly internal willpower.

Cold.turkey is intense withdrawls because your detoxing your body.
1. Must have time off work or if you have little ones help for the little ones...its a week of the worst flu youve ever had.
2

[LostNoMore]

Hi Julie, welcome to the rest of your life! Like Mikeinfrance, I did the cold turkey route. I was taking around 60-70mg of oxy and hydro mixed for about 8 months. My W/Ds were not fun, but the worst is over in 4 or 5 days. After that, it's a matter of dealing with each symptom as it comes up and being patient. It's a process. Our bodies and minds are going to be out of whack for a while. We didn't get addicted overnight, and we're not going to get well overnight. The thomas recipe and the amino acid protocol are 2 things you can find on this site that I used and helped me a lot. I did go see my doc and got honest with him about what I was using. I also started with an aftercare program (for me, NA) right away and I cut all ties to my drug sources. I can tell you now that it's absolutely worth every second of pain I went through to get clean. Now I'm focused on staying clean. Good luck and God bless.

[MikeInFrance]

Hi Julie .... I am in Day 18 of only ever detox....I was taking oxynorms for or year str8 ...everyday and only snorting. 19 Days ago I was up to 250mg a Day! A crazy amount for anyone but especially someone as myself who was just using for recreational purposes and someone who never took a narcotic in his life!  With that said, I went CT 18 Days ago and although everyone's body andin will react differently I want to tell you what I experienced. The first 2-3 days and nights were sleepless but sweat-filled and I was freezing! Days 4-5 were my Helllll days and nights .... Creepy crawly feelings in my chest area. Still zero sleep! Then somewhere in day 5 it got better and day 6 7 8 etc improved on that. Sleep is still an issue for me today after 18 days. I just get a few minutes in here and there throughout restless nights.   I know alot of people disagree with going CT like I did from a fairly strong opiate addiction but I did it and I am prouder and stronger because  of it. It's not for everyone and quite honestly had I known what I was gonna feel I lost likely would have gone to a doc to get something to deal with it but again I am stronger today because I didn't ..maybe not physically stronger but I will look back on this as something I did for ME and that's how you have to go into this and for the goodness of life....don't have any pills around or easily accessable when you commit to this!!! U r lucky to work from home and be able to take the time to do this. I froze for the first week , by the way. Moral of this story...you can do only what you set your mind to and no matter how uncomfortable it may feel in the first days , I promise you that it gets better and better. Alot of people are here to support you, me being one :)

[all_alone1]

Hi and welcome....you have come to the right place...although going cold turkey or tapering is a choice you will have to decide....there are individuals on boths sides who can help you with advice and support wichever route you take

Either road takes a lot of work and will power...but you are not alone....everyone on here is or has been where you are...myself included...I chose the tapering route...

So just no you will find support and encouragement for whichever choice you decide...

Best of luck....

Angel

[charliej41]

Hello welcome to the form there are some smart people here that know a lot me I on day 9 and it been a long ride I to took 10 12 pills a day for a long time u sound like u ready to do this that's the first step  my I went cold turkeybut some of them think u need to step down a little at a time  me I know I counld not do that I don't have the will power if I got them I eating all up but u can do this it ***** for 4-5 days then it start to get better there be someone come by tell u a lot more I still new at this but I u whant to do this y can hang in there and good luck