Which treatment should I try?!

Hey guys. Ok, so I went to a counceling place today and met with an addiction councelor. I have a several year opiate addiction, and am ready to get clean and stay clean.
In addition to intensive outpatient therapy, they are talking about either putting me on Suboxone or Naltrexone. I really want the cravings to stop mostly. I know the Subs are hard to come off of, but I don't know what to do. The naltrexone will make me sick if I take any opiates, but I really don't plan on that. I just want help with the cravings and lack of energy.
Anyone able to help? Thanks!

[nooneknows214]

Back,

     First of all, congrats wanting to come clean.  Deisre to rid yourself of the junk is the first step.  I think it's important first to find out exactly what your level of use is/was.  Also, what were you taking and was it for pain of rec.  I'm now 42 days clean after about a 2 year use, but my intake was fairly low.  I went cold turkey.  Personally that's the best way, but without a doubt if cravings are your concern, I'd make sure I got into N/A.

[Htownnofrown]

Everybody is different, remember that.

For me, I wanted to get off opiates a year ago. I had been using about 400mg of oxy every day, and was really worried about the withdrawal and cravings. When I entered treatment, upon the advice of my councelor, I decided to go without any maintanance drugs. The widrawals will vary from person to person, but I was able to go without anything to help, other than a lot of NA and AA meetings. The cool thing about 12 step programs is that instead of looking for an instant gratification type solution of ending cravings, they teach you some simple tools to cope with cravings and methods to control them. Once I started working the steps, the cravings went away.

I've been clean since May 5th 2009, have finished the steps, and sponsor others. I can honestly say I have not had a craving in about 8 months. I still think about opiates from time to time, (no one can ever make a person forget how good it feels)  but I have not had a true craving since working steps 6 and 7, and the thoughts that I do have are fleeting if I use the tools I've been given.

No matter what you do, stick with it, and try to get into some serious recovery care. Quitting the drugs are only the first step, but it's one hell of a big step, so congrats! Let us know how it goes!

[backtomyselfoneday]

Thanks for the words and support guys. It means a lot to me. Its unbelievable how many of us are/were in the same boat. Crazy even.
I don't really want to become addicted to another drug to get off the opiates. As far as those go, I was doing 20 vics a day, plus whatever else I could find... Oxys, percs, etc. I built up quite a tolerance over the years.
I am starting an intensive outpatient program tomorrow, that meets three days a week for 5 weeks. I will probably go to NA after that for follow up.
The hardest part for me right now is all mental, aside from the fatigue. I have a lot of cravings still, and if I can take something that will help offset that, I'd be a much happier gal!
Thanks again guys!

[krissy30]

You are right about it could be hard to come off the suboxone.  But as long as the opiates are out of your system when you take the Naltrexone, you will not get sick.  It is then designed to "block" opiates.  So, if you take them while on the naltrexone you will not get high.  However it is still possible to have a over dose.  Naltrexone does help block the cravings for opiates and alcohol.  Just be sure the opiates have cleared your system first otherwise you will go into immediate detox when you take the naltrexone.  It's like going through 3 days of w/d in 24 hours....not pleasant.  I took one after a relapse for punishment and trust me it was awful...

But, if you take the naltrexone pill it will block you from opiate high for about 24 hours.  

It's similar to suboxone, except w suboxone it helps with the w/d symptom.  Naltrexone will not help w/ any w/d symptoms....it;s usually used as maintenance.  

Good luck with which ever one you choose!

[Nitya_Eternal]

The cravings are part of your addiction... as time goes on, they'll lessen, but it will be tough at first. Really tough during your first few days of detox, but I'm sure you're aware of that. Your outpatient therapy and meetings will help your urges, and you need to make a commitment *to yourself* that no matter how strong the cravings become, you will not use. You have other options in your life now, and cheers to you for accepting help!

I recommend cold turkey as well, as it's quite easy to switch your mental cravings from opiates to other legal drugs and convince yourself that you "need" them.

[staindchick1]

I would agree with the cold turkey and do it in your normal enviroment!!! I an 14 days clean from a 20 loratabs a day habait. The 3 and 4 day are the worst but you have to just get up and go about your day!!!! I really have to say that if I had gone to rehab and then come back to the real world I prabably would have uses again cause training yourself to do all the things your used to do high is one of the hardest things. I would have rathered the physical withdraws over the emotional!!!!!! If your gonna do it you mid as well do it all the way and just get it over and done with!!!!!! Good luck in whatever you choose to do and keep me posted!!