What can I do to ease the symtoms of opiate withdrawal?

[surfbum320]

I have suffered pain for years in my lower back and it's gotten worse through the years.  I had never taken anything for it until someone gave me a Vicodin.  I was always against taking pills and thought that I would never take them. Even though my remedy for the pain was alcohol which was up to a twelve pack a day for years. To my surprise, the pill made me nauseous at first, then I felt better, no pain.  It made me feel good. I thought, hey this is alright! Pretty soon I stopped drinking altogether because the mix gave me a headache.  My work requires strenuous activity which proves difficult with chronic pain. So I went to see a physician.  He wrote me a script for a 30 day supply of Vicodin.  This quickly became ineffective. Eventually over the course of a year I moved up to 30mg of Oxycodone.  Five a day turned into 8 a day.  This became my monthly script.  I usually take them as prescribed but every once in a while I would run out.  I was nieve in regaurd to the side effects of withdrawal and I have endured this experience multiple times over the last 2 years.  Although my pain was reduced to about 80% I felt much better........but there were other side effects.  I felt tired most of the time and it made it extremely difficult to get up in the morning.  Anyway, I have been taking 8 30mg pills a day for a while now. I think that I have pretty decent will power and constantly evaluate my level of control.  Well my physician wrote me a three month script...i filled the first one and was already trying to taper my intake.  It was time to fill my new script a month later and i had a few left over.  The scripts for two more months were no where to be found.  The office policy would not allow them to write me another script so they basically told me that I'm SOL for 2 months (sorry about your luck).  I had about 20 left to begin to taper off a little at a time.  Now I am down to one a day. This ***** and the pain is really bothering me and the withdrawals are horrible.  I am constantly cold and sweating/headache/restless leg syndrome and loss of sleep.  Soon there will be none left,  Any advice on how to ease the withdrawal symptoms would be helpful to say the least. I have read these blogs from time to time but this is my first time participating.  It feels good to get it out.  I prefer not to talk to friends and family about this because they won't understand. They will just look down on me.  I understand that reaction, but most people don't realize that anyone can find themselves in this situation.  You have to go through it to really understand it. Thanks for listening if you made it this far down.

[Elmijack15]

I agree with the other post about seeing the doctor my husband was on oxycodone and they couldn't give refills so that's why your pharmacy may not show any. That person who told you your SOL isn't right, go in there and talk to the doctor or office manager, that is insane! Even if you decode to quit, the doctor should be able to help you with something for your withdrawals and give you something else for pain. Good luck, hang in there and get on it first thing Monday morning.

[Warmturkey]

Immodium has helped me with the obvious especially at work. I'm trying to drink alot of water and walking for exercise is hard to get going but when your done you feel great physically and mentally. I plan to make endorphins my new drug! Bananas for potassium helps my leg pain. I was told on here to try L-tyrosine from GNC for energy and it seams to help. Talking to people on here has helped alot too.

[vicki595]

I'm not sure I would accept the "office policy". Things DO happen. I don't understand about the refills. Weren't they written on the bottle and the original rx?

Anyway, I think you should make an appt tomorrow and talk with the doctor in person.  I wouldn't accept what the person answering the phone told you. You need to speak with the doctor.

Feeling cold and having chills is normal along with feeling hot.

[surfbum320]

Thanks for your response.  I makes it easier to talk to someone that can relate instead of people that will look down on you like you failed them.   I know that I can beat this!  The cold feeling is really bothering me when I go outside in a sweat shirt in 70+ degree weather and look like a weirdo. Is this a normal side effect because I haven't seen any complaints of this on like discussions?

[littlebit667]

Glad you are tapering!  Here is a post I wrote up to help newbies!  Does not your bottle show how many refills you have??  Mine does or did!  :)
I know you were taking them for true pain, but it has edged over into dependence and then addiction.  It is easy to do.  I had to tell my doctor and we are going to try other options for my bad back.  Non addictive ones.  It is easy to prescribe pills, but harder to find other options that work , but we are gonna try.


I kept telling myself...YOU HAVE the FLU!  It will be over and I will feel so much better.  My brain seemed to get that and settled down a little.  It is hard, but doable!  The Thomas Recipe (bottom of the page) under Health Pages will help.  I did not to the tranquilizers and had to cut back on the Ltryosine, but the rest really helped.  Imodium, Imodium, Imodium (liquid or pills if the liquid can't be found or you can't swallow it) will help.  I took double the dosage for a few days (personal choice) and it helped so much..even with the withdrawals in general and the opiate trots which sucked.  

Hydrate and eat! ((gatorade is good) Even if it is just a little every hour or so.(boost or ensure might work for both food and drink)  You have to eat something to keep your energy up as much as possible.  

If you have Restless legs..it is hit or miss what works.  Walking seemed to help me some.  Hot bath with epsom salts..a little.  I finally had to get my doctor to refill my restless legs meds (non addictive) to get some sleep.  If nothing works,your doctor might help.  Benedryl helps some with sleep issues and you will have them.

One hour at a time is all anyone can ask.  After 2 weeks it gets a little better and I started to say, One day at a time!  Your brain will do all sorts of things to get you to take a pill.  I found if I was hungry..the cravings got worse.  I would try to eat a banana, a few grapes or a few crackers to get that under control.

The hardest part comes after the detox.  Your brain will be all over the place and will try to get you back on the pills...It is having to work and not depend on the pills to help.  

Good for you.  I hope all goes well.  You have made a good start coming here....this site has helped me so much!!!  Keep posting!!!!!