Aa
cold turkey anyone
This is in my journal in case it gets lost on here. Please add your own tips and tricks that helped, so that we may help others. Love and Strength to everyone!
Withdrawing cold turkey from opiates is one of the hardest things to do, but can also be very rewarding. The immediate discontinued use of the poison quickens the road to recovery and leaves a lasting reminder to NOT put yourself in this predicament again.
I’m listing what worked for me while withdrawing from a 2 and a half year 40 pill a day habit. My DOC (drug of choice) was hydrocodone 10/650 and Loricet/Lortab.
Preparation: Immodium AD, Theraflu day and night, Boost or Ensure, your favorite flavor of Gatorade, Two 24 pack cases of bottled water, 80% cocoa chocolate or as high of a percentage as you can find, and a bushel of bananas. If you find it necessary and are capable, substitute the Melatonin for Valium or Xanax. Don’t overdo them as they are addictive as well. Use them sparingly and only when completely necessary. I also recommend adding the ingredients in the Thomas Recipe to help your body rebuild itself from the damage caused by the opiates. I didn’t start until 7 days into it, but noticed a dramatic difference when I did. Eat a banana when encountering cravings or when you need to put something in your stomach to take the multivitamin. The multivitamin doesn’t help without food.
Day 1: Quit taking the meds a few hours before bedtime. This will give your body a good nights sleep and will put you 6-8 hours or more into recovery. Start drinking a lot of water to start flushing the toxins from your body.
Day 2: Waking up and starting to feel pretty crummy. For me this happened around 8:00 am. Withdrawal symptoms are fairly similar to flu symptoms, so that is the way I went about treating it. You can take the first dose of Theraflu along with some food and the ingredients recommended in the Thomas Recipe. Make sure to eat through the entire withdrawal process. If you can’t or don’t feel like eating, drink the Boost or Ensure. Start your day with a nice hot bath/shower and do this as often as you want. The diarrhea may have already started to set in. If so, try to deal with it as long as possible without taking the Immodium. This is our bodies way of cleansing and will help speed up the recovery time. Continue to drink plenty of fluids throughout the day along with well balanced meals. Drink 2-3 32oz bottles of Gatorade throughout the day to help with hydration. Continue to take the recommended doses of flu medication throughout the day and about 30 minutes to an hour before bed. Take the Immodium about the same time as the flu medicine before bedtime. Take a nice hot relaxing bath and jump straight into bed.
Day3: It’s getting pretty rough today and you are in full blown withdrawals. Today and tomorrow will be the worst, but relief is in sight. Continue with the same plan as yesterday, but try to add in dry sauna time if at all possible. Most gyms will hand out two week trial memberships, so use this to your advantage. The sauna helps speed up the detox process and also relieves the aches and pains. If you’re able to, use the sauna twice to three times a day. Increase your fluid intake while doing this as it will help rehydrate and flush your system. If and when you start feeling depressed, eat 2-3 squares of the chocolate. Avoid eating the chocolate before bed. If you didn’t notice any relief with sleep last night try adding Melatonin to the mix, or sleep time tea. Melatonin is found with the vitamins and is a naturally produced hormone in the brain that aids in sleep. Remember to take this 30 min to an hour before bed followed quickly by the Immodium and a HOT bath, then straight to bed.
Day 4: Well you made it through yesterday and although you don’t feel like it this morning, today is going to be better. Day 3 and 4 tend to be the breaking points for most, because they don’t realize that they are almost done with the physical withdrawal. Follow the instructions from Day 3, but add some exercise; even if it’s just a brisk walk around the block. Stay as active as possible today. This will help with sleep tonight. Make sure you’re not forgetting to follow the Thomas Recipe. Note: An icepack at the base of the neck and massaging heating pad around the cranium helps some with the headaches. If you have the means, treat yourself to a full body massage or at least neck and shoulders.
Day 5: Ahhh, it’s a new day and thinking back to day 3 you notice a tremendous difference. Start to reduce the doses of flu medicine as you won’t need it tomorrow. Substitute the flu medication for Advil or Ibuprofen to help with aches and pains. You may notice the depression onset a little worse, so remember the chocolate. If anxiety is eating you up then it’s time to exercise. Find a way to burn off all that extra energy and enjoy the endorphins your brain hands out as a reward. Small doses of the Melatonin will also help.
Day 6: The flu like symptoms are pretty much gone and the next few days will just be anxiety and some sleeplessness. For the next few days you need to stay busy and active during the day. Move around more, park at the other end of the parking lot, take the stairs, etc. If the sleep is still not restful enough, try adding bath or shower products that aid with relaxation and sleepy time tea. The Melatonin can be taken with the tea.
Note: I forgot to mention that somewhere between day 5-7 your brain will dump a considerable amount of dopamine know as "the dopamine dump". You will feel euphoric and tingly all over. Mine lasted for two days and I enjoyed every second of it. The feeling does unfortunately go away but I would imagine will come back from time to time now that things are starting to work right again.
Day 9: Well it’s been a few days and you should be over the first hurdle. Congratulations on beating the addiction, now get started on you recovery. The demon of addiction lies in wait at every turn. Waiting to see a moment of weakness and then it pounces attempting to devour you all over again. Keep this in mind everyday for the rest of your life. Research recovery and have a plan on how to start living in that recovery. Read the PAWS information that is also in this journal. Information is power and the more power YOU have the weaker your addiction will be. Remember that this time frame may be different for you and to give it time. Withdrawals will not kill you, but the addiction WILL! Also, adjust the medications mentioned to suite your needs, but DO NOT overdo them. Love and Strength to you on your journey!
Withdrawing cold turkey from opiates is one of the hardest things to do, but can also be very rewarding. The immediate discontinued use of the poison quickens the road to recovery and leaves a lasting reminder to NOT put yourself in this predicament again.
I’m listing what worked for me while withdrawing from a 2 and a half year 40 pill a day habit. My DOC (drug of choice) was hydrocodone 10/650 and Loricet/Lortab.
Preparation: Immodium AD, Theraflu day and night, Boost or Ensure, your favorite flavor of Gatorade, Two 24 pack cases of bottled water, 80% cocoa chocolate or as high of a percentage as you can find, and a bushel of bananas. If you find it necessary and are capable, substitute the Melatonin for Valium or Xanax. Don’t overdo them as they are addictive as well. Use them sparingly and only when completely necessary. I also recommend adding the ingredients in the Thomas Recipe to help your body rebuild itself from the damage caused by the opiates. I didn’t start until 7 days into it, but noticed a dramatic difference when I did. Eat a banana when encountering cravings or when you need to put something in your stomach to take the multivitamin. The multivitamin doesn’t help without food.
Day 1: Quit taking the meds a few hours before bedtime. This will give your body a good nights sleep and will put you 6-8 hours or more into recovery. Start drinking a lot of water to start flushing the toxins from your body.
Day 2: Waking up and starting to feel pretty crummy. For me this happened around 8:00 am. Withdrawal symptoms are fairly similar to flu symptoms, so that is the way I went about treating it. You can take the first dose of Theraflu along with some food and the ingredients recommended in the Thomas Recipe. Make sure to eat through the entire withdrawal process. If you can’t or don’t feel like eating, drink the Boost or Ensure. Start your day with a nice hot bath/shower and do this as often as you want. The diarrhea may have already started to set in. If so, try to deal with it as long as possible without taking the Immodium. This is our bodies way of cleansing and will help speed up the recovery time. Continue to drink plenty of fluids throughout the day along with well balanced meals. Drink 2-3 32oz bottles of Gatorade throughout the day to help with hydration. Continue to take the recommended doses of flu medication throughout the day and about 30 minutes to an hour before bed. Take the Immodium about the same time as the flu medicine before bedtime. Take a nice hot relaxing bath and jump straight into bed.
Day3: It’s getting pretty rough today and you are in full blown withdrawals. Today and tomorrow will be the worst, but relief is in sight. Continue with the same plan as yesterday, but try to add in dry sauna time if at all possible. Most gyms will hand out two week trial memberships, so use this to your advantage. The sauna helps speed up the detox process and also relieves the aches and pains. If you’re able to, use the sauna twice to three times a day. Increase your fluid intake while doing this as it will help rehydrate and flush your system. If and when you start feeling depressed, eat 2-3 squares of the chocolate. Avoid eating the chocolate before bed. If you didn’t notice any relief with sleep last night try adding Melatonin to the mix, or sleep time tea. Melatonin is found with the vitamins and is a naturally produced hormone in the brain that aids in sleep. Remember to take this 30 min to an hour before bed followed quickly by the Immodium and a HOT bath, then straight to bed.
Day 4: Well you made it through yesterday and although you don’t feel like it this morning, today is going to be better. Day 3 and 4 tend to be the breaking points for most, because they don’t realize that they are almost done with the physical withdrawal. Follow the instructions from Day 3, but add some exercise; even if it’s just a brisk walk around the block. Stay as active as possible today. This will help with sleep tonight. Make sure you’re not forgetting to follow the Thomas Recipe. Note: An icepack at the base of the neck and massaging heating pad around the cranium helps some with the headaches. If you have the means, treat yourself to a full body massage or at least neck and shoulders.
Day 5: Ahhh, it’s a new day and thinking back to day 3 you notice a tremendous difference. Start to reduce the doses of flu medicine as you won’t need it tomorrow. Substitute the flu medication for Advil or Ibuprofen to help with aches and pains. You may notice the depression onset a little worse, so remember the chocolate. If anxiety is eating you up then it’s time to exercise. Find a way to burn off all that extra energy and enjoy the endorphins your brain hands out as a reward. Small doses of the Melatonin will also help.
Day 6: The flu like symptoms are pretty much gone and the next few days will just be anxiety and some sleeplessness. For the next few days you need to stay busy and active during the day. Move around more, park at the other end of the parking lot, take the stairs, etc. If the sleep is still not restful enough, try adding bath or shower products that aid with relaxation and sleepy time tea. The Melatonin can be taken with the tea.
Note: I forgot to mention that somewhere between day 5-7 your brain will dump a considerable amount of dopamine know as "the dopamine dump". You will feel euphoric and tingly all over. Mine lasted for two days and I enjoyed every second of it. The feeling does unfortunately go away but I would imagine will come back from time to time now that things are starting to work right again.
Day 9: Well it’s been a few days and you should be over the first hurdle. Congratulations on beating the addiction, now get started on you recovery. The demon of addiction lies in wait at every turn. Waiting to see a moment of weakness and then it pounces attempting to devour you all over again. Keep this in mind everyday for the rest of your life. Research recovery and have a plan on how to start living in that recovery. Read the PAWS information that is also in this journal. Information is power and the more power YOU have the weaker your addiction will be. Remember that this time frame may be different for you and to give it time. Withdrawals will not kill you, but the addiction WILL! Also, adjust the medications mentioned to suite your needs, but DO NOT overdo them. Love and Strength to you on your journey!
That's cool! It's your brain helping you out after you go through hell. I thought I was getting a rush of endorphines because I did a lot of exercise those days.
Thanks. And by the way, your cold turkey guide is awesome! I wish I'd had it when I first started. I searched book stores for something like that, but to no avail. You should write a book.
Time
Thanks. And by the way, your cold turkey guide is awesome! I wish I'd had it when I first started. I searched book stores for something like that, but to no avail. You should write a book.
Time
Yes, the "dopamine dump" is definitely real. It's a process that takes place with the neurons in the brain. The neuron has to rebuild receptor sites and neurotransmiters, because they were removed during the opiate addiction. The neurons remove these sites to protect themselves because they were being flooded with the opiate. As the receptor sites and neurotransmitters start to come back online you feel the dopamine released on a whole new level.
You can do this. I know you have been contemplating this for awhile. It's not easy ,but then it is over with. You'll be free by or before Christmas! With your history of seizure, c/t might be good. Don't do this alone, though. Make sure your hubby or someone you trust is nearby for your safety. I want to see you free! You go girl!
Strongenuf: You are duly welcome and I hope it helps. Good luck and feel free to pm me with any questions. Love and Strength be with you!
X-oxy: LOL...yeah, but it was easier than what that cat is dealing with...
X-oxy: LOL...yeah, but it was easier than what that cat is dealing with...
nice post.....i bet typing all that was like putting socks on a rooster...lol....i knew i'd get to use that sometime lmao......god bless u
That is awesome! Been tapering, but really thinking I should try the c/t due to the length of time tapering can take.
Just printed this and put it with the Thomas Recipe on my table. Will talk it over with hubby tonight and see what he thinks!
Thankyou!
~shelly~
Just printed this and put it with the Thomas Recipe on my table. Will talk it over with hubby tonight and see what he thinks!
Thankyou!
~shelly~
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